Here are the factors that turn honey into a healing medicine. (More details on how does honey act as antimicrobial here: How to kill antibiotic resistant bacteria) Clindamycin or oxacillin manuka honey combinations demonstrated synergistic antimicrobial activity against most strains (planktonic and biofilm formation) but not all.

Low pH. Usually between 3.3 and 4.6, with some exception: chestnut honey (pH, between 5 and 6) and honeydew honey (pH between 4.5 and 6.5). Several researchers have explored the effects of combining honey with antibiotics on antimicrobial activity in vitro. One of the first papers reporting a synergistic effect of honey and antibiotics was published in 1998. The researchers used a broth dilution assay to demonstrate a synergistic effect of an Indian honey (obtained from Phondaghat Pharmacy) and the antibiotics amikacin, ceftazidime and gentamicin against multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa. 20 The honey and antibiotics were reportedly tested at a ratio of 1:1. Experiments were also conducted with Klebsiella species, but no synergy was observed with this micro-organism. Later in 2005, another study reported synergy using broth dilution method between an Omani honey (50%) and the antibiotic gentamicin (4µg/mL) against Staphylococcus aureus. 21 Additionally, a study conducted in Egypt reported enhanced effects of antibiotics against clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa, Enterobacter species and Staphylococci in a disc diffusion assay when citrus bee honey (100%) was added to the antibiotic discs (Oxoid). 22 If the area of the wound is showing the classical signs of inflammation: redness, pus, swelling and pain. Activon works through the natural properties of the manuka honey, which has the following properties and effects: Zone of inhibition induced by the herbal gel formulation was greater than honey alone (35.1 mm vs 13.1 mm respectively).

Zoff 20 Adhesive Remover Wipes

For each honey type there was > 90% decrease in the MIC when 3% (v/v) royal jelly was added; a 66.6% decrease when 2% (v/v) royal jelly was added and a 50% decrease in MIC when 1% (v/v) royal jelly was added. Rifampicin and manuka honey considered to be most effective as demonstrated synergistic antimicrobial activity against all tested strains including planktonic bacteria and S. aureus biofilm formation. There will be high levels of exudate, but this is perfectly normal. It will decrease over time, therefore your secondary dressing of choice may initially need to be super absorbent. For this, the producer of Activon recommends using Eclypse – Super Absorber Dressings.

From this point of view it is safer to use it on any kind of wound, no matter how deep it is. What is Activon? Other therapeutic agents being considered for use in combination with honey for the treatment of wounds include honey and bacteriophage therapy, honey supplemented with antimicrobial peptides, honey combined with cyclodextrins or hydrogel, or honey and laser therapy. Novel approaches to wound healing have involved adding a combination of antimicrobial agents to nanofibrous scaffolds. For example, Sarhan and Azzazy (2017) 50 reported that honey (Egyptian clover) (30%) chitosan nanofibers loaded with bee venom (0.01%) and bacteriophages had superior antimicrobial activity in a broth culture assay against MDR P. aeruginosa in comparison to ionic silver containing Aquacel-Ag wound dressing. Furthermore, the novel honey bacteriophage dressing demonstrated better wound healing ability in mice when compared to Aquacel-Ag wound dressing. Oliveira et al (2017) 51 also reported synergistic antimicrobial effects against E. coli biofilms formed on 96 well plates at 12 and 24 hours using multi-floral Portuguese honey and an E. coli specific bacteriophage. This approach combines the antibiofilm effects of honey with the ability of bacteriophages to lyse bacteria. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that honey caused perturbations in the membrane of the E. coli whilst the bacteriophage caused complete lysis with only vesicle structures left behind. Using a dressing will help protect the wound and ensure the Activon Manuka Honey remains in the wound. What doesActivon Medical Grade Manuka Honey contain The MIC of the combination of honey, cinnamaldehyde and carvacrol was lower than honey alone (0.49µg/mL vs 114.2 μg/mL respectively). The antibacterial activity of the triple combination was reportedly greater than imipenem. Kwakman et al (2011) 52 investigated the antimicrobial effects of supplementing Revamil honey with the antimicrobial peptides LL-37 and the synthetic peptide bacterial peptide 2 (BP2). They reported that the antimicrobial activity of LL-37 was inhibited in the presence of honey, but this was not the case for BP2. Using a liquid bactericidal assay, it was shown that Revamil honey supplemented with 75µM BP2 had more rapid antibacterial activity against MRSA and extended spectrum β lactamase (ESBL) E. coli and had a broader spectrum of antibacterial activity than Revamil alone. The authors considered supplementing the honey with hydrogen peroxide or MGO but were concerned that high levels of these components may not be biocompatible.

Comvita ® Manuka Medihoney ® did not enhance the sensitivity of S. aureus to any of the antibiotics tested. Comvita ®Medihoney ® Antibacterial Wound Gel™, Comvita ® Manuka Medihoney ® and Surgihoney™RO ® enhanced the sensitivity of P. aeruginosa to tetracycline.

Whether the enhanced antimicrobial effects were synergistic, or additive was not determined in this study. Twist off the cap, generously apply to the wound surface or cavity, and cover with a suitable secondary dressing. Shelf Life Long-Lasting: Presented in a convenient 25g tube, Activon Tube remains effective for 90 days once opened. Other floral factors. If honey is made of thyme, it will include the essence of all thyme therapeutic properties. Here we can also add: antioxidants, polyphenols, flavonoids, enzymes and peptides. Gel composed of herbal extracts of Acacia catechu, Castanea sativa, Ephedra sinica and Momia combined with honey (25%), maple saps, Phoenix dactylifera (date), pomegranate extract and Azadirachta indica gumpicture source: http://www.advancis.co.uk/products/activon-manuka-honey/activon-tube and http://www.advancis.co.uk/products/super-absorber-dressings/eclypse Wear time will depend on the level of exudate but Eclypse can be left in place for up to seven days. Eclypse can be used under compression therapy. Flexible Application Methods: Can be applied directly onto the wound itself or onto a gauze or foam dressing. Alpha-cyclodextrin is an oligosaccharide that has also been complexed with manuka honey in a formulation named Manuka honey with Cyclopower TM and supplied by Manuka Health New Zealand Ltd. Using MIC, MBC and time course experiments Manuka honey with Cyclopower TM was found to have improved bacteriostatic activity against S. aureus, MRSA and P. aeruginosa in comparison to uncomplexed manuka honey also supplied by the same company. 57 Hydrogel is commonly used as a wound dressing. It is composed of polymers suspended in water and is thought to provide hydration to a wound and promote healing. El-Kased et al (2017) 53 reported that an Egyptian honey (75%) chitosan hydrogel formula had superior antimicrobial activity against P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, K. pneumonia and Streptococcus pyogenes in a disc diffusion assay in comparison to pure honey. For example, the mean zone of inhibition for the honey 75% chitosan hydrogel formula against S. aureus was 20.2 ± 0.4 vs 15.1 ± 0.9 for honey. This formula was also superior to pure honey in the healing of 10 mm burn wounds induced in mice using a heated metallic rod. The wounds were treated with either the honey 75% chitosan hydrogel formula or honey for 9 days. By day 9, the honey chitosan treated wounds had a mean diameter of 3.8 ± 0.2 mm versus 5.3 ± 0.8 mm in the honey only treated group. Furthermore, an alginate-based honey hydrogel containing thymol-based honey from Damavand, Iran was reported to have superior wound healing ability in rats with infected burn wounds than honey alone. 54 Wound healing was faster in the alginate-based honey hydrogel treated group in comparison to the honey only group. In another study, a paste composed of carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogel (50%), water (30%) and chestnut honey (20%) had superior antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and E.coli in a disc diffusion assay than a paste composed of carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogel (50%) and water only. 55 Furthermore, the paste containing 20% chestnut honey had superior wound healing ability in comparison to the paste without honey in the treatment of wounds inflicted in the dorsal skin of mice. Tavaloki and Tang (2017) 56 designed a wound dressing consisting of a high concentration of honey, polyvinyl alcohol hybrid hydrogel and borax as a crosslinking agent. High concentrations of honey are important for wound healing but can negatively affect the physicochemical properties of hybrid hydrogels. The use of borax apparently overcomes this problem and permits the incorporation of high concentrations of honey without negative effects.

Other researchers support the occurrence of enhanced effects of honey and antibiotics. Klein et al (2020) 31 used a broth culture assay to investigate the ability of subinhibitory concentrations of a range of medical grade honeys (Comvita ® Manuka Medihoney ®; Comvita ® Medihoney ® Antibacterial Wound Gel™; Revamil ® gel; and Surgihoney™RO ®) to enhance the activity of antibiotics (tetracycline, sulphatriad, streptomycin, penicillin G, chloramphenicol and ampicillin) against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. In their study, bacteria were incubated aerobically overnight in broth cultures containing 10% honey. Samples from these cultures were then spread onto TSA plates and antibiotic discs (Mastring-S, Mast Group Ltd) were added to the agar and incubated at 37°C. The researchers found that the ability of the honeys to enhance the activity of the antibiotic depended on the type of honey, the antibiotic, and the bacterial species. Their key findings were that Surgihoney™RO ® and Comvita ® Medihoney ® Antibacterial Wound Gel™ increased the activity of tetracycline and ampicillin against S. aureus and increased the activity of tetracycline against P. aeruginosa. Discomfort can be experienced when honey is applied, depending on sensitivity of the wound it may be necessary to consider an appropriate level of analgesia. The initial discomfort usually subsides, however if it does continue, discontinue use and irrigate the wound with saline solution. How to Use Synergistic antimicrobial activity against MRSA for manuka honey and tetracycline, imipenem and mupirocin combinations and additive activity against P. aeruginosa for manuka honey and tetracycline, rifampicin and colistin combinations.L-Mesitran demonstrated antifungal activity against C. albicans (MIC 25%–50%), whereas 40% Mexican yucatan honey did not.