Improved Medihoney Gel Wound and & Burn Dressing from Derma Sciences, 0.5 oz,

Product Information

Due to the dressing’s low pH, some patients may notice a slight transient stinging. If stinging persists and cannot be managed with an analgesic, remove dressing, cleanse area, and discontinue the use of MediHoney dressing.

Some researchers have raised concerns regarding the use of raw honey, which is made from honeycombs and unfiltered, for wound treatment. They theorize that there’s greater risks for infection using this honey type. Kateel et al. 14 found that three of five RCTs concluded that topical honey was better than conventional dressings for the healing of diabetic foot ulcers while two of the five RCTs found no difference in healing between the two treatments. No adverse events were reported. 14 The authors also included observational studies that reported greater efficacy, decreased amputation, and better compliance with honey for diabetic foot ulcer. 14 Two of the five RCTs summarized by Kateel et al. 14 were also included in the broader SR by Jull et al. 15 Jull et al. 15 found that, in one trial, there was no significant difference in healing between honey and saline gauze at 16 weeks or in negative wound swabs at four weeks. 15 In another trial, the mean time to surgical closure was not significantly different between honey and povidone-iodine dressing but it was unclear whether the wounds actually healed. 15 Adverse events were not described well enough to be reported in the SR. 15 The authors of the HTA identified an additional RCT of Manuka-honey dressing versus conventional dressing and found there was no statistically significant difference in the mean duration of healing. 12 There was not enough evidence to comment on honey’s effect on infection in diabetic foot ulcer. 12 Wounds must be protected from external contaminants throughout the course of healing. Doctors and nurses use powerful antiseptics such as Hibiclens soap to regularly clean wounds for a reason-- any new germ to enter the wound area could lead to a bacterial, viral or fungal infection. Occlusive barriers are a wound-care must, insulating the damaged tissue and keeping pathogens out. Honey's high viscosity makes it a particularly effective occlusive barrier for wounds. As a bonus, as long as the wound isn't leaking considerably, a single dressing may last for several days.If you care for a loved one with underlying health problems like diabetes or venous insufficiency, MEDIHONEY can reduce the risk of infections, support the removal of necrotic tissue, and encourage the body’s natural wound healing process. MediHoney dressings aids and supports autolytic debridement and a moist wound healing environment in acute and chronic wounds and burns, 5-8 through two key mechanisms – high osmolarity and low pH. The high sugar content of honey facilitates movement of fluid from an area of higher concentration, across a membrane, to an area of lower concentration. Osmotic potential draws fluid through the wound, to the surface, helping to liquefy non-viable tissue. Medical researchers have long proven that the pH of a wound (specifically the surface area) influences all of the processes that occur at the cellular level over the course of healing. Honey is unique among sugars because of its acidity and low pH (3.2 to 4.5). This pH level is low enough to inhibit the growth of a number of dangerous bacterial pathogens: E. coli, Salmonella and P. aeruginosa are just a few examples among others. The low pH level of honey and subsequent capability to regulate the acidity of the wound environment and surrounding tissue is a crucial component in honey's ability to heal.

Keep in mind that it’s best that MEDIHONEY be on the skin for 12-24 hours at a time for maximum effectiveness. If you or your loved one is having a hard time keeping the dressing intact, soak a gauze dressing in the MEDIHONEY (or use the MEDIHONEY square dressing) and apply it directly on the wound, then top with an abdominal pad dressing. When using MEDIHONEY will I need any extra supplies? Although the mechanism(s) by which honey speeds up the healing process have not been determined, there are some findings, which provide possible explanations. One way in which honey may work is through its stimulation of an inflammatory response in leukocytes ( 28, 29, 33), as inflammation is what triggers the cascade of cellular events that give rise to the production of growth factors which control angiogenesis and proliferation of fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Very recently, Tonks et al. discovered a 5.8kDA component of manuka honey which stimulates the production of TNF-α in macrophages via Toll-like receptor 4 ( 34). In one randomized controlled trial, the mean healing time of wounds treated with MediHoney dressings was significantly faster than the mean healing time of wounds treated with conventional dressings. 4This document is prepared and intended for use in the context of the Canadian health care system. The use of this document outside of Canada is done so at the user’s own risk.

MEDIHONEY products are so gentle that they are suitable for even the smallest of babies. In a 2007 medical study, infants with wounds not responsive to conventional treatment showed marked improvement after 5 days of treatment with 5-10ml (about 2 teaspoons) of fresh, unprocessed honey applied topically to the wound twice per day. In all infants, the wounds were closed clean sterile after 21 days of the treatment. It should be noted that in one clinical study, two out of 150 children showed allergic reactions to sterilized medical honey. MEDIHONEY bandages are beneficial for all of the phases of the wound healing process. Silver dressings, another type of wound care product, can only be used for the short term due to concerns about toxicity. Medical-honey dressings can be used for long periods of time or changed frequently if needed. Pressure ulcers, foot ulcers, skins tears, lesions, venous ulcers, burns, and other chronic wounds are par for the course in hospital and long-term care settings. Wounds can be difficult to treat and if an individual has a non-healing wound for more than eight weeks, the wound is considered chronic. Poor healing can result from poor blood circulation or an impaired immune system. While clinicians work to treat any underlying conditions that inhibit a wound from healing, they also treat wound topically, for example with occlusive dressings or surgical skin glue (such as Dermabond). Skin glue and occlusive dressings act as a sealant for the wound and surrounding tissue, keeping out the pathogens out while retaining moisture. MEDIHONEY has become the go-to wound care product for many Americans. It comes in both prescription-strength and over-the-counter formulas and provides a safe, effective, way to manage burns, arterial ulcers, and surgical wounds. Lusby PE, Coombes A, Wilkinson JM. Honey. A potent agent for wound healing? J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2002;29(6):295–300.When it’s time to change the dressing, thoroughly clean the wound with a saline solution. Once you do, repeat the same steps. MEDIHONEY is different from regular honey in several ways. For one, it’s only produced by bees that pollinate the Manuka flower, a species of tea tree native to New Zealand.