Honey helps heal moderate burn wounds

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- A systematic review has found honey may reduce healing times in patients suffering mild to moderate burn wounds, New Zealand researchers said.

Lead researcher Dr. Andrew Jull of the Clinical Trials Research Unit at the University of Auckland, in New Zealand, said that honey has been used in wound treatment since ancient times.

The review included data from 19 clinical trials involving 2,554 patients with a range of different wounds. Honey was more effective in reducing healing time compared to some gauze and film dressings that are often used to treat moderate burns.

"We're treating these results with caution, but it looks like honey can help speed up healing in some burns," Jull said in a statement.

However, the researchers were unable to show any clear benefits for the healing of grazes, lacerations, surgical wounds and leg ulcers.

The researchers don't advise using honey to treat other types of wounds.

"Health services should invest in treatments that have been shown to work," Jull said. "But, we will keep monitoring new research to try and establish the effect of honey."

The findings are published in the Cochrane Library.