Christian Riesen, our wound care and healing specialist nurse, recently spoke in the magazine Signé Genève about the benefits of honey for wound healing. Indeed, nature is truly remarkable: the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of honey greatly contribute to wound healing.
Composed mainly of water and fructose, honey contains numerous active components such as inhibins (hormones secreted by bees) and formic acid, which has antiseptic properties. Honey is also acidic, which provides an effective barrier against the spread of bacteria. In addition, the high sugar concentration in honey naturally creates osmotic pressure that neutralizes bacteria. The antiseptic and antibacterial benefits of honey make it an excellent healing agent.
With the patient's consent, Christian Riesen uses organic thyme honey daily at the ASSAL Center as a remedy for wound healing. Fully committed to eco-friendly healing alternatives, the ASSAL Center strongly supports this approach and also uses fly larvae and acupuncture as treatment methods.
How can you easily use honey to heal a foot or leg wound at home once you have received medical advice? Christian Riesen shares the tips he gives during his consultations.
Follow these steps:
- Wash the wound with a gentle, pH-neutral soap.
- Apply the honey generously to the wound using a spatula: the wound should be completely covered.
- Put on a dry dressing (a sterile gauze).
- Repeat the same treatment after 48 hours (the duration of the treatment depends on the progress of the wound).
- If there are signs of worsening, burning, or increased pain, stop the treatment immediately.
To optimize your chances of healing, it is essential to distinguish between food-grade honey and medical-grade honey. It is usually recommended to use medical-grade honey (which is covered by insurance), as food-grade honey carries a higher risk of allergic reactions.
However, it is still possible to use organic food-grade honey from a small producer, which carries a very low risk of allergies and will be just as effective as medical-grade honey.
