Honey Fails Ulcer Test
January 10th 2008
Some recent studies have found healing properties in honey - but a new study suggests it should not be used to treat leg ulcers.
Researchers from New Zealand found it did not improve the rate of healing and also led to an increase in complications.
The study compared conventional dressings with dressings impregnated with honey.
The findings, which involved some 386 patients, have been published in the British Journal of Surgery.
Researchers said there was no difference in the rate of healing between patients - but the honey treatment was more expensive.
Researcher Dr Andrew Jull, of the University of Auckland, said: "In our trial the honey dressing did not significantly improve healing, time to healing, change in ulcer area, incidence of infection or quality of life.
"The current focus of venous ulcer management should remain on compression and other treatments that have demonstrated that they improve compression’s ability to work or prevent ulcer recurrence."
British Journal of Surgery 2008; DOI: 10.1002/bjs.6059
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