Manuka Honey for Leg Ulcers

Ancient Egyptians used honey with wine and milk as a base for medicinal herbs; Aristotle (c.350 B.C.E.) described its use in medicine as did the Greek physician Dioscorides (c. 50 C.E.) and it is mentioned several times in the Old Testament. Honey is being used again for many wound types, including leg ulcers. Manuka honey is a high quality honey made in New Zealand by bees which gather nectar only from the flowers of the manuka bush.

The Molan Gold Standard

Medicinal properties of honey can be measured by the Molan Gold Standard.

In a study on the medicinal properties of honey, Frans Theunissen states that the first research which demonstrated the antimicrobial action of honey was undertaken in 1892 by the Dutch scientist Van Ketel.

The world's leading researcher into the medicinal properties of honey is Peter Molan of the University of Waikato. He states that most honey has medicinal properties to some degree and devised the Molan Gold Standard (MGS), which measures the level of therapeutic agents in honey for medical use.

Honey Takes Water From Bacteria

Honey attracts water to itself.

Like all sugars, honey is hygroscopic. That is, it attracts water to itself.

Bacteria need water to survive, and it was initially assumed that the deprivation of water was the major antibacterial effect.

Writing in World Wide Wounds, Molan states that honey retains its microbial activity even after it has been diluted to a level at which it is no longer able to attract water to itself. In fact, it becomes more effective.

Honey Produces Hydrogen Peroxide

Honey does not cause inflammation.

When diluted, honey produces hydrogen peroxide.

As a 3 percent solution, hydrogen peroxide was formerly used as a wound cleanser but lost favor because it damages tissue and causes inflammation.

The hydrogen peroxide produced by honey is around 1,000 times less strong than the 3 percent solution but is equally effective. It reduces inflammation and does not damage tissue cells

Expert Insight

Applying honey to a wound creates benefits greater than the hygroscopic and antibacterial effects.

The lymphocytes (white blood cells) which fight infections are stimulated by honey.

B lymphocytes make antibodies which fight the toxins produced by bacteria. T lymphocytes attack body cells which have been invaded by viruses or cancer. These both increase rapidly at honey concentrations as low as 0.1 percent, and phagocytes, which ingest bacteria, are stimulated in concentrations as low as 1 percent.

Honey Helps Heal Wounds

Manuka honey is used to treat leg ulcers.

Honey varies in its medical effectiveness depending upon where it is from and how it is processed.

In 2001, Molan undertook research on two types of New Zealand honey, one of which was a mulitifloral honey known to have actions due to hydrogen peroxide. The other was manuka honey which has phytochemical actions, i.e. plant chemicals which can protect against or prevent disease.

Molan found both honeys to be equally effective but warns that not all honey is appropriate for medical use.

The University of Waikato where he works is providing the new international standard, the Molan Gold Scale, to marketers of manuka honey to help consumers recognize that it is of medical grade and suitable for the treatment of wounds such as leg ulcers.