Can Honey Get Rid of Scars?

by MarkM

Overview

For nearly 3,000 years, honey has been used by cultures throughout the world to for treatment and/or prevention of a variety of ailments. Only recently, however, have the antimicrobial and other properties of honey been supported experimentally and their mechanisms of action explained.
Medicinal Value

One of its main medicinal uses is as an antimicrobial agent. This antimicrobial activity occurs via the following mechanisms: osmotic effect, acidity, hydrogen peroxide and phytochemicals. A host of constituents responsible for its other functions have also been identified, but are still under investigation. It is now well established that honey inhibits a broad spectrum of bacterial species, functioning both as a bactericidal and bacteriostatic agent. Multiple reports also indicate antifungal activity. It is, in fact, so effective, that certain types of honey received regulatory approval for wound care through topical application and are now being used to combat drug resistant strains of bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Scar Tissue

Scientific literature makes no mention as to the ability of honey to diminish existent scar tissue. However, strong clinical and empirical evidence indicates that honey is highly effective in rapidly clearing up infection and promoting healing of wounds, burns, and skin ulcers, thereby minimizing scaring. Tissue damage combined with infection results in inflammation, which contributes to scarring if it is prolonged. The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties promote rapid tissue reconstruction, reducing both the severity and duration of inflammation and therefore minimizing scar formation. In other words, for honey to be effective in reducing scar tissue, it has to be applied during the active phase of the wound healing process.
Raw Better

Only very high quality, raw, unprocessed honey has medicinal and nutritional value. The syrupy kind that comes in a plastic bear-shaped bottle is useless for all intents and purposes. It has been reported that potency of some medicinal honeys remains unchanged even when diluted 54 times its volume. The manuka variety, which comes from New Zealand, is generally regarded in the medical community as one of the most efficacious of these. This article is for information purposes only and not in any way intended as medical advice.

Overview