IMPACT OF HONEY DRESSING ON CHRONIC ULCER

Purpose: This study aims to highlight the significance of honey in wound treatment by focusing on its healing properties, main compounds responsible for healing capacity, its effectiveness in non-healing wounds, cost-effectiveness, and challenges coming its way. Background: Honey is an ancient treatment that is increasingly earning its place in modern wound care. Honey has been found to exert antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects without antibiotic resistance, promote moist wound healing, and facilitate debridement. Composed of 80% sugar and 17% water, this supersaturated natural substance makes a splendid wound dressing. Its high osmolarity, phytochemicals, and enzymatic production of hydrogen peroxide inhibit bacterial growth, while its acidic pH and autolytic debridement, decrease inflammation and improve blood circulation to enhance epithelialization and healing with minimal scar tissue. Clinical observations suggest that honey holds significant promise as an effective treatment for several medical conditions, particularly in managing non-healing wounds. Large, contaminated wounds are difficult and expensive to treat. Thus, using honey can be an effective and economical approach to managing large wounds. Methods:A prospective observational study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery at Silchar Medical College and Hospital from August 2022 to April 2023, to evaluate the significance of honey dressing and related complications. This study included 25 cases with an average age of 38.18 (range 17-63) years, of these 19 were males and 6 were females. Result:In the results of the study, it was reported that honey in acute and chronic wounds provided rapid epithelization and wound contraction in wound healing, had anti-inflammatory and debridement effects, decreased pain, ensured infection control, shortened the time of wound healing, and was cost-effective.