How to Treat a burn using honey

Honey has been used medicinally for 2700 years for minor medical ailments, but only recently has there been a scientific explanation of why honey is so effective. Treating minor (and major) burns with honey is proven to be efficacious due to the outstanding antibacterial properties and anti-inflammatory qualities found in honey which improve blood flow in and out of the wound, helping it heal quickly. Dead tissue sloughs off with each dressing change, promoting healthy skin tissue underneath. On top of the above mentioned qualities, honey is also antimicrobial and antiseptic. Honey is also wonderful to ease sore throats and for use as a cough medicine. Just take a spoonful of honey every two or three hours.

Things You'll Need

• Honey
• Assorted sized nonstick gauze pads
• Medical tape
• Bandage wrap

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Instructions

• 1

  Irrigate the burn with sterile water being careful not to introduce additional bacteria from any source. Air dry or pat dry with a sterile gauze pad. Spread a nonstick sterile gauze pad on one side with honey and apply, honey side down, to the burn. Place a second larger nonstick pad on top of the honeyed pad. Wrap securely with sterile bandage and medical tape. Keep the dressing dry.

• 2

  Change dressing daily as in Step 1, but do not irrigate the wound. Keep area absolutely dry. If you mistakenly get your dressing wet, re-apply dressing as soon as possible. Take care not to knock your wound on any object, as this will hinder the healing process. If the burn is on your arm, you may find that a sling will prevent additional injury to the wound by immobilizing your appendage.

• 3

  After one week the burn should be healing nicely and the wonderful quality about treating it with honey is that the burn will heal much faster than if you had treated it with antibiotic cream or by another method. It will leave minimal scarring.