Honey May Help Heal Wounds ——Researchers Say Traditional Healing Method May Have Some Benefits for Cuts and Burns

Oct. 3, 2008 -- Wouldn't it be sweet if honey could help heal cuts and burns? Researchers who analyzed existing studies on whether honey can help heal wounds are cautiously optimistic that this ancient treatment may help in some cases.

The study, published in The Cochrane Library, reviewed 19 trials on 2,554 people. The authors were not able to collectively analyze the data of the different trials, but summarized some of the major findings.

The researchers conclude that honey may improve healing times in mild to moderate superficial and partial thickness burns compared with some conventional dressings. Honey does not seem to help with chronic leg ulcer treatments. But the researchers warn that the potential for bias in some of the trials was moderate to high and the results should be read with caution.

Separate studies on animals have shown honey to be helpful in healing wounds. Honey may also be a potent antibiotic.

There are several reasons honey could help with the healing process, according to the report. Honey appears to draw fluid from the underlying circulation, providing both a moist environment and topical nutrition that enhances tissue growth. Honey also may spur debridement -- the removal of dead tissue around a wound to make way for healthy tissue.

Researchers call for more scientific trials to measure the effectiveness of honey in treating wounds. 编译：

蜂蜜有助于伤口愈合 ---研究者表示传统疗法可能有益于刀伤和烧伤

2008.10.03-如果蜂蜜有助于愈合刀伤和烧伤是不是件甜蜜的事呢？通过分析现存的关于是否蜂蜜有助于伤口愈合的研究，研究者保持谨慎的乐观认为这种古老的治疗方法可能有帮于某些病例。

本研究发表于Cochrane图书馆，研究回顾了19次临床研究对2554人的调查。作者无法获得各种临床试验不同的数据，但是，他总结了一些主要的发现。

研究者认为，与一些传统的制剂相比，蜂蜜可以轻至中度改善治愈表面和部分真皮烧伤患者的时间。蜂蜜在腿部慢性溃疡的治疗中似乎不起作用。但是，研究者警告到，在有些临床试验中存在中到高度的偏移，并且应该谨慎的阅读研究结果。

独立的动物研究表明蜂蜜有助于治愈伤口。蜂蜜也可能是一种潜在的抗生素。

根据报道，一些原因说明蜂蜜有助于伤口愈合的过程。蜂蜜可以吸收来自循环的体液，这提供了一个湿润的环境，并且充足的营养提高了组织的生长。蜂蜜可能也刺激了清创过程，清创就是移除受伤部位的坏死组织以使健康组织生长。

研究者呼吁更多的科学家进行临床实验，以确定蜂蜜治疗创伤的有效性。