Honey Therapy Could Give Diabetics Hope when Facing Possible Amputations

Honey has been used in other countries for years to promote the healing of diabetic ulcers and wound care in alternative medicine throughout Europe. Until recently, this possibility has not been explored here in the United States. Jennifer Eddy, a Professor at the University of Wisconsin is setting out to prove this ancient treatment a success thru a controlled trial on patients who face possible amputation caused by diabetic ulcers.

Professor Eddy first heard of this Honey Therapy while still attending medical school. She tried this ancient remedy on her first diabetic patient as a last resort. The patient was 79 years old and had ulcers that were resistant to traditional antibiotic treatments and all other possibilities had been exhausted. After Honey Therapy was administered, the wounds to his feet healed quickly. She has since helped about a half dozen of her patients with similar topical treatments of this ancient cure.

Honey works much like a natural antibiotic. It has a broad spectrum of properties that act in several ways to fight off deadly bacteria.

Honey is very acidic and certain bacteria cannot grow or multiply in an acidic environment.

It also contains hydrogen peroxide therefore making it a powerful antiseptic.

Another important factor that helps honey eradicate bacteria deals with a process known as osmosis. Honey is so thick because it contains very little water. This osmotic process simply draws water from the bacteria in a wound or burn somewhat like a sponge. It dries up the bacteria making it harder for it to thrive.

The use of honey for medicinal purposes is not a new found idea. In fact, research shows that the use of honey dates back to pre-historic times for its medicinal purposes by many different cultures. The earliest written account showing that the Egyptians thought of honey as having healing properties and used it as a symbol of health.

Today in New Zealand, a research center has found thru its studies that honey kills a broad range of bacteria preventing infection. It is being used there to treat bedsores with much success.

If things prove as promising as first results show this could have a big impact on the medical field as a whole. Financially this could drastically reduce the cost of treatment for many and help those with bacterial infections that have become resistant to traditional antibiotic therapy. This could also open the door and give treatment options in other areas that could benefit from this ancient cure as well. Professor Eddy expects to have the results for her trial available sometime in 2008 or 2009.