The use of honey for the treatment of two patients with pressure ulcers. 2003

Elizabeth A Van der Weyden
Woodfield Retirement Village, Haberfield, New South Wales, Australia. Liesjevdw1@aol.com

Chronic wounds such as pressure ulcers, leg ulcers and diabetic wounds are a common problem among older people and alternative methods to the current time-consuming and costly practices of wound management in the nursing home need to be identified. To this end, we trialled the use of a honey alginate on two elderly males in our nursing home who were suffering from pressure ulcers (one on the ankle and one on the sacral region), to evaluate its effectiveness as a viable alternative to the current wound management practices in nursing homes. The use of honey resulted in a rapid and complete healing of both wounds. In addition, the antibacterial activity of honey had a deodorizing effect on the wounds and its anti-inflammatory actions helped reduce the level of pain. Similar healing results are also being observed in other patients with pressure-induced ulcers and as a result honey alginates are now being used as the 'standard' treatment for chronic wounds in our nursing home.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D003152 Community Health Nursing General and comprehensive nursing practice directed to individuals, families, or groups as it relates to and contributes to the health of a population or community. This is not an official program of a Public Health Department. Nursing, Community Health
D003668 Pressure Ulcer An ulceration caused by prolonged pressure on the SKIN and TISSUES when one stays in one position for a long period of time, such as lying in bed. The bony areas of the body are the most frequently affected sites which become ischemic (ISCHEMIA) under sustained and constant pressure. Bedsore,Decubitus Sore,Decubitus Ulcer,Pressure Injury,Pressure Sore,Bed Sores,Bed Sore,Bedsores,Decubitus Sores,Decubitus Ulcers,Injury, Pressure,Pressure Injuries,Pressure Sores,Pressure Ulcers,Sore, Bed,Sore, Decubitus,Sore, Pressure,Ulcer, Decubitus,Ulcer, Pressure
D006722 Honey A sweet viscous liquid food, produced in the honey sacs of various bees from nectar collected from flowers. The nectar is ripened into honey by inversion of its sucrose sugar into fructose and glucose. It is somewhat acidic and has mild antiseptic properties, being sometimes used in the treatment of burns and lacerations. Honeys
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D000369 Aged, 80 and over Persons 80 years of age and older. Oldest Old
D000464 Alginates Salts and esters of ALGINIC ACID that are used as HYDROGELS; DENTAL IMPRESSION MATERIALS, and as absorbent materials for surgical dressings (BANDAGES, HYDROCOLLOID). They are also used to manufacture MICROSPHERES and NANOPARTICLES for DIAGNOSTIC REAGENT KITS and DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS. Alginate,Alginic Acid, Barium Salt,Alginic Acid, Calcium Salt,Alginic Acid, Copper Salt,Alginic Acid, Potassium Salt,Alginic Acid, Sodium Salt,Alloid G,Barium Alginate,Calcium Alginate,Calginat,Copper Alginate,Kalrostat,Kalrostat 2,Kaltostat,Potassium Alginate,Sodium Alginate,Sodium Calcium Alginate,Vocoloid,Xantalgin,poly(Mannuronic Acid), Sodium Salt,Alginate, Barium,Alginate, Calcium,Alginate, Copper,Alginate, Potassium,Alginate, Sodium,Alginate, Sodium Calcium,Calcium Alginate, Sodium
D000842 Ankle The region of the lower limb between the FOOT and the LEG. Tarsus,Regio tarsalis,Ankles
D001458 Bandages Material used for wrapping or binding any part of the body. Dressings,Bandage,Dressing

Related Publications

Elizabeth A Van der Weyden
January 2007, Journal of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing : official publication of The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society,
Elizabeth A Van der Weyden
June 1991, Leprosy review,
Elizabeth A Van der Weyden
March 2015, Annals of internal medicine,
Elizabeth A Van der Weyden
April 2023, Cureus,
Elizabeth A Van der Weyden
May 2013, Annals of internal medicine,
Elizabeth A Van der Weyden
January 1990, Journal of enterostomal therapy,
Elizabeth A Van der Weyden
May 1973, JAMA,
Elizabeth A Van der Weyden
August 2014, Journal of tissue viability,
Copied contents to your clipboard!