Honey-Based Dressings Promote Wound Healing

Novel wound dressings that are based on active manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) honey encourage effective lesion healing.

The Medihoney wound & burn dressings are indicated for use on wounds with light to moderate exudates. A hydrocolloid based dressing forms a gel when it comes into contact with wound fluid to assist in promoting a moist environment conducive to healing. A second, alginate based dressing is indicated for wounds with moderate to heavy levels of exudates.

The new dressings, both in adhesive and non-adhesive versions, have been shown to lower the pH level of wounds, which helps to create a more optimal environment for wound healing; when wound pH is lowered, protease modulation and increased oxygen diffusion take place, both beneficial to hard-to-heal wounds. Additionally, the dressings--due to their high levels of glucose and other sugars--have been shown to promote a strong osmotic effect. This osmotic effect, drawing fluid from surrounding tissues, helps to constantly bathe wounds in lymph fluid, which assists in the removal of necrotic tissue, slough, and debris from the wound bed. The dressings are products of Derma Sciences (Toronto, Canada), manufactured under license from Comvita (Te Puke, New Zealand).

"Ultimately, we intend to offer clinicians a complete line of dressings based on the patented honey-based wound dressing technologies,” said Edward J. Quilty, Derma Science CEO.

L. scoparium (Manuka or Tea tree) is a shrub native to New Zealand and southeast Australia. It is not as yet fully understood why only some manuka honey has an antimicrobial property. The presence of this activity can be detected by laboratory testing and if verified is referred to as "active”.


Related Links:
Derma Sciences
Comvita