The golden healer: Why your kitchen honey is the ultimate garden first aid hack |

In the garden, you are pruning roses or finishing up some weekend work in the shed when you end up with a vivid red scrape caused by a sharp thorn or piece of wood. You automatically reach for an over-the-counter antiseptic lotion. But lately, more and more do-it-yourselfers have gone back into the kitchen and reached for a pot of honey instead.Unlike an occasional drink additive to give your beverage a touch of sweetness, this golden fluid is much more than meets the eye, as it was used for centuries in Egypt and Rome to treat the skin. Honey has been hailed as one of the best natural substances to use for healing.Healing from the natural chemical makeupWhat makes honey such an effective treatment for small wounds? Simply put, it is its unique chemical makeup. Upon applying honey to a freshly created injury, the fluid forms a protective layer that is more than just a barrier against dust and germs. This is elaborated upon in the research titled Honey: An Advanced Antimicrobial and Wound Healing Biomaterial for Tissue Engineering Applications. The most fascinating thing about honey is its ability to produce hydrogen peroxide. Honey works like magic by producing an antibacterial effect as soon as it comes into contact with the moisture in your skin. This eliminates the need for using pain-inducing over-the-counter peroxide, but rather cleanses the wound in a gentle way. The acid content of honey further reduces the pH level, making it impossible for bacteria to survive.Not only does honey repel bacteria, but it has superior moisture-retention qualities. A dry dressing may stick to an injury and tear newly grown cells, while honey absorbs moisture to keep the injured area moistened. This moist state is important in order to heal more rapidly, allowing cells to grow together in place of a dry, itchy scab.Regenerative medicine from natureThe reason why honey is so useful for self-treatment is not only its ability to prevent infection but also its ability to help regenerate new tissue. As described in the article from Honey, Wound Repair and Regenerative Medicine honey serves as a “fuel source” to feed your cells what they need for quick cell growth.If you have ever noticed that a scratch feels hot, red, and throbbing, you are experiencing the body’s inflammatory response. While some inflammation is good, too much can be painful and slow down recovery. Honey acts as a natural anti-inflammatory agent. By calming the swelling and neutralising free radicals, it takes the “fire” out of the injury, making your recovery much more comfortable.

That is precisely what makes scientists interested in applying honey to more sophisticated medical applications, such as hydrogel for helping heal surgical wounds. For everyone else, it will be a convenient and readily available solution to avoid getting a wound from gardening that turns into a difficult-to-remove scar.How to apply honey to your everyday lifeIntegrating honey into your at-home first aid kit can be relatively effortless; however, you should follow certain guidelines. Firstly, wash the scratch with some water to clear off any dirt or debris that might have gathered in the garden. Then apply a thin coating of honey on top of the scratch.Should the honey have some stickiness, you can place a gauze pad or adhesive tape on it. It will secure the honey in position and prevent it from staining your clothing. It is recommended that you use either raw or medical honey because they contain the highest amount of enzymes and antioxidants.This is well explained in the extensive review about the Role of Honey in Advanced Wound Care. Honey functions due to the synergy among its properties. It is not just one component that does everything. The antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and moisturising qualities blend to produce the healing effect. This time-tested traditional method blends in perfectly with today’s chemical-free world. The best medicines may not always come from laboratories but rather from the industrious hive of bees.