RX-Cuts

A sweet solution for healing everything from cuts and grazes to stomach ulcers and burns may live right in our cupboards: honey. The sticky stuff’s high concentration of sugars—around 84 percent—kills microorganisms by literally sucking water out of them by osmosis, and its natural acidity also creates an inhospitable environment for microbes in the wound. More powerful still, honey contains small amounts of hydrogen peroxide, which kills infection-causing bugs.

Spreading honey on your cuts and scrapes not only stops the spread of infection but also stimulates your immune system, helping you heal faster and reducing scarring. In fact, a recent study in India found honey healed burns better and with less pain and scarring than the standard treatment of silver sulfadiazine. “There are a lot of advantages to using honey, even if the wound is not infected,” says biochemist and honey expert Peter Molan, PhD.

Some honeys pack a more powerful punch than others. “All honeys have the anti-inflammatory promoting agents,” Molan says, “but as far as antibiotics go, there is a huge variation between honeys.” New Zealand’s Manuka honey, for example, and its Australian cousin, Jellybush, are the only known honeys that kill all types of microbes—including those resistant to all other treatments. The Australian and British governments have, in fact, approved their medical use for wounds.

Although Manuka and Jellybush are the antibacterial rock stars, you can use any type of honey to heal wounds. Look for raw, unpasteurized honey, since heat can destroy some of its healing properties.

Spread about 1 tablespoon onto a 4-inch-by-4-inch gauze pad and seal the wound. Change the dressing twice daily. For stomach ulcers and digestive ailments, eat 1 teaspoon of honey on toast or fruit 20 minutes before each main meal. Since honey can contain small amounts of botulism bacteria, don’t give honey to infants younger than 12 months old.