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Use of Honey in Medicine: Bibliography

P. C. Molan B.Sc. Ph.D.

Honey Research Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
Related Article: Honey as a dressing for wounds, burns and ulcers: a brief review of clinical reports and experimental studies
Related Article: Selection and Use of Honey on Wounds
Related Summary: Some research findings on the antibacterial activity of honey

Reviews

Molan, P. C. (1998) A brief review of honey as a clinical dressing. Primary Intention 6 (4): 148-158.

Molan, P. C. (1999) The role of honey in the management of wounds. Journal of Wound Care 8 (8) 423-426.

Molan, P. C. (1999) " Why honey is effective as a medicine. 1. Its use in modern medicine." Bee World 80 (2) 80- 92.

Zumla, A.; Lulat, A. (1989) Honey - a remedy rediscovered. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 82: 384-385.

Clinical trials

Abdel-Rahim, F.; Al-Gyoshi, F.; Al-Kinani (1982) Use of honey in the treatment of chronic bilharzial ulcer bladder. Bulletin of Islamic Medicine 2 : 415-421.

Efem, S. E. E. (1993) Recent advances in the management of Fournier's gangrene: Preliminary observations. Surgery 113 (2): 200-204.

Hamdy, M. H.; El-Banby, M. A.; Khakifa, K. I.; Gad, E. M.; Hassanein, E. M. (1989). "The antimicrobial effect of honey in the management of septic wounds." Fourth International Conference on Apiculture in Tropical Climates, Cairo, International Bee Research Association, London. 61-67.

Harris, S. (1994) Honey for the treatment of superficial wounds: a case report and review. Primary Intention 2 (4): 18-23.

Phuapradit, W.; Saropala, N. (1992) Topical application of honey in treatment of abdominal wound disruption. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 32 (4): 381-384.

Subrahmanyam, M. (1991) Topical application of honey in treatment of burns. British Journal of Surgery 78 (4): 497-498.

Subrahmanyam, M. (1993) Honey impregnated gauze versus polyurethane film (OpSite(r)) in the treatment of burns - a prospective randomised study. British Journal of Plastic Surgery 46 (4): 322-323.

Subrahmanyam, M. (1994) Honey-impregnated gauze versus amniotic membrane in the treatment of burns. Burns 20 (4): 331-333.

Subrahmanyam, M. (1996) Honey dressing versus boiled potato peel in the treatment of burns: a prospective randomized study. Burns 22 (6): 491-493.

Subrahmanyam, M. (1998) A prospective randomised clinical and histological study of superficial burn wound healing with honey and silver sulfadiazine. Burns 24 (2): 157-161.

Weheida, S. M.; Nagubib, H. H.; El-Banna, H. M.; Marzouk, S. (1991) Comparing the effects of two dressing techniques on healing of low grade pressure ulcers. Journal of the Medical Research Institute - Alexandria University 12 (2): 259-278.

Animal experiments

Bergman, A.; Yanai, J.; Weiss, J.; Bell, D.; David, M. P. (1983) Acceleration of wound healing by topical application of honey. An animal model. American Journal of Surgery 145 : 374-376.

Burlando, F. (1978) Sull'azione terapeutica del miele nelle ustioni. [The therapeutic effect of honey on burns] Minerva Dermatologica 113 : 699-706.

El-Banby, M.; Kandil, A.; Abou-Sehly, G.; El-Sherif, M. E.; Abdel-Wahed, K. (1989). "Healing effect of floral honey and honey from sugar-fed bees on surgical wounds (animal model)." Fourth International Conference on Apiculture in Tropical Climates, Cairo, International Bee Research Association, London. 46-49.

Gundel, M.; Blattner, V. (1934) Über die Wirkung des Honigs auf Bakterien und infizierte Wunden. Archiv für Hygiene und Bakteriologie 112 : 319-332.

Gupta, S. K.; Singh, H.; Varshney, A. C.; Prakash, P. (1992) Therapeutic efficacy of honey in infected wounds in buffaloes. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 62 (6): 521-523.

Kandil, A.; El-Banby, M.; Abdel-Wahed, K.; Abou-Sehly, G.; Ezzat, N. (1987) Healing effect of true floral and false nonfloral honey on medical wounds. Journal of Drug Research (Cairo) 17 (1-2): 71-75.

Kumar, A.; Sharma, V. K.; Singh, H. P.; Prakash, P.; Singh, S. P. (1993) Efficacy of some indigenous drugs in tissue repair in buffaloes. Indian Veterinary Journal 70 (1): 42-44.

Oryan, A.; Zaker, S. R. (1998) Effects of topical application of honey on cutaneous wound healing in rabbits. Journal of Veterinary Medicine. Series A 45 (3): 181-188.

Postmes, T. J.; Bosch, M. M. C.; Dutrieux, R.; van Baare, J.; Hoekstra, M. J. (1997). "Speeding up the healing of burns with honey. An experimental study with histological assessment of wound biopsies." Bee Products: Properties, Applications and Apitherapy. A. Mizrahi and Y. Lensky, Eds. New York, Plenum Press. 27-37.

Schmaltz, R.; Schmidt, J. (1934) Die gesundheitliche Bedeutung des Bienenhonigs. [The health-beneficial properties of honey] Berliner Tierärztliche Wochenschrift Nr. 19 : 321-324.

Segree, W. A.; James, O.; Morris, D. E. U.; Haase, D. A. (1970) Effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus pyogenes on the rate of wound healing in mice. West Indian Medical Journal 19 : 65-70.

Suguna, L.; Chandrakasan, G.; Ramamoorthy, U.; Thomas Joseph, K. (1993) Influence of honey on biochemical and biophysical parameters of wounds in rats. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition 14 : 91-99.

Suguna, L.; Chandrakasan, G.; Thomas Joseph, K. (1992) Influence of honey on collagen metabolism during wound healing in rats. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition 13 : 7-12.

Case reports

Armon, P. J. (1980) The use of honey in the treatment of infected wounds. Tropical Doctor 10 : 91.

Bulman, M. W. (1955) Honey as a surgical dressing. Middlesex Hospital Journal 55 : 188-189.

Cavanagh, D.; Beazley, J.; Ostapowicz, F. (1970) Radical operation for carcinoma of the vulva. A new approach to wound healing. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Commonwealth 77 (11): 1037-1040.

Dany-Mazeau, M.; Pautard, G. (1991) Die Wiederentdeckung eines Naturheilmittels: Honig auf die Wunde. [Rediscovery of a natural remedy: honey on the wound] Krankenpflege Soins Infirmiers 84 (6): 54-59.

Dany-Mazeau, M.; Pautard, G. (1991) L'utilisation du miel dans le processus de cicatrisation. De la ruche à l'hôpital. [The use of honey in the process of scar formation From the hive to the hospital] Krankenpflege Soins Infirmiers 84 (3): 63-69.

Dany-Mazeau, M. P. G. (1992) Honig auf die Wunde. [Honey on the wound] Krankenpflege 46 (1): 6-10.

Descottes, B. (1990) De la ruche a l'hospital ou l'utilisation du miel dans l'unité de soins. m inj ulc surg L'abeille de France et l'apiculture (754): 459-460.

Dumronglert, E. (1983) A follow-up study of chronic wound healing dressing with pure natural honey. Journal of the National Research Council of Thailand 15 (2): 39-66.

Efem, S. E. E. (1988) Clinical observations on the wound healing properties of honey. British Journal of Surgery 75 : 679-681.

Farouk, A.; Hassan, T.; Kashif, H.; Khalid, S. A.; Mutawali, I.; Wadi, M. (1988) Studies on Sudanese bee honey: laboratory and clinical evaluation. International Journal of Crude Drug Research 26 (3): 161-168.

Harris, S. (1994) Honey for the treatment of superficial wounds: a case report and review. Primary Intention 2 (4): 18-23.

Hejase, M. J.; E., S. J.; Bihrle, R.; Coogan, C. L. (1996) Genital Fournier's gangrene: experience with 38 patients. Urology 47 (5): 734-739.

Hutton, D. J. (1966) Treatment of pressure sores. Nursing Times 62 (46): 1533-1534.

Ndayisaba, G.; Bazira, L.; Habonimana, E. (1992) Traitement des plaies par le miel: 40 observations. [Treatment of wounds with honey] La Presse Médicale 21 (32): 1516-1518.

Ndayisaba, G.; Bazira, L.; Habonimana, E.; Muteganya, D. (1993) Clinical and bacteriological results in wounds treated with honey. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery 7 (2): 202-204.

Ndayisaba, G.; Bazira, L.; Habonimana, E.; Muteganya, D. (1993) Evolution clinique et bactériologique des plaies traitées par le miel. Analyse d'une série de 40 cas. [Clinical and bacteriological outcome of wounds treated with honey. An analysis of a series of 40 cases] Revue de Chirurgie Orthopédique 79 (2): 111-113.

Phuapradit, W.; Saropala, N. (1992) Topical application of honey in treatment of abdominal wound disruption. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 32 (4): 381-384.

Vardi, A.; Barzilay, Z.; Linder, N.; Cohen, H. A.; Paret, G.; Barzilai, A. (1998) Local application of honey for treatment of neonatal postoperative wound infection. Acta Paediatrica 87 (4): 429-432.

Wood, B.; Rademaker, M.; Molan, P. C. (1997) Manuka honey, a low cost leg ulcer dressing. New Zealand Medical Journal 110 : 107.

Brief reports

Adesunkanmi, K.; Oyelami, O. A. (1994) The pattern and outcome of burn injuries at Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesha, Nigeria: a review of 156 cases. Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 97 (2): 108-112.

Bergman, A.; Yanai, J.; Weiss, J.; Bell, D.; David, M. P. (1983) Acceleration of wound healing by topical application of honey. An animal model. American Journal of Surgery 145 : 374-376.

Blomfield, R. (1973) Honey for decubitus ulcers. Journal of the American Medical Association 224 (6): 905.

Bloomfield, E. (1976) Old remedies. Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners 26 : 576.

Braniki, F. J. (1981) Surgery in Western Kenya. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England 63 : 348-352.

Burlando, F. (1978) Sull'azione terapeutica del miele nelle ustioni. [The therapeutic effect of honey on burns] Minerva Dermatologica 113 : 699-706.

Editorial (1982) Hospitals using honey as a fast new antibiotic. American Bee Journal 122 (4): 247.

Editorial (1987) Honey cure. Soil and Health (New Zealand) (Winter 1987) : 41.

Efem, S. E. E.; Udoh, K. T.; Iwara, C. I. (1992) The antimicrobial spectrum of honey and its clinical significance. Infection 20 (4): 227-229.

Green, A. E. (1988) Wound healing properties of honey. British Journal of Surgery 75 (12): 1278.

Lawrence, N. (1976) Use of honey. Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners 26 : 843.

McInerney, R. J. F. (1990) Honey - a remedy rediscovered. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 83 : 127.

Seymour, F. I.; West, K. S. (1951) Honey - its role in medicine. Medical Times 79 : 104-107.

Somerfield, S. D. (1991) Honey and healing. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 84 (3): 179.

Tovey, F. I. (1991) Honey and healing. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 84 (7): 447.

Wadi, M.; Al-Amin, H.; Farouq, A.; Kashef, H.; Khaled, S. A. (1987) Sudanese bee honey in the treatment of suppurating wounds. Arab Medico 3 : 16-18.

Comments

Bloemers, D. (1993) Kleine kwalen in de huisartsgeneeskunde; oppervlakkige huidverbranding. [Minor symptoms in family medicine, superficial skin burns] Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskdunde 137 (39): 1994.

Bose, B. (1982) Honey or sugar in treatment of infected wounds? Lancet i (April 24): 963.

Casey, G.; van Rij, A. (1997) Manuka honey and leg ulcers. New Zealand Medical Journal : 216.

Condon, R. E. (1993) Curious interaction of bugs and bees. Surgery 113 (2): 234-235.

Davis, P. (1999) Honey as a wound dressing. Primary Intention 7 (1): 5, 25.

Editorial (1992) Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 32 (4): 381.

Editorial (1999) Wound care expert calls for honey trialsNursing Times 95 (27): 43.

Grange, J. M. (1990) Reply: Honey and propolis as possible promoters of the healing of ulcers in leprosy. Leprosy Review 61 (2): 195.

Greenwood, D. (1993) Honey for superficial wounds and ulcers. Lancet 341 (8837): 90-91.

Keast-Butler, J. (1980) Honey for necrotic malignant breast ulcers. Lancet ii (October 11): 809.

Lawrence, J. C. (1998) Editorial: Honey and wound bacteria. Journal of Wound Care 8 (4): 155.

Mossel, D. A. A. (1980) Honey for necrotic breast ulcers. Lancet ii (November 15): 1091.

Mutalik, S. (1991) Comment: The use of honey and sugar for the treatment of ulcers in leprosy. Leprosy Review 62 (2): 228.

Postmes, T.; van den Bogaard, A. E.; Hazen, M. (1993) Honey for wounds, ulcers, and skin graft preservation. Lancet 341 (8847): 756-757.

Prentice, J.; Stacey, M. C. (1998) Editorial. Primary Intention 6 (4): 140.

Soffer, A. (1976) Chihuahuas and laetrile, chelation therapy, and honey from Boulder, Colo. Archives of Internal Medicine 136 : 865-866.

Veterinary

Clayton Jones, D. G. (1992) Bad language? Veterinary Record 130 (9): 192.

Liptak, J. M. (1997) An overview of the topical management of wounds. Aust Vet J. * 75 (6): 408-413.

Lührs, B. (1935) Honig in äußerlicher Anwendung. Zeitschrift für Veterinärkunde 47 : 57-58.

Ophthalmology

Emarah, M. H. (1982) A clinical study of the topical use of bee honey in the treatment of some occular diseases. Bulletin of Islamic Medicine 2 (5): 422-5.

Mozherenkov, V. P.; Prokof'eva, G. L. (1991) Apiterapiia glaznykh zabolevanii (obzor). [Apiotherapy of eye diseases (review)] Vestnik Oftal'mologii 107 (6): 73-5.

Osaulko, G. K. (1953) Use of honey in treatment of the eye [in Russian]. Vestnik Oftal'mologii (Moskow) 32 : 35-36.

Popescu, M. P.; Palos, E.; Popescu, F. (1985) Studiul eficacitatii terapiei biologice complexe cu produse apicole in unele afectiuni oculare localizate palpebral si conjunctival in raport cu modificarile clinico-functionale. [Study of the efficiency of biological therapy with honey bee products in some palpebral and conjunctival affections in terms of clinical-functional changes] Revista de Chirurgie Oncologie Radiologie O.R.L. Oftalmologie Stomatologie Seria Oftalmologie 29 (1): 53-61.

Sarma, M. C. (1988). Honey in the treatment of bacterial corneal ulcers. Personal communication cited in Efem, S. E. E.; Udoh, K. T.; Iwara, C. I. (1992) The antimicrobial spectrum of honey and its clinical significance. Infection 20(4):227-229.

Pre-antibiotic era

Lücke, H. (1935) Wundbehandlung mit Honig und Lebertran. Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift 61 (41): 1638-1640.

Phillips, C. E. (1933) Honey for burns. Gleanings in Bee Culture 61 : 284.

Temnov, V. A. (1944) Bactericidal properties of honey and utilization of honey and other bee-keeping products for the healing of wounds. Bee World 25 : 86-87.

Voigtländer, H. (1936) Umschau und Ausschau aus anderen Bienenzeifungen. [Review of other beekeeper's journals] Rheinische Bienenzeitung 88 : 305-308.

Weber, H. (1937) Honig zur Behandlung vereiterter Wunden. Therapie der Gegenwart 78 : 547.

Yang, K. L. (1944) The use of honey in the treatment of chilblains, non-specific ulcers, and small wounds. Chinese Medical Journal 62 : 55-60.

Zaiß (1934) Der Honig in äußerlicher Anwendung. [Honey for external application] Münchener Medizinische Wochenschrift Nr. 49 : 1891-1893.

Preservation of tissues

Gupta, M. (1977) Preservation of split skin grafts in honey: A preliminary study. Indian Journal of Surgery 39 : 591-98.

Khanna, S. K.; Arora, H. L.; Jain, T. C.; Gupta, M. (1971) Preservation of aortic valves in honey. Annals of the Indian Academy of Medical Sciences 7 (3): 217-227.

Markicheva, N. A. (1978) Histomorphological studies of the cornea preserved in honey [in Russian]. Oftalmol Zh 33 (7): 528-529.

Mschvidobadse, M. V. (1978) Allotransplantation sterilisierter Knochen und Halbgelenke bei Knochendefekten. Zentralblatt für Chirurgie 103 (17): 1138-1148.

Subrahmanyam, M. (1993) Storage of skin grafts in honey. Lancet 341 (8836): 63-64.

Peptic ulcers

Al Somai, N.; Coley, K. E.; Molan, P. C.; Hancock, B. M. (1994) Susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to the antibacterial activity of manuka honey. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 87 (1): 9-12.

Al-Swayeh, O. A.; Ali, A. T. M. (1998) Effect of ablation of capsaicin-sensitive neurons on gastric protection by honey and sucralfate. Hepato-Gastroenterology 45 (19): 297-302.

Ali, A. T. M. (1995) Natural honey accelerates healing of indomethacin-induced antral ulcers in rats. Saudi Medical Journal 16 (2): 161-166.

Ali, A. T. M. M. (1991) Prevention of ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats by natural honey, and its possible mechanism of action. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology 26 : 281-288.

Ali, A. T. M. M. (1995) Natural honey exerts its protective effects against ethanol- induced gastric lesions in rats by preventing depletion of glandular nonprotein sulfhydryls. Tropical Gastroenterology 16 (1): 18-26.

Ali, A. T. M. M.; Al-Humayyd, M. S.; Madan, B. R. (1990) Natural honey prevents indomethacin- and ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats. Saudi Medical Journal 11 (4): 275-279.

Ali, A. T. M. M.; Chowdhury, M. N. H.; Al Humayyd, M. S. (1991) Inhibitory effect of natural honey on Helicobacter pylori. Tropical Gastroenterology 12 (3): 139-143.

Kandil, A.; El-Banby, M.; Abdel-Wahed, K.; Abdel-Gawwad, M.; Fayez, M. (1987) Curative properties of true floral and false nonfloral honeys on induced gastric ulcer. Journal of Drug Research (Cairo) 17 (1-2): 103-106.

Kandil, A.; El-Banby, M.; Abdel-Wahed, K.; Abdel-Gawwad, M.; Fayez, M. (1989). "Curative properties of floral honey and honey from sugar-fed bees on induced gastric ulcers." Fourth International Conference on Apiculture in Tropical Climates, Cairo, International Bee Research Association, London. 68-69.

Gastroenteritis

Haffejee, I. E.; Moosa, A. (1985) Honey in the treatment of infantile gastroenteritis. British Medical Journal 290 : 1866-1867.

Linnett, P. (1996). Honey for equine diarrhoea. Control and Therapy: 906.

Salem, S. N. (1981) Honey regimen in gastrointestinal disorders. Bulletin of Islamic Medicine 1 : 358-362.

Publications from the Honey Research Unit on Honey's Antimicrobial Activity

Molan, P. C. (1997) "Honey as an antimicrobial agent". In: Mizrahi, A. and Lensky, Y. (eds.) Bee Products: Properties, Applications and Apitherapy Plenum Press, New York. Pages 27-37.

Molan, P. C. (1992) "The antibacterial activity of honey. 1. The nature of the antibacterial activity." Bee World 73(1): 5-28.

Molan, P. C. (1992) "The antibacterial activity of honey. 2. Variation in the potency of the antibacterial activity." Bee World 73(2): 59-76.

Allen, K. L.; Molan, P. C.; Reid, G. M. (1991) "A survey of the antibacterial activity of some New Zealand honeys." Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 43 (12): 817-822.

Willix, D. J.; Molan, P. C.; Harfoot, C. J. (1992) "A comparison of the sensitivity of wound-infecting species of bacteria to the antibacterial activity of manuka honey and other honey." Journal of Applied Bacteriology 73: 388-394.

Al Somai, N.; Coley, K. E.; Molan, P. C.; Hancock, B. M. (1994) "Susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to the antibacterial activity of manuka honey." Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 87 (1): 9-12.

Molan, P. C.; Allen, K. L. (1996) "The effect of gamma-irradiation on the antibacterial activity of honey." Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 48: 1206-1209.

Brady, N. F.; Molan, P. C.; Harfoot, C. G. (1997) "The sensitivity of dermatophytes to the antimicrobial activity of manuka honey and other honey." Pharmaceutical Sciences 2: 1-3.

Allen, K. L.; Molan, P. C. (1997) "The sensitivity of mastitis-causing bacteria to the antibacterial activity of honey." New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 40: 537-540.

Cooper, R. A.; Molan, P. C. (1999) "The use of honey as an antiseptic in managing Pseudomonas infection." Journal of Wound Care 8 (4): 161-164.

Cooper, R. A.; Molan, P. C.; Harding, K. G. (1999) "Antibacterial activity of honey against strains of Staphylococcus aureus from infected wounds." Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 92: 283-285.

Bang, L. M.; Molan, P. C. (1999) "The effect of dilution on the rate of production of hydrogen peroxide in honey." Submitted for publication

Brady, N.F.; Molan, P.C. (1999) "Antibacterial activity of honey against enteropathogenic bacteria" Submitted for publication

Molan, P. C.; Brett, M. (1998) "Honey has potential as a dressing for wounds infected with MRSA." - a paper presented at the 2nd Australian Wound Management Association Conference, Brisbane.


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