Honey as an Alternate Therapeutic Intervention for Wound Pain and Infection: A Narrative Review of Mechanisms, Types, and Management

Background: Wound care is linked to challenges like lack of effective antibiotics, concerns about addiction to pain medications, leading to the use of natural honey for wound treatment. Honey has antibacterial properties, aids in wound healing, and has anti-inflammatory effects. This study aims to explore honey’s benefits in managing pain and infections related to wound care. Various aspects of honey’s use in wound care are evaluated, including its healing effects, types of wounds it can treat, available types of honey, application methods, and potential risks and benefits in medical settings. Methods: A narrative review was conducted to explore the available evidence. The search was conducted on various databases with a focus on potential therapeutic benefits of using natural honey in the management of pain and infections associated with wound care. The databases were searched using the keywords “honey,” “therapeutic intervention,” “mechanisms of action,” “types of honey” “pain management,” “infection management,” “wound care”. Results: The finding showed a lack of sufficient evidenced-based data to support the use of honey as treatment options for pain and infections associated with wound care, even though patients responded partly to the honey due to its action mechanisms. In conclusion, honey is an inexpensive and a topical therapy with significant potential for healing effect.