Honey & Pain

If you have ever had a cold or a sore throat, chances are someone made you a cup of tea with honey. Honey dates back to the ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese, Egyptians and Assyrians as a cure-all for various ailments, gastrointestinal problems and for wound management. Honey might also be useful to relive certain types of pain such as postoperative tonsillectomy pain and to help reduce the swelling, inflammation and pain associated with wounds.

Tonsillectomy Pain

A 2006 study published in the "International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology" compared acetaminophen to acetaminophen plus honey given to children in Turkey who were recovering from a tonsillectomy and an adenoidectomy. Results were statistically significant. The children who had acetaminophen plus honey described their pain after the first two days of surgery using the visual analog scale as being less than the children who only took acetaminophen. The children in the honey group also took fewer painkillers in the first two days post surgery. In days three through eight, the described pain was not significantly different, but the use of painkillers was significantly different between the two groups, with the honey group taking fewer painkillers. The study's researchers concluded that administering honey after a tonsillectomy might relieve pain.

Wound Care

Doctors use honey for wound care when traditional methods of antibiotics and antiseptics fail. Difficult-healing wounds caused from a suppressed immune system due to leukemia and chemotherapy healed when treated with a product called Medihoney, a product made from leptospermum honey, according to a paper written by researchers Arne Simon and colleagues from the Children's Hospital Medical Centre in Bonn, Germany. Besides healing the wound, the honey also treated accompanying symptoms, one of which was pain. Researchers from the Waikato Honey Research Unit in New Zealand and doctors from the Children's Hospital in Germany note that when honey dressings are applied to wounds, the dead tissue is painlessly removed.

Type of Honey

The type of honey used is important when treating wounds. Leptospermum honey from the manuka tree has antibacterial properties. The manuka tree is native to New Zealand, and doctors there use a medical-grade manuka honey to treat certain wounds. Before medical use, the honey must be sterilized in a laboratory. Doctors in Europe and Australia use Medihoney, a blend of New Zealand and Australian honeys. Medihoney is licensed for wound care in the United States.

Honey Causing Pain in Wounds

About five in 100 patients have stinging pain because of the application of honey to the wound. If patients experience pain, honey as a treatment must be stopped. Doctors from the Children's Hospital Medical Centre in Germany stated, however, that medical honey does not cause any severe reactions in patients.