A new type of honey has been created that has already shown ‘amazing’ results treating wounds and infections.
The bio-engineered Surgihoney has been tested on babies, new mothers, cancer patients and the elderly for over 12 months at hospitals in Hampshire.
And the results show that wounds and ulcers, including those infected with the hospital superbug MRSA, healed within days, while the number of women who suffered infections after giving birth by caesarean section halved.
I found Surgihoney better for treating every type of bug. So for the past year I have been using it on patients and the results have been amazing
The honey has also healed the wounds of soldiers returning from Afghanistan and has been used to treat acne and to protect the skin of cancer patients fitted with a catheter for chemotherapy.
Dr Matthew Dryden, consultant microbiologist at the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘It will revolutionise woundcare around the world.”
Honey has been used for its healing powers for thousands of years, although Western doctors favour penicillin and antibiotics. More recently, the properties of medical-grade manuka honey have been more widely accepted, with the substance being used in wound dressings.
But Surgihoney could overtake this in popularity as it has been found to kill bacteria, parasites and fungal infections while also encouraging wounds to heal.
Dr Dryden said: “I have conducted numerous laboratory tests and compared it with honeys from around the world.
“I found Surgihoney better for treating every type of bug. So for the past year I have been using it on patients and the results have been amazing.
It will revolutionise woundcare around the world
“There are plenty of products that can kill bacteria, but they often don’t help heal tissue.
“Honey is a fantastic natural medicine. The important extra is that it kills the bugs but doesn’t damage the tissue.”
Surgihoney is being developed by Ian Staples, a businessman who once owned the Halfords motor accessories chain, and it comes in 10g sachets.
It has been licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority in the UK, but is not yet commercially available.
