Articles — First Aid

All honeys are at least slightly antimicrobial because they contain peroxidase. This peroxidase mediates the creation of peroxide and the peroxide does its work against the bacteria. Unfortunately, because most of these honeys work by dehydrating the bacteria, they struggle to maintain their antibacterial activity in a moist environment like a fresh wound. Medical grade honeys, however, maintain their antibacterial qualities even in low concentrations, allowing them to function even in an inhospitable environment full of diluting factors, like the bodily fluids present in a wound. Manuka honey is different because it doesn’t produce very much peroxide. In fact, manuka honey...