What is it about?
Cuts that require stitches, known as acute laceration wounds, are very common in Indonesia. If not treated properly, they can lead to infection, long-term pain, or difficult-to-heal wounds. Modern wound dressings are often too expensive or unavailable in rural areas, so people frequently rely on more accessible options such as honey or povidone-iodine. This study tested whether honey is as effective as povidone-iodine (a common antiseptic) and paraffin gauze (a basic dressing) for helping wounds heal. Thirty-five patients with fresh cuts were randomly assigned to one of these three treatments. Doctors monitored how long the wounds took to heal, the presence of complications such as infection or swelling, and the cost of care. The results showed that all wounds healed within the normal timeframe. However, more patients treated with honey healed within 10 days compared to the other groups. Honey and povidone-iodine also had fewer complications than paraffin, with honey being the lowest-cost option. Although the study was small, the findings suggest that honey may be an effective, safe, and affordable treatment for fresh cuts, especially in places where modern dressings are not available. Larger studies are needed to confirm these results, but honey shows promise as a natural and accessible wound care option.
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Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Acute cuts and wounds are among the most common injuries, but if they are not treated properly, they can lead to infection, long-term pain, and even become chronic wounds that are difficult to heal. In many low-resource or rural settings, modern wound dressings are often too expensive or unavailable, leaving healthcare workers and patients with limited treatment options. This study is important because it explores whether a natural and affordable product like honey could offer an effective alternative to standard treatments such as povidone-iodine or paraffin gauze. If honey is proven to speed up healing and reduce complications at a lower cost, it could make safe and effective wound care more accessible to communities around the world.
Perspectives
As a clinician working in wound care, I often see how something as simple as a cut can become a serious health problem — especially in settings where advanced dressings are not available or affordable. This study grew out of that reality. We wanted to explore whether a natural, widely accessible product like honey could offer a safe, effective, and low-cost solution for patients. Seeing that honey performed comparably to standard treatments, and even offered advantages in healing time and cost, was deeply encouraging. For me, the most meaningful part of this research is its potential to make quality wound care more equitable — bringing effective treatments within reach for patients in rural and resource-limited settings, where the need is often greatest.
MD Agustini Song
Cardiff University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Effect of honey and povidone-iodine on acute laceration wound healing: a pilot randomised controlled trial study, Journal of Wound Care, August 2024, Mark Allen Group,
DOI: 10.12968/jowc.2022.0020.
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