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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Youve heard of putting butter on a burn to help ease the pain and promote healing, but what about honey as a remedy?
Researchers from New Zealand believe the sweet substance may be even more effective at treating moderate burns than the gauze and film dressings commonly used by doctors today. Their findings come from a review of 19 clinical trials involving more than 2,500 patients with various types of wounds. While honey appeared to work for burns, it didnt have much effect on surgical wounds, leg ulcers, lacerations, or grazes.
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How does honey get the job done? The investigators cite honeys antibacterial effects, although it may also help remove dead tissue and provide a favorable environment for healthy new tissue to grow.
The researchers stop far short of recommending hospitals and doctors abandon current treatments, but they do believe their findings are worth more study. Health services should invest in treatments that have been shown to work, study author Dr. Andrew Jull, from the Clinical Trials Research Unit at the University of Auckland, was quoted as saying. But, we will keep monitoring new research to try and establish the effect of honey.
SOURCE: Cochrane Researchers, published online October 7, 2008
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