Honey’s remarkable medicinal benefits have been recognized for over 5,000 years. This natural sweetener, long used in traditional medicine, finally received FDA clearance in 2011. This significant milestone was achieved when Derma Sciences, Inc., a New Jersey-based medical devices company, introduced their innovative MEDIHONEY® hydrogel to the market. Today, medical-grade honey products are a trusted solution in wound care, leveraging honey’s natural properties to promote healing and manage various types of wounds.

What is MEDIHONEY?

MEDIHONEY® is a leading brand in wound and burn care, uniquely formulated with 100% Leptospermum (Manuka) honey. This special Manuka honey offers powerful antibacterial properties, making it highly effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria, including those that are typically resistant to other treatments. Unlike conventional antibiotics, Manuka honey prevents bacteria from developing tolerance, ensuring consistent effectiveness in wound management.

While MEDIHONEY shares a similar appearance to regular honey, it’s crucial to understand it’s a medical-grade product, not a sweetener. Its primary function is to provide an all-natural solution for treating open wounds, actively working to prevent serious complications like infection and even gangrene. A common challenge with advanced wounds is an unpleasant odor; thankfully, MEDIHONEY has been shown to decrease wound odors, significantly improving patient comfort and quality of life.

The efficacy of MEDIHONEY stems from its ability to draw moisture away from the wound, effectively “dehydrating” bacteria and decreasing bacterial growth. This creates an environment less conducive to microbial proliferation, promoting a cleaner healing process. Furthermore, MEDIHONEY possesses anti-inflammatory effects, which not only help to reduce pain but also speed up the healing time of existing wounds, offering a comprehensive approach to natural wound healing.

What’s the difference between MEDIHONEY and regular honey?

MEDIHONEY is different from regular honey in several ways. For one, it’s only produced by bees that pollinate the Manuka flower, a species of tea tree native to New Zealand.

 Second, Manuka honey contains a much higher concentration of methylglyoxal (MGO) than regular honey. MGO is an organic compound known for its antibacterial and antiviral properties. 

Each MEDIHONEY product has a unique Manuka factor (UMF) rating. The higher the UMF rating, the higher the level of MGO and other healing compounds. UMF ratings range from 0-16+. Any rating of 16 or higher indicates a superior solution.

What is MEDIHONEY used for?

MEDIHONEY® offers a versatile range of medical-grade honey products designed for advanced wound and burn care. Each unique formulation is crafted to address specific wound types and healing needs, leveraging the powerful antibacterial and healing properties of Manuka honey. Let’s explore the various MEDIHONEY products and their primary treatment indications to help you understand how this natural solution can be effectively utilized in wound management.

MEDIHONEY Wound and Burn Dressing Gel

MEDIHONEY wound and burn dressing gel contains a formula of 80% Active Leptospermum Honey (Manuka honey) and 20% natural gelling agents. It’s recommended for the treatment of non-draining to moderately draining wounds, including:

• Diabetic ulcers

• Venous stasis ulcers

• Arterial ulcers

• Leg ulcers

• Pressure ulcers

• Burns

• Donor sites

• Traumatic wounds

• Surgical wounds