medihoney wound gel review

Medihoney wound dressing review

Wounds that never heal? Bacterial infection? Not any more. Use medical grade honey to treat your wound. Here is a Medihoney wound dressing review, that explains how it functions and what to do.

MEDIHONEY® is the global leading brand of wound care dressings, made with manuka honey, also known as Active Leptospermum Honey, from the botanical name of the bush, the source of this honey. Manuka honey is different than the other honeys, and research confirmed that  it is the best for wounds and skin infections.

Derma sciences logoProducer:
MEDIHONEY® is a trademark of Comvita New Zealand Ltd and is used with permission by Derma Sciences, Inc.DERMA SCIENCES INC., a company specialized in tissue regeneration, well-known for its research and innovation for the management of acute and chronic wounds, and burns.

Products:
– MEDIHONEY®  – medical-grade honey products for the management of wounds and burns.
XTRASORB® – super-absorbent wound dressings
– ALGICELL® Ag  – Antimicrobial silver dressings in absorbent/gelling formats have become the leading category of “active” moist wound dressings worldwide
– TCC-EZ® – a one-piece, roll-on, woven design that simplifies the application process while reducing the potential for causing additional tissue damage. Also known as the Gold Standard of Care for off-loading diabetic foot ulcers.

Medihoney Antibacterial Wound Gel™

How does it work?

• Aids in autolytic debridement due to its high osmolarity
• Helps to lower overall wound pH
• Promotes a moisture-balanced environment conducive to wound healing

How to use it on the wound:

Clean: Clean the wound with saline water.
Apply: Directly apply the honey gel to the wound bed. Ensure it is in full contact with the wound bed and has approximately 3mm thickness. It is recommended to pair MEDIHONEY® with XTRASORB®, which is a super absorbent cover dressing. It’s osmotic gradient pulls exudate to the back of the dressing and converts it into a gel, locking it away – even under compression!
Whatever you choose, the secondary dressing should be sufficiently absorbent to accommodate the volume of wound exudate.
Change: Periodically change the dressing. Do it gently. If the dressing is dry and sticking to the wound bed, moisten it first with normal saline or sterile water. Generally, this antibacterial gel can be left on the wound for up to 7 days depending on the exudate levels. The frequency of changing depends a lot of the amount of drainage coming from your wound. If there is a lot of fluid and the dressing becomes saturated, it may need to be changed more frequently.

Keep in mind that:

• Initially there may be an increase of fluid from the wound and the dressing might become easily saturated. It is important to absorb this moisture or any excess moisture and protect the surrounding skin from becoming wet and macerated. You may add an absorptive cover dressing and/or increase the frequency of dressing change, in addition to applying a protective skin barrier film to the skin around the wound.

• The wound may look larger in the beginning. This happens because of the dead tissue that is removed. However, the wound should stop increasing after the first few dressing changes.

PROs

• It can be used for both adults and children;

• It can be used by diabetics. The high sugar content in MEDIHONEY® has a beneficial osmotic effect, helping the body’s natural processes to cleanse the wound and remove dead tissue. A regular use of MEDIHONEY® on diabetic foot ulcers has not been shown to alter glucose levels during routine monitoring;

• Some wounds cannot heal because of their infection with some bacteria, which are hard to kill. The very well known “antibiotic resistant bacteria” like MRSA, ESBL, VRE, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas aeruginosa can be effectively killed with Medihoney Antibacterial Wound Gel™;

• At dressing change, the trauma and pain is reduced due to the moist would healing environment honey provides;

• It shortens the time of healing;

• Takes away the bad odor of the wound (especially if it’s an old one);

• Is non-toxic, natural and safe;

• It can be left on the wound up to 7 days (depending on the level of exudates).

CONs

• A stinging experience can be felt when MEDIHONEY® is applied, due to the difference between the high pH of the wound and low pH of honey;

• Sometimes pain can also be associated with the stinging sensation. In this case your healthcare provider may suggest an analgesic which should be taken approximately 30 minutes before your dressing is changed;

• You cannot use it if you have a known sensitivity to honey, algae or seaweed;

• It cannot be used to control heavy bleeding;

• It cannot be used on third degree burns.

 MEDIHONEY®Antibacterial Wound Gel 
available on Amazon

This product also comes in a paste form. Some people consider it to be easier to apply. I personally see no difference. Here are the main differences between the two:

Gel gel tube of medihoney antibiotic wound
Pastepaste tube of medihoney antibiotic wound dressing
• 80% Active Leptospermum Honey and 20% Natural Gelling agents
• More viscous formulation with increased stability at the site of the wound
• Demonstrated positive clinical outcomes
• Optimal for superficial to full thickness wounds
• 100% Active Leptospermum Honey
• Demonstrated positive clinical outcomes
• Optimal for deep tunneled or undermined wounds                                      
Derma Sciences 31505 Medihoney Dressing Paste, 0.5 oz Tube (Pack of 10), on Amazon

Derma Sciences 31505 Medihoney Dressing Paste, 0.5 oz Tube (Pack of 10), on Amazon

To protect the wound we cannot simply apply the gel and leave the wound uncovered. It is recommended to use an absorbent, and MEDIHONEY® offers the perfect solution: XTRASORB®. A super-absorbent cover dressing, which comes in three different types, according to your wound.

♦     XTRASORB® HCS: For dry to moderately exuding wounds – with and without adhesive border
♦ ♦   XTRASORB® Foam: For moderately to heavily exuding wounds – with and without adhesive border
♦ ♦ ♦ XTRASORB® Classic: For heavily and extra heavily exuding wounds

What’s so special about this absorbent? See the article “XTRASORB® – A product review”.

This is how medihoney works, in a video made by the producer:

Studies:

Medihoney: a complete wound bed preparation product.

Manuka honey used to heal a recalcitrant surgical wound.

Honey and contemporary wound care: an overview.

Using leptospermum honey to manage wounds impaired by radiotherapy: a case series.

The use of honey for the treatment of two patients with pressure ulcers.

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Laura Bujor

Laura Bujor is the author and founder of HealthyWithHoney.com. She built this website as a personal journey to discover the power of honey and share it with the world. She learned directly from beekeepers and took a course in apitherapy. From a hobby, honey and apitherapy turned into a professional career. You can find her on LinkedIn, Facebook, Pinterest and X.

View all posts by Laura Bujor →

15 thoughts on “Medihoney wound dressing review

  1. Good afternoon

    Just a quick question on Inflammation. As an athlete – can this product (Medihoney) help reduce swelling on my achiiles/foot heel area during and after sport activities? I had speed-bridge surgery on my right foot achilles back in 2018 and i am still having to receive Acupuncture, physio, and deep massage sessions.., and attending bodybalance classes.

    1. Hello Manny,

      There are no studies on this type of situation. It does work as an anti inflammatory on open wounds, and taken internally honey, again, is anti inflammatory. And it is usually combined with other powerful products, such as turmeric, to help with inflammation. Of course, you can give it a try, there are no side-effects, but it was not created for this.
      However, as I’ve mentioned it, you can try a mixture of honey with turmeric on your foot, over night, in a gauze.
      All the best!
      Laura

  2. Good morning,
    My dad started using medihoney this week and my question is when I change the dressing do I have to remove with saline the old medihoney with saline or just lay the new medihoney on top of whats left of the medihoney on the wound?

    1. Hi Lucy,
      There is no need to wash the wound with saline, unless the dressing is sticking to the wound bed, then yes, first moisten it with normal saline, remove it and then apply mehihoney.
      If the dressing gets too saturated with body fluids you need to change it more frequently.
      All the best! Laura

  3. Hi Laura , my father, 80 is having a serious diabetic foot wound . He has been treated with injected antibiotic and antibiotic dressing on his wound . the infection speads very fast. while searching for alternative option , i came across this medihoney wound gel. lots come across in my mind , does it really work? Has it been any tried on end stage diabetic patient with stubborn diabetic foot ulcer? how to use it properly so it is effective and not “burn’ the wound ? your advise and quick reply would be very much appreciated

    1. Hi Michele,
      Medical grade honey was like the ultimate solution for hard to heal diabetic foot wound. Medihoney dressings are very good, there are lots of favorable reviews. If you have time please read the articles I wrote on medical grade honey. https://healthywithhoney.com/category/medical-grade-honey/ and you’ll see why. There are many clinical tries and you’ll see real cases described.
      So, I say, give it a try. It’s expensive but people who tried it said it was worth it.
      All the best to you and your father!
      Laura
      PS. If you do it, please let us know how it worked.

  4. my dad is 82 years old is in hospital for over 1 month. he had surgery on fractured femur 3 weeks ago. he has bed wounds due to poor blood circulation and being in a hospital bed so long. the wound on his heal seems to get worst even with antibiotics (cloxacillin) my dad is a diabetic can we treat the open wound with medihoney?

  5. I had co2 laser surgery Wednesday 1/3/18.
    I was using Aquaphor whilst waiting for the Medihoney to arrive. After switching to the medihoney gel, I am seeing a clumpy white substance in the wound bed and I am just wondering if it’s the product or if I need to get my doctor on the line?
    Please reply at your earliest convenience.
    Thank you
    M. Zagar

    1. Clumpy white substance like pus? The product is not white, maybe it turns white when in contact with the wound. But I doubt that. Perhaps the wound was not clean enough before applying it, maybe a residue of the previous product you mention.
      But to be sure is not pus, you should see a doctor, yes. I only hope he is familiar with the exceptional product that is Medihoney. 🙂
      Laura

    2. Hello meaghan my husband has wound on his toe and I’m also using medihoney and also experienced the same creamy liquid when I took off the first one we used it didn’t smell but did look yellowish we have a Dr appointment until next week what did they tell u it was

    3. Yvonne and Laura
      I’m happy to report that my doctor called it Eschar, a natural and healthy part of the healing process.
      This Medihoney has been an absolute Godsend.
      I hope that you’re able to continue using it, as it has shortened the duration of my Healing.

      1. Meaghan, I’m so happy to hear this. Thank you for sharing the good news with us all.
        All the best! Laura

    4. I started using Medihoney paste 3 weeks ago recommended by my PS with a non healing surgical wound – full thickness. After several dressing changes I also noticed a cream cheese like film on the dressing and gauze. I asked my PS and he wasn’t sure what it was – confirmed it wasn’t pus nor wound infection. I called DermaScience the phone number on the pamphlet I was told someone would call me back “NOT”- that was 8 days ago. I have called back to the number they gave me 4-5 times a day, left messages. Filling a complaint with the FDA. Very responsible if consumers concerns can not be addressed. A medical company must take responsibilty for their product. Giving company a “F” !

      1. Sorry to hear this Carey,
        Something must be wrong there, in the company, I can only imagine that you had the misfortune of speaking to some inexperienced persons there, or an externalized call service. Because I trust the product and the scientists working at it. I do believe it’s a humanly communication problem, as it usually happens everywhere.

        On the other hand the white substance is not something bad, as Meaghan reported us back “I’m happy to report that my doctor called it Eschar, a natural and healthy part of the healing process.”.

        How is your wound? What did the doctor say about its evolution? How do you feel? Because I’m thinking that if the wound still doesn’t heal, maybe the cause is in the deeper tissues, and is not only your skin which is involved.
        Please keep us updated.
        Laura

        Later edit.
        It seems that this exudate depends on the wound and “is produced as a normal part of the healing process. During the inflammatory response blood vessel walls dilate and become more porous allowing leakage of protein-rich fluid into the wounded area (White, 2000).” I have found this article which may be of help to you. Managing moisture is a problem in any wound, but dressings with medihoney are doing a very good job. The wound should not be dry but neither too moist.

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