Honey is the oldest ever known sweetener. Also Honey was the only conventional therapy for various infections until 20th century before the discovery of Penicillin. Honey is the medicine in all kinds of medicinal system and every culture explains. This proves us how important is honey for us. The topical honey application is safe and effective in the management of several infections. Ayurveda explains honey as the nectar for regular use.
A large number of in vitro and limited clinical studies on honey have confirmed the broad-spectrum antimicrobial (antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antimycobacterial) properties of honey, which may be attributed to the acidity (low pH), osmotic effect, high sugar concentration, presence of bacteriostatic and bactericidal factors (hydrogen peroxide, antioxidants, lysozyme, polyphenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, methylglyoxal, and bee peptides), and increase in cytokine release, and to immune modulating and anti-inflammatory properties of honey.
Honey could be the safe therapy for many infections including Herpes. Honey could be an alternate to a commonly prescribed antiviral drug called Acyclovir. Interestingly, honey provided significantly better treatment results. The best way to use this treatment is to first make sure that you have RAW honey, as it will work far better than regular processed honey. Apply at least four times a day, but more would likely be better as the goal is to keep it constantly bathed in the honey.
Good things is, there is no side effects on using honey like Acyclovir has multiple short term or long term side effects. Everybody of any age group can use honey without doubt for herpes, oral ulcers or any kind of infections.
How honey offers benefits for wound care can be understood by the properties of honey to draw fluid away from wound, high sugar content suppress microorganisms growth, and the honey release low levels of hydrogen peroxide when honey contact with the wound.