Clinical Experiences

Wound management challenge
Human wound management is a major clinical challenge because of the rise in long-term conditions, such as diabetes, obesity and an ageing population, These conditions are known to be associated with an increased risk of the development of chronic and infected wounds. At the same time antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose a very serious threat to public health. For all antibiotic classes, resistance is increasing worldwide and very few new antibiotics are being developed.

So alternatives for the application of antibiotics are urgently needed.

Wound healing process
For people in good health, most wounds heal in a natural way, without any treatment. Medical patients however, often have a lowered immune system and a higher risk of wound infections. In a chronic wound the healing process has stopped and the risk of infection is even higher.

Wound healing & honey
Honey’s low water activity and acidity (low pH) as affected by honey enzymes, have demonstrated to be crucial for human wound healing as described below.

Antibacterial shield of honey explained
Bees collect nectar from flowers and ‘thicken’ this to honey, which consists mainly of sugars, a bit of water, organic compounds and enzymes.
The enzyme glucose-oxidase is added to honey by the bees. Together with other elements this enzyme creates a wound environment that is hostile for the growth of pathogenic bacteria:

  • Low pH
  • The enzyme glucose oxidase present in honey converts honey sugar into small quantities of hydrogen peroxide and gluconic acid. The gluconic acid causes a low pH of the honey that inhibits the proliferation of bacteria. In addition, a low pH restores the natural acidic environment of the skin and promotes the healing process of the wound.
  • Low water activity;
    In the first instance honey, by its high sugar concentration, forms a protective layer over the wound
  • In second instance, due to the low water activity of honey, water from underlying tissues is attracted to the wound site. It is common knowledge that a moist wound environment promotes wound healing 

Reduction of swelling and pain
Colonization of a wound with bacteria activates the immune system in the wound, resulting in swelling and wound pain. Honey protects the wound against the proliferation of bacteria by its low pH and low water activity. One of the first effects observed after application of honey is that the wound calms down; swelling and pain is reduced.

All honey?
Being a product of nature, the honey composition depends on flower types, climate, season, and ways of preparation.  Honey for consumption available in supermarkets, varies in level of active enzymes and is often heated which breaks down enzymes. For human advanced wound care, standardized circumstances are required.

Medical Grade honey
Dr. T. Creemers worked many years together with the Wageningen University & Research (The Netherlands) on understanding which plants and nectar give an optimal composition of honey for the most effective support of healing difficult, infected and chronic wounds. The honey used for wound healing has to be free of detrimental contaminants, to be sterilized and of constant quality.

This Medical Grade Honey is the basis for all Bfactory’s Revamil® products for advanced human wound care

Benefits;

  • Scientific and clinical proof in advanced human wound care
  • No artificial ingredients, 100% medical grade honey
  • Sourced from bee colonies under controlled circumstances (Europe)
  • Produced in controlled environment to maximise consistency in composition and functionality
  • Sterilized by gamma radiation
  • Wide product range available

    Downloads
    Clinical testing with Revamil® on 80 patients (pdf)
    Effect of Revamil® on skin colonisation (pdf)

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