Medical-Grade Honey Outperforms Conventional Treatments for Healing Cold Sores—A Clinical Study

Abstract

Cold sores are nasolabial blisters caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections. Novel therapies demonstrating simultaneously antiviral activity and improved wound healing are warranted. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of medical-grade honey (MGH) for treating HSV-induced cold sores. A crossover trial was performed in patients with recurrent cold sores (n = 29). The majority (65.6%) of these patients experience four or more episodes per year, thus forming a valid self-control group. In this study, patients applied an MGH-based formulation (L-Mesitran Soft) on their cold sore at the onset of symptoms (62.1%) or appearing of blister (37.9%) and compared it to their conventional treatments. After complete healing, patients filled in a questionnaire evaluating healing, pain, and itching. The average absolute healing time was 72.4% slower with conventional treatment (10.0 days) compared to MGH (5.8 days). After MGH treatment, 86.2% of all patients experienced faster objective healing (6.9% similar and 6.9% slower) and the subjective healing score was higher in 79.3% of the patients (20.7% similar). If the patients normally experience pain and itching during their cold sores, these levels were lower with MGH therapy compared to conventional treatment in 72.7% and 71.4% of the patients, respectively. Moreover, 100% of the patients prefer MGH treatment over conventional treatment and will use it again on future cold sores. MGH is a promising alternative treatment for cold sores, likely by combining both increased antiviral and wound healing activities while alleviating pain and itching.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Medical-Grade Honey and Hypericum Perforatum Ointment on Second-Intention Healing of Full-Thickness Skin Wounds in Cats

“…Several other clinical studies have shown that L-Mesitran promoted the healing of different types of (infected) wounds while diverse previous treatments failed, suggesting a superior activity, and reiterating its cost-efficacy [ 13 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ]. According to a series of 10 cats with cutaneous contaminated wounds that were treated with L-Mesitran, regrowth of hair and minimal scarring were evident [ 8 ].…”

Honey therapies for dermatological disorders: more than just a sweet elixir

“…23 Recurrent herpes labialis may respond to a trademarked medical-grade honey formulation, L-Mesitranâ, decreased sore healing time, increased subjective healing score, and decreased pain and itching compared to conventional cold sore treatments such as oral and topical acyclovir. 24 In another clinical trial, with a 1 : 1 random assignment of 952 adult patients experiencing a herpes simplex labialis episode, there was no evidence of a difference between medical grade kanuka honey and 5% acyclovir topical treatments. 25 In a clinical trial of 100 children aged 2-8, the group receiving a combination of honey and oral acyclovir had significantly earlier disappearance of herpes simplex gingivostomatitis than those receiving acyclovir alone.…”

“…Herpes labialis is evident as vesicles in the nasolabial region caused by herpes simplex virus HSV‐1 or HSV‐2 infections 23 . Recurrent herpes labialis may respond to a trademarked medical‐grade honey formulation, L‐Mesitran®, decreased sore healing time, increased subjective healing score, and decreased pain and itching compared to conventional cold sore treatments such as oral and topical acyclovir 24 . In another clinical trial, with a 1 : 1 random assignment of 952 adult patients experiencing a herpes simplex labialis episode, there was no evidence of a difference between medical grade kanuka honey and 5% acyclovir topical treatments 25 .…”

Medical-Grade Honey as a Potential New Therapy for Bacterial Vaginosis

“…The combination of these antimicrobial mechanisms makes MGH highly effective against a broad spectrum of pathogens, irrespective of their resistance profiles, including multi-resistant bacteria (e.g., methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycinresistant enterococci (VRE), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), fungi (e.g., Candida albicans, nonalbicans Candida species, and Candida auris), and viruses (e.g., Influenza A virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and herpes simplex virus, type 1 (HSV-1)) [29,30,[53][54][55].…”