You may get an NCLEX question about honey, believe it or not. Due to a resurgence of alternative medicine practices, along with some well-established research on the subject, honey has returned to the world of medicine. It has been used for its medical properties since ancient times, but only recently have we established some truths about it:
-Honey has some excellent antibacterial and wound healing properties. Manuka honey in particular is now embedded into specialized wound dressings to speed healing of stage III and IV decubitus ulcers.
-Consuming local honey has been shown to improve seasonal allergies. This is believed to be due to repeated exposure to pollen contained in the honey over time.
-Most store-bought honey is heat-processed and contains no pollen whatsoever. This may also degrade some of the wound healing/antibacterial properties. Honey bought in a store ranges from 5% to 50% antimicrobial activity present, so it is unfortunately unpredictable.
- Honey SHOULD NOT be given to infants under the age of one due to botulism spores. See this news article regarding the tragic death of a 6-month-old given honey who was unable to recover.