treating battlefield wounds with Sugar/Honey

[murphman]

Brother just send me these two links and I think they are both useful as we all have sugar and probably honey in our house.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5693114_trea...nds-sugar.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_5689579_use-...at-wounds.html

[rosalind]

Brother just send me these two links and I think they are both useful as we all have sugar and probably honey in our house.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5693114_trea...nds-sugar.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_5689579_use-...at-wounds.html

Sugar effort it concern in different ways. It is normally aseptic constrain the progress of microorganisms. It absorb up humidity and thus assist decrease the swelling general to injured tissue. Sugar may also offer the vittles or boost for tissue to invigorate.

[Caduceus]

I've heard of both, but never tried either.

However, from experience, I'd avoid granular objects - sugar, pepper, etc. It can be a real PITA to get off the wound once you're at the hospital. No, it doens't just rinse off - you get it in the congealed blood, which then has to be removed to see the wound. And then they have to get out all the pieces of stuff that you shoved onto the wound. Typically before the lidocaine goes in.

No real-life experiences on the treating end with honey.

[jknopp44]

I've heard of both, but never tried either.

However, from experience, I'd avoid granular objects - sugar, pepper, etc. It can be a real PITA to get off the wound once you're at the hospital. No, it doens't just rinse off - you get it in the congealed blood, which then has to be removed to see the wound. And then they have to get out all the pieces of stuff that you shoved onto the wound. Typically before the lidocaine goes in.

No real-life experiences on the treating end with honey.

I would use neither. We have people come to the ER from time to time with all sorts of home remedies smeared on their wounds. Ultimately it just makes the wound harder to clean and repair. Clean, and bandaged wound. Keep other crap out of it.

[Iraq Ninja]

I think the application is for remote, field expedient use, and not as a default protocol. Thus, is honey (with its history of use) any better than doing nothing other than irrigation?

[jknopp44]

I think the application is for remote, field expedient use, and not as a default protocol. Thus, is honey (with its history of use) any better than doing nothing other than irrigation?

I would suggest no. I do not like the idea of putting a sugary organic material in a wound that is most likely laden with bacteria. That is just a setup for trouble.

[Abraxas]

Thanks for sharing

[Gutshot John]

Honey has been used for centuries, that is true but I've never seen anything in the texts to indicate that it was used for significant hemorrhage. Likewise there is little documented modern evidence that it can effectively stop major arterial bleeding. I think honey works well on clotting minor bleeding and preventing sepsis/infection on wounds that. Using it to stop a major arterial bleed? I'll have to see some documentation before I think that's a proper substitute for direct pressure, tourniquet or other. If I had nothing else I might give it a try if it was handy, but I wouldn't waste time looking for it.

[Gutshot John]

Actually one effective clotting agent I've heard being used was spider webs.

[MedicPatriot]

Folks, this stuff (honey & sugar) isn't meant to clot...it's meant to help treat local infections.

99% of wounds you can stop the bleeding with nothing but direct pressure. Even major arterial bleeding can be stopped with direct pressure. If not, you can use QuickClot and direct pressure. If not you can tourniquet.

Honey and sugar is not going to help stop major bleeding. Humans have a tendency to have a need to "put something on it" instead of doing the basics. Soap and water to clean out wounds, direct pressure and the rest of the bleeding control cascade to stop the bleeding.