effect of honey gel on abdominal wound healing in cesarean section: a triple blind randomized clinical trial

ABSTRACT

To assess whether honey can accelerate the wound healing in women undergoing cesarean section. This was a triple blinded randomized prospective clinical trial. Women with cesarean section were randomly designated as drug [37 cases] and placebo [38 cases] groups. The drug group received local honey gel 25% while the placebo group received similar free-honey gel on abdominal cesarean incision twice a day for 14 days. REEDA scale [Redness, Edema, Ecchymosis, Discharge and Approximation of wound edges] was used to assess wound healing. The mean REEDA was 2.27 +/- 2.46 and 3.91 +/- 2.74 [p=0.008] on the 7[th] day and 0.47 +/- 0.84 and 1.59 +/- 1.95 [p=0.002] on the 14[th] day for the drug and placebo groups, respectively. Redness, edema and hematoma in the drug group were significantly lower on the 7[th] and 14[th] days. Honey was effective in healing the cesarean section incision. Using topical honey is suggested as a natural product with rare side effects in order to reduce the complications of cesarean wounds