Can raw honey work as an antibacterial ointment?

Question: I've heard that raw honey works better than neosporin and is antibacterial. Plus it is filled with vitamins and minerals your cut needs to heal. Is this true? Does nature really have an answer?

Dr. Schultz: What a fun question! To begin, yes, nature usually has an answer because most of our medicines and treatments are ultimately based on nature. Two additional thoughts: (1) The antibacterial potency of honey depends on it's source and because there are so many different sources, quality control ad assurance can be an issue. In fact, the failure to take into account the large variance in the antibacterial potency of different honeys may contribute in part to the large discrepancy in results of antibacterial efficacy reported between different researchers who used honey in similar ways in their studies. (2) on DermTV, the topical antibiotics mentioned are Bacitracin ointment and Polysporin ointment (both derived from natural bacteria), not neosporin. Neosporin contains neomycin which has a greater potential to cause contact dermatitis than Bacitracin or Polysporin. For more information on treating cuts and abrasions, please visit this DermTV episode: The Best Way to Heal Cuts and Abrasions.