Advanced field wound care with medical grade manuka honey & other specialised non adheent antiseptic dressings.

TLM

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 16, 2019
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Vantaa, Finland
If memory serves honey has been used on wounds since who knows when. A bit like spruce resin (we have a locally made salve that contains resin and is medically approved and actually tested for treating wounds). I have used it on a deep wound on my foot that I got after goofing around in crocks and stumbling. It worked wonderfully, no sign of any infection and the healing was fast. Nothing works like empirical evidence to an engineer.
 

C_Claycomb

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Oct 6, 2003
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Some years back there was an investigation that showed that 1,700 tons of Manuka honey was produced but 10,000tons labelled as Manuka was sold globally. Seems like buying medical grade might give you a better chance of getting the real stuff rather than something made from rape flowers that was shown a jar of Manuka.
 

C_Claycomb

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Oct 6, 2003
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@Corso,
Yeah, couldn't say when I first heard of Manuka honey, cannot have been more than 15 years ago, but I know my mum told me about honey being used for wound dressings (might have been referencing WWI) more than 35 years ago.

I wonder how much difference can be attributed to the Manuka anti-bacterial ingredient, other X-ingredients in non-manuka honey, and the effect of sugar alone.


 

Jared

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 8, 2005
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Wales
What I've heard (2nd hand) that is impressing medics in Ukraine is Chitosan products. It is another naturally occurring sugar polymer that acts as a hemostatic dressing/wound packing.

The advantage is that it's a candy floss like material, as opposed to granules or granules stuck to a bandage like celox. Making wound cleaning a lot easier once you get to a hospital.

Also for a 4"x4" single ply of it, it's seems pretty inexpensive compared to things like celox, seems ideal for dealing with self inflicted knife injuries.

 

Wildgoose

Full Member
May 15, 2012
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Middlesex
My understanding is that chito products are used to stop bleeding whereas Manuka is used more as a wound care/fast healing type product.

Chito works by absorbing water in blood thereby allowing the red cells to clot.

It’s serious kit for serious bleeds that require proper medical assistance to remove.
 
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ManFriday4

Nomad
Nov 13, 2021
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Oxfordshire
What I've heard (2nd hand) that is impressing medics in Ukraine is Chitosan products. It is another naturally occurring sugar polymer that acts as a hemostatic dressing/wound packing.

The advantage is that it's a candy floss like material, as opposed to granules or granules stuck to a bandage like celox. Making wound cleaning a lot easier once you get to a hospital.

Also for a 4"x4" single ply of it, it's seems pretty inexpensive compared to things like celox, seems ideal for dealing with self inflicted knife injuries.

Have you actually used these dressing in real world situations?
 

Jared

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Sep 8, 2005
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No, only recently heard of them. A voluntary group of Ukrainians are fundraising for gear for the troops and one of the things they were purchasing was the Chitosam-100.
So did some research on it.
 

Jared

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 8, 2005
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Wales
My understanding is that chito products are used to stop bleeding whereas Manuka is used more as a wound care/fast healing type product.

Chito works by absorbing water in blood thereby allowing the red cells to clot.

It’s serious kit for serious bleeds that require proper medical assistance to remove.

Yes, though it's seems it might have anti bacterial properties too. Just mentioned it because was another sugar based compound and pretty sure I've seen bushcraft people carrying celox.
Well anything more serious than a bandaid needs, but less than an arterial bleed where hopefully can use tourniquet.
 
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Wildgoose

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May 15, 2012
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Middlesex
Chito products are particularly useful for junctional wounds where a tourniquet cannot be applied such as groin, buttocks and armpits.

Chito comes from shellfish although all allegens are removed.

There are some limitations, it should never be used for head, eye, spine or abdominal wounds.
 

ManFriday4

Nomad
Nov 13, 2021
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Oxfordshire
My understanding is that chito products are used to stop bleeding whereas Manuka is used more as a wound care/fast healing type product.

Chito works by absorbing water in blood thereby allowing the red cells to clot.

It’s serious kit for serious bleeds that require proper medical assistance to remove.
I seem to recall that these dressings are not used for civilians in the UK & not recommended because of the risk of leaving part of the dressing in the wound.
We've been using honey dressings at work for years

It's not marked as Manuka though
Can you post a picture of the package?
 

ManFriday4

Nomad
Nov 13, 2021
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Oxfordshire
Correction. Haemostatic dressings are used in certain situations in the UK. They are used under porous dressings there is a need to allow the wound to drain excess fluids.

In combat medicine they are ideal for blast and multiple gunshot /shrapnel wounds. I can see why they might be used in Ukraine. I would avoid carrying this type of wound dressings unless you are planning for having to deal with serious injury: war or industrial/forestry/farming injuries.
 
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Wildgoose

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May 15, 2012
871
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Middlesex
Chito dressings are used by the NHS, military, police and rescue services in the UK.

They are for catastrophic bleeds that cannot be controlled by other means (direct pressure/Torniquet)

These bleeds are a life and death emergency, living survivors of these injuries will need to see a surgeon quick time.

I’d strongly advise anyone wishing to carry these to get on an appropriate first aid course.
 
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