Feng Mi

The predominant sugar in honey, contributing to its high osmolality. The supersaturated sugar solution draws water out of bacterial cells and wound beds, producing an osmotic, desiccating antimicrobial effect and supporting the traditional moistening and nourishing actions.

Serves as substrate for the enzyme glucose oxidase, whose action generates hydrogen peroxide. Together with fructose it accounts for the high osmotic pressure and rapidly available energy underlying honey's Qi-tonifying reputation.

Bee-derived glucose oxidase oxidises glucose to gluconic acid, slowly releasing low levels of hydrogen peroxide. This sustained peroxide generation is the principal antibacterial mechanism of most floral honeys and drives autolytic debridement in wound care.

The dominant non-peroxide antibacterial factor, most concentrated in Leptospermum (manuka) honey where it is more heat- and light-stable than hydrogen peroxide. Confers activity against a broad range of wound pathogens including resistant strains.

A honeybee-secreted peptide active chiefly against Gram-positive bacteria. It contributes to the non-peroxide antibacterial spectrum and supports the traditional action of resolving toxicity (jie du).

Provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, scavenging free radicals in the wound environment and modulating inflammatory mediators. Floral-source phenolics correlate with a honey's overall antioxidant capacity.

Produced by glucose oxidase, it is the main contributor to honey's acidity. The low pH inhibits many pathogens and favours oxygen release from haemoglobin, aiding tissue repair.

Small amounts of oligosaccharides exert prebiotic effects that support beneficial gut flora, consistent with honey's classical roles of harmonising the Middle and moistening the intestines to unblock the bowels.

Take 15-30 g dissolved in warm (not boiling) water, or added at the end of a decoction. Used to moisten the Lungs for dry cough and to moisten the intestines for constipation. Avoid boiling, which degrades enzymes and delicate constituents.

Diluted honey is mixed with herbs such as Radix Astragali or Herba Ephedrae and stir-fried until non-sticky. This enhances tonifying and moistening actions and moderates harshness, a standard pao zhi processing method.

Applied directly or on a dressing to burns, ulcers and slow-healing wounds to resolve toxicity and promote tissue repair; medical-grade sterilised honey is preferred for clinical wound care.

Review of 26 trials (3011 participants) evaluating topical honey for acute and chronic wounds. Honey healed partial-thickness burns more quickly than conventional dressings and infected post-operative wounds faster than antiseptic washes, though evidence for other wound types was of lower certainty.

Pooled analysis of six trials found honey probably reduces cough symptoms and frequency in children with upper respiratory infection more than no treatment or placebo, with effects comparable to some over-the-counter cough medicines. This supports honey's traditional action of moistening the Lungs and stopping cough.

Lists honey (shi mi) among the superior class of tonics, credited with harmonising the hundred medicines, supplementing the Center and calming, and being taken long term without harm.

Details honey's actions of clearing heat when raw and supplementing the Center when cooked, moistening dryness, relieving pain, resolving toxicity and harmonising other herbs.