Does honey benefit herpes sores?

Q: Does honey benefit herpes sores?

In a 2022 meta-analysis of 9 <a href="/glossary/randomized-controlled-trial/" class="popover" data-tooltip="<div><h6>Randomized controlled trial</h6><p>Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard for determining whether an intervention actually causes any effects. The use of randomization and control groups helps eliminate the effects of factors other than the treatment being studied.</p></div>">RCTs , topically applied honey reduced the healing time of oral herpes sores (a.k.a. cold sores) or genital herpes sores more than acyclovir (an antiviral medication; 8 days for honey, 9 days for acyclovir) and was as effective as acyclovir for pain relief.<a href="#ref-1" id="ref-link-1" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='<div><p class="mb-3">Rocha MP, et al. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34965458" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Effect of honey and propolis, compared to acyclovir, against Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)-induced lesions: A systematic review and meta-analysis.</a></p>J Ethnopharmacol (2022 Apr 6)</div>'> [1]

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Accepted Answer

In a 2022 meta-analysis of 9 RCTs, topically applied honey reduced the healing time of oral herpes sores (a.k.a. cold sores) or genital herpes sores more than acyclovir (an antiviral medication; 8 days for honey, 9 days for acyclovir) and was as effective as acyclovir for pain relief.^[1]

Does honey benefit herpes sores?

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