A 2016 Cochrane review of RCTs found that honey (compared to topical antibiotics) helped surgical wounds close on their own (e.g., without stitches) and shortened the length of hospital stay by 2.5 days, though these findings were only based on 1 small trial.[1] A 2021 meta-analysis with more evidence (12 studies) compared honey to iodine for wound healing and found a large reduction in the duration of healing and reductions in the length of hospital stay (−3.1 days) and pain scores (−17%).[2]
A 2016 meta-analysis of 4 studies which examined honey after tonsil removal found that, compared to a placebo, there were large reductions in pain medication usage on days 1–5 but inconsistent reductions of pain scores. In addition, there were consistently moderate to large improvements in wound healing on days 1–14 compared to a placebo.[3]
A 2024 meta-analysis of 5 RCTs examining honey for wounds from childbirth (from cesarean delivery or vaginal birth) reported that compared to a placebo, honey reduced pain, the use of pain medication, and complications and increased satisfaction with treatment. Notably, honey did not improve how well the wounds healed compared to a placebo.[4]