Moses Murandu, a doctoral candidate and senior lecturer in adult nursing at the University of Wolverhampton, England, School of Health and Wellbeing, is carrying out a research trial into the effectiveness of sugar when used on hospital patients with wounds such as bed sores, leg ulcers, and even amputations.
Murundu is halfway through a randomized control trial at three hospitals-Moseley Hall Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, both in Birmingham, England, and Manor Hospital, Walsall, England-into the effects of the sugar treatment. So far he has used granulated sugar to successfully treat wounds in 35 patients with no adverse effects.
The treatment is said to work because the sugar draws moisture from the wound, and because bacteria requires water to grow, it becomes unable to multiply and dies, allowing the wound to heal.
One of the patients receiving treatment as part of the research is Alan Bayliss, an inpatient at Moseley Hall Hospital’s amputee rehabilitation ward. As part of a January 2013 transfemoral amputation of his right leg due to an ulcer, a vein was removed from his left leg. The left leg cavity wound was not healing effectively despite the use of standard dressings. The patient then underwent the sugar treatment and within two weeks the wound was reduced in the size and is healing well.
“When Moses first did the dressing he almost used the whole pot of sugar, but two weeks later he only needed to use four or five teaspoons, said Bayliss, a 62-year-old electrical engineer. “I am very pleased indeed. I feel that it has speeded up my recovery a lot, and it has been a positive step forward.”
Murandu grew up in Zimbabwe where his father used sugar to heal wounds and reduce pain. When he moved to the United Kingdom he realized that sugar was not used for this same purpose so he began the trial to collect the efficacy data. “I believe in the sugar and the nurses and doctors who see the effects are beginning to believe in it too,” said Murandu.
Editor’s note: This story was adapted from materials provided by the University of Wolverhampton.
