Honey As a Disinfectant

“Ma Zeus!” cursed Amara. More expletives tumbled out of her mouth in a high-pitched stream of bile. “And where’s that wretch? I’m bleeding all over, and that cripple is nowhere in sight.”

When the boy hobbled over, she scorched him with enough profanity to parch the air. “You good-for-nothing idiot! See what you’ve done! I’ve cut my hand sharpening this stupid pen while waiting for the ones you should have brought. Now get me some honey. And don’t forget the ox fat and lint for a bandage.”

Even Amara knew honey was an effective disinfectant. Its use goes back thousands of years, with evidence of its application in wound care by ancient civilizations like the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. Honey’s high sugar concentration and acidity hinder the growth of bacteria. Moreover, it contains an enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide, another antiseptic.

While modern medicine has developed more sophisticated antiseptics, honey's historical use is seeing a resurgence, particularly in the context of antibiotic resistance. Medical-grade honey is now used in wound care, especially for chronic wounds, due to its ability to inhibit pathogens, reduce inflammation, and promote tissue regeneration.

In that crowded restaurant in “The Mistress,” a story in The Deadliest Deceptions, Miriam overhears a stranger confide to his companion that he intends to commit a murder. Miriam explains why she is so sure Amara is the intended victim: “She’s the man’s mistress, and other than his wife, what other woman would a man want to kill?”

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