A recruitment drive is being launched in Tauranga as a Bay of Plenty-based pharmaceutical company looks for people to take part in a honey clinical trial.

Pharmaceutical company HoneyLab is researching medical products using kanuka honey sourced from bees.

A medical company is looking for participants to be part of a honey trial in Tauranga.

'In particular, we are looking at the use of a medical kanuka honey formulation for common skin diseases,” says Tauranga medical researcher and HoneyLab co-founder professor Shaun Holt.

'Small studies have already found positive results for medical kanuka honey for acne, nappy rash, rosacea and cold sores.”

Last week HoneyLab started a clinical trials programme of its medical grade kanuka honey formulation (Honevo) for acne, nappy rash and rosacea.

A total of 138 participants are being recruited on each trial during the next six weeks, with three out of four participants coming from Tauranga; the rest are in Auckland and Wellington.

People, 16 years and older, are being recruited for the three-month acne trial.

Shaun says participants apply the honey to the acne for 30-60 minutes a day; and then can wash it off easily with warm water. 'Honey kills the bacteria that cause acne,” says Shaun.

The second trial will see the kanuka honey used to treat rosacea – a condition that causes a red face and is experienced by about one in 10 people at some stage.

The third three looks at the effect the honey has on nappy rash.

Shaun says much of the skin damage in nappy rash is caused by ammonia-like secretions from the baby.

He believes part of the reason why a previous study found honey to be effective was, as well as killing bacteria and healing the wounds, honey is acidic and therefore can neutralise the ammonia and prevent further damage.

People interested in the study can register their interest with the below contacts:

Cameron Road - Clinical Horizons - Liz - 07 571 1492 – info@clinicalhorizons.co.nz

Greerton/Welcome Bay - Dr Chris Tofield - 022 150 1058 - honeystudies@gmail.com

Papamoa - Papamoa Pines surgery - Nikki or Diane – 07 542 2450.