Local resource botanicals used in wound care

Botanical and other natural products have been used for centuries for medicinal purposes including treating skin lesions and wounds. However, formal research into the efficacy of many traditional remedies is sparse. The Wound Healing and Management (WHAM) Node within the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and Wounds Australia conducts evidence summaries on traditional wound care strategies as a resource for local wound care practitioners and staff and students on exchange programs in developing countries. This paper presents an overview on a number of botanicals used in wound care in countries with limited access to contemporary wound care products. The available evidence on effectiveness and potential adverse events for tea tree oil, turmeric, banana leaves, aloe vera, papaya and calendula used in wound care is presented. There is a need for further good quality research into many of the interventions presented in this review in order to increase the evidence base and understanding of any risks in incorporating natural resources into wound care.