Using Manuka honey to relieve pain after tonsil surgery
Official title: HONEY for the Treatment of POst-Tonsillectomy Pain - a Double-blind, Randomised, Placebo Controlled, Single Site Trial
Run by East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust · NCT06275698 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if Manuka honey can help adults feel less pain after tonsil surgery compared to a placebo while they also receive standard pain relief.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust Government |
| Drugs / interventions | radiation |
| Locations | 1 site (Stevenage) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 4, 2023 |
| Main results expected | July 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | July 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | July 7, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06275698 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are adults aged 18 and older who are scheduled for bilateral tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with a history of head and neck malignancies, chronic pain conditions, or allergies to bee products will not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This clinical trial is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of Manuka honey in managing post-tonsillectomy pain in adults. Participants will receive either Manuka honey combined with standard pain management or a placebo with standard care. The study seeks to determine if Manuka honey can provide a cost-effective alternative to conventional analgesics, which often have undesirable side effects. The trial is based on previous findings suggesting honey's potential anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could offer a natural and effective pain relief option for patients recovering from tonsil surgery.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of honey for medical purposes has historical precedent, robust clinical trials specifically evaluating its efficacy for post-tonsillectomy pain are limited, making this approach relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adult (≥18years old at the time of giving consent) * Consented and listed for bilateral tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy * Tonsillectomy performed within the trial study period Exclusion Criteria: * Any concurrent Head \& Neck (H\&N) malignancy * Unilateral tonsillectomy * Pregnancy * Concurrent pharyngeal or upper aerodigestive tract biopsy * Robotic tonsillectomy * Previous H\&N malignancy * Previous H\&N radiotherapy * Type 1/2 diabetes mellitus * Known allergy to bee related products * Known allergy to golden syrup * History of chronic pain * History of fibromyalgia * Current usage of chronic (\>6weeks) analgesia * High-risk anaesthetic patients * Children or adolescents \<18years old * Adults unable to consent for themselves
Where it's running
-
Lister Hospital
Stevenage, United Kingdom Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: George Mochloulis, MD — East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
- Study coordinator: Carina Cruz
- Email: carina.cruz@nhs.net
- Phone: 07917534555
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.