Special Acid Water Speeds Up Burn Wound Healing in Animal Study
Electrolyzed Strong Acid Aqueous Solution Irrigation Promotes Wound Healing in a Burn Wound Model
Research hubs: Skin & Dermatology System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Hajime Nakae, Hideo Inaba
- Journal
- Artificial Organs
- Year
- 2000
- PMID
- 10916065
- Study Type
- Rat
- Participants
- 18
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 18 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
A special disinfecting solution called electrolyzed strong acid aqueous solution (ESAAS) helps burn wounds heal faster in rats.
Key Finding
Electrolyzed strong acid aqueous solution significantly accelerated wound healing in rat burn wounds compared to saline irrigation and no treatment, with faster skin regrowth (epithelialization) observed in treated animals.
Summary
Researchers tested whether a special acidic solution created through electrolysis (a chemical process using electricity) could help burn wounds heal faster in rats. Rats with severe burns were treated with either no irrigation, salt water irrigation, or the electrolyzed solution. Wounds treated with the electrolyzed solution healed significantly faster, and the treatment also increased immune cells (lymphocytes and macrophages) in the wound area.
Practical Takeaway
While this study suggests electrolyzed solutions may support wound healing through immune activation, it was conducted only in rats and does not directly test hydrogen water as a beverage. The relevance to hydrogen water consumption for human health remains unclear, and human clinical trials would be needed before any health claims could be made.
Abstract (excerpt)
Abstract: The purpose of the study was to understand the effectiveness of electrolyzed strong acid aqueous solution (ESAAS) for acceleration of epithelialization in a rat burn wound model. Eighteen anesthetized Sprague‐Dawley rats received 30% total body surface area third‐degree burns, and 2 days…