Manuka honey is honey produced specifically from the Manuka or Tea tree bush which is native to New Zealand and Southeast Australia.2 Whilst the Manuka bush (Leptospermum scoparium )has recently been studied for its various pharmaceutical uses, Manuka honey in particular has caught the imagination of scientists. In fact they are so interested in its medicinal qualities, that the University of Waikato has established the Waikato Honey Research Unit in order to fully study the antimicrobial effects of this golden delight. Read on to learn what is manuka honey used for.

What scientists have been proving – the benefits of Manuka honey

Dr. Peter Molan, MBE, an Associate Professor of Biochemistry, has been at the forefront of Manuka honey since the early 1980’s, and through Dr. Molan’s extensive research on the subject, he has been able to study antibacterial effects of honey and Manuka honey in particular. What he has found is that Manuka honey contains not only one but two agents which help to heal wounds and fight bacteria. This additional antibacterial agent is referred to as non-peroxide activity.

Manuka Honey Testing and Rating

If you want to take advantage of manuka honey it needs to be tested for its antimicrobial activity. The thing that makes manuka honey unique is that it also has a non-peroxide anti-bacterial activity. (all honeys have hydrogen peroxide activity) Independent laboratories test batches of manuka honey on this unique trait. In order to determine its rating the batches are compared with the equivalent concentration of phenol with the same level of antibacterial activity. To illustrate; when Manuka Honey has a rating of 10, its non-peroxide antibacterial activity will fight off bacteria as effectively as will a 10% phenol solution.

So what exactly can Manuka honey do? – The benefits of Manuka Honey

Because Manuka is antibacterial, as well as having anti fungal properties, it has been shown to have both internal as well as external benefits.3 External application of the honey includes the treatment of eczema, arthritis, infected wounds, ring worm, acne and it even has anti ageing properties which fight the signs of ageing such as wrinkles.

Internal uses include the treatment of a sore throat, stomach ulcers, some cancers, gastritis, acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome. Manuka honey is used by many to treat sinus infection and as a natural remedy for strep throat. Furthermore it is popular as a natural water warts treatment. A visitor wrote me how manuka honey was able to cure bladder infection.

Manuka Honey for external use

Manuka has been scientifically proven to be effective in treating most wounds including skin ulcers, diabetic ulcers, wounds, burns, boils, acne, atopic eczema.4

Wounds generally become infected when they come into contact with or are infected by Eschericihia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.5 These infections are particularly difficult to treat successfully and can even lead to dire results such as amputation in the case of diabetic ulcers which become antibiotic resistant. Manuka honey is effective at killing these persistent bacteria. Here’s more info on how manuka honey can help heal a c-section wound.

Applying Manuka to wounds creates a moist wound healing environment which has been shown to speed up wound healing with the added benefits of reduced scarring. Moist wound healing techniques also require less dressings as the dressing for these wounds need to be changed less often than conventional dressings.

Manuka creates an optimal wound healing environment by excluding environmental influences on the wound. It also has a natural component which produces hydrogen peroxide which in turn aids the healing process while at the same time creating a germ free environment. And finally, the UMF antibacterial component found within Manuka also penetrates the tissue, thus reaching and treating deep seated infections.

Quite simply, Manuka treats external wounds by cleaning the wound by removing dirt from the wound, clearing the bacteria which are responsible for the infection, protecting the wound against further infection by environmental influences, and making the change of wound dressing easier. Honey wound dressings don’t need to be changed as frequently and they do not stick the wound like conventional dressings thus affecting the wound each time a conventional dressing is changed.6

Special, sterilized, FDA approved, class 1 medical devices are marketed under the brand name Medihoney dressings. The use of these medical professionals as well as individuals is increasing rapidly.

Manuka Honey for internal use

Stomach ulcers in particular dyspepsia and peptic ulcers are caused by a bacterium called Helicobacter Pylori. Although there seem to be no formal scientific studies on the subject yet, Manuka’s special UMF factor has been shown anecdotally to be effective in the treatment of the above conditions.7

The UMF factor present in Manuka has been proven to inhibit the growth of Helicobacter Pylori under laboratory conditions and it stands to reason that the honey should therefore be effective in the treatment of various stomach ailments including stomach ulcers. Once again we shall perhaps have to wait for science to prove what some ancients already knew? This post goes deeper into the question whether or not does manuka honey cure stomach ulcers.

Manuka and MRSA

MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) has become the nightmare of hospitals all over the world. This highly infectious strain of Staphylococcus roams the passages of hospitals infecting already ill patients with a sometimes deadly strain of bacteria which has become resistant to most if not all conventional antibiotics.

Recent laboratories studies as well as hospital trials have shown Manuka honey to be effective in the treatment of wounds infected with MRSA. 8

So with all the medicinal benefits of Manuka honey in mind, should you rush off and purchase yours immediately? The simple answer is no. Not all honeys are born equal and this is true of Manuka as well.

Choosing Manuka honey

On active manuka honey testing for its level of antibacterial activity has been carried out. If correctly done these tests are carried out by independent laboratories on each batch of honey.

The abovementioned research trials and clinical studies have been based primarily on the work of Dr. Peter Molan. Dr. Molan makes it clear that when purchasing Manuka honey, you should be careful to choose Manuka with a UMF or Molan Gold rating of 10 or more. Dr. Molan created these ratings for Manuka in order to rate the antibacterial effects of the honey, and the higher the UMF or Molan Gold factor of the honey, the higher the anti-bacterial effect9, so it stands to reason that when choosing Manuka honey for medicinal purposes, you should choose the honey which will be most effective. Make sure you do your homework and find the highest quality Manuka that you can purchase.

References

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptospermum_scoparium
4. http://manukahoney.com/resources/research/wound-care.html
5. Willix DJ, Molan PC, Harfoot CJ. A comparison of the sensitivity of wound-infecting species of bacteria to the antibacterial activity of manuka honey and other honey. J Appl Bacteriol 1992; 73: 388-94. as quoted on http://www.manukahoney.co.uk/article1.html

Regular varieties of honey lose hydrogen peroxide when used to heal a wound. This causes a risk of bacterial growth in the wound. The sugar content in the honey overtakes its lost antibacterial property which promotes the growth of bacteria in the wounded area. But New Zealand’s active manuka honey (Leptospermum honey) enhances the healing property of natural honey by a unique factor called UMF which is the acronym for Unique Manuka Factor.

This is a factor which supports the antibacterial property of honey in addition to hydrogen peroxide. UMF is a stable property and doesn’t get destroyed easily. It is even dominant over the antibacterial effects of hydrogen peroxide.

Manuka honey is able to provide a germ free moist environment for wound healing which otherwise results in infection and fungus growth. With its high sugar content the honey feeds the wound with glucose which keeps the wounded area free from any odor which will otherwise smell bad as the bacteria produces ammonia and sulphur compounds.

This amazingly unique product (it really is!) has not shown any side effects so far. The amount of honey needed for the wound treatment depends on the fluid from the wound. Therefore the Derma Sciences company has developed different types of manuka honey wound dressings. For normal wounds, moderately exudating wounds, and heavily exudating wounds. These products are called Medihoney dressings. They are especially suitable for leg and foot ulcers, pressure sores, surgical and traumatic wounds but also normal, less serious wounds, will benefit from these natural treatment.

As a natural antibiotic the honey as a healing medicine doesn’t have any expiry date when stored in a proper place and at the right temperature. It is readily available in almost all places at an affordable price.

Manuka honey is well known for its medical importance for all age groups. But its property as a wound treatment is a sweet surprise for many people as it will be readily available in your home at all times. Honey provides an antibacterial strength to the affected area with its natural acidity. Honey heals the wound as it nurtures the affected area with moist content which assures quick healing.

Tissue regrowth gets delayed if the wound dries. Also the moisture in the wound heals it with less scarring. It is less painful and it requires lesser dressing. Dried wound is very painful when removing the dressing which may sometimes tear the underlying tissue. Also the acidity of honey releases oxygen which is essential for the growth of new cells in the wounded area. When all the above properties of honey are common to all the honey varieties manuka honey differs as far as risk factor is concerned. Learn more about the benefits of Leptospermum honey in wound care.

What’s much more important though is to make sure you will get a brand that has its honey tested for its health boosting properties. This is done in certified laboratories (if it’s done properly that is). The scientists testing the batches examine the amount of antibacterial, antimicrobial, and other chemical traits. This guarantees customers they get manuka honey that actually is active.

Properly testing is crucial since not all jars available on store shelves and in online shop distribution centers contain active manuka honey. Even though the label says so, but this is because this term isn’t protected. Some brands just offer non-active, or much less active honey, because it is often diluted with normal honey.

These practices end up people buying overpriced honey that doesn’t really help them with what they intended to purchase it for. So in order to make sure to find the right type of manuka customers should pay close attention to which brand they buy.

Some trustworthy brands are Molan Gold, Watson and Son, Eastcape, Comvita, and MGO manuka honey. For more info on which brand to choose check out this page: the best manuka honey to buy.

Admitted, honey has been recognized as an effective skin care product since the dawn of mankind. Ancient cultures as the Egyptians and Greeks already mentioned its health and skin care benefits. But this honey from New Zealand has something extra.

“good as a salve for sore eyes and wounds” Aristotle (384-322 BC)

Increasing research demonstrates manuka honey’s uses in traditional medicine and as a powerful skin care product. This curative agent is still mainly perceived as a alternative remedy but is rapidly taking its place among conventional medicines.

This, thanks to the scientists doing the research. For research reports and other information read this article on the website of the Waikato University: What’s special about Active Manuka Honey?

Benefits of Manuka Honey for Skin

Manuka honey has very potent hydrating properties. Hydration is a key element to proper skin care.

Wound Healing

Thanks to manuka honey’s antibacterial action it is used to fight and prevent infections and speed the wound healing process. Wound debri is removed painlessly and special dressings are patient-friendly because they do not stick to the wound.

Manuka honey has shown to cure heavily infected very problematic wounds. Bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics (such as MRSA and staph infections) are successfully removed by this honey.

Acne Treatment

Not only in wounds but manuka also seems to benefit acne treatment. It seems to work on acne because it is characterized by inflammatory reactions of the body to skin lesions. Also the aforementioned anti-bacterial action seems to be beneficiary to reducing acne breakouts.

(Diabetic) Ulcers and Sores

More and more people opt for having their ulcers and sores treated with manuka honey-infused bandages. There are much anecdotal reports of persistent ulcers finally healed. Upon treatment granulation tissue re-appeared and within measurable time the ulcers resolved.

Skin Conditions Such as Athletes Foot, Jock Itch, Psoriasis, Eczema

More and more people use it to relief and cure athletes foot, eczema, herpes, psoriasis (see before and after photos here). The antimicrobial properties seem to play a major role here. Funghi which often cause such conditions are fought off while hydration enhances the skin’s recovery process.

Also nail funghus, water warts, and insect bites benefit from topical application of this special nectar from the manuka bushes in New Zealand.

O, not to forget, manuka honey is also very tasty! It is very sweet and has a specific, flowery taste that actually can’t be described very well.

People use this healing honey for various stomach-related purposes.

• stomach flu (gastroenteritis)
• stomach ulcers
• acid reflux

Stomach Flu

One clinical trial researched the effects of honey (instead of glucose) added to a re-hydration fluid (solution of electrolytes) given to children hospitalized with gastroenteritis.

It showed a statistically significant reduction in the duration of diarrhea caused by bacterial infection (58 hours cf 93 hours). Haffejee and Moosa (1985)
source: Waikato Honey Unit

Stomach Ulcers

Many sufferers from stomach ulcers are infected with the helicobacter pylori bacterium. Research indicates that taking four teaspoons of manuka honey, four times a day on an empty stomach for eight weeks appears to get rid of the infection.

According to a Daily Mirror article:

Helicobacter pylori triggers acid indigestion. Although it doesn’t cause symptoms in everyone, virtually all patients with duodenal ulcers are infected. Plus three quarters of those with gastric ulcers. [..]

Acid Reflux

These were the results of a poll among users of this honey: (more than 80% of the respondents noticed relief upon taking manuka honey)

Did you benefit from using manuka honey for your acid reflux?

Yes, it reduced the symptoms
61.9%
Yes, my acid reflux has disappeared!
19%
I’m not sure
14.3%
Too bad, It did not work.
4.8%

You can find links to research reports on the benefits of manuka honey on the website of the Waikato University, section Honey Research Unit.

Where do you use manuka honey for?

Which manuka honey should you use for acid reflux relief? Experts such as prof. Molan (discoverer of the unique properties of this type of honey) recommend to use a honey with a rating strength between 12+ and 18+ to 20+.

There’s also difference between brands. Not all brands have their products tested by certified laboratory. When customers want to be certain about the potency of the honey they buy they should go for brands such as Watson & Son
, Comvita or brands with the MGO certification.

Here’s more info on the Molan Gold Standard.

Manuka Honey For Acid Reflux

Manuka honey soothes in case of acid reflux and heartburn and may prevent (further) damage to the esophageal sphincter muscles. (the muscle that normally prevents stomach acids from refluxing)

How does it do this? Well, manuka honey kills various types of harmful bacteria. One of them is the Helicobacer pylori bacterium, which is the most common cause of stomach acid overproduction and a common cause for peptic ulcers.

According to the world renowned Waikato Honey Research Unit manuka honey is “much more effective than other honey against Helicobacter pylori.”

In addition, manuka honey has a very powerful anti-inflammatory action. This alone may offer relief since refluxing stomach acids may cause inflammation of the stomach’s mucous lining. Regular use of manuka honey may prevent damage of this tissue. Once damaged, the muscle will function less well with more acid reflux as a result.

Yet another benefit of using manuka honey for acid reflux is that it has no side effects while common acid reflux medicines do.

This brand is founded by the most renowned researcher in this area, Dr. Molan. When you purchase this brand you also know this honey has been tested for its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties in laboratory that work closely with the Waikato University. This university is the home of most of the research conducted on the medicinal properties of this honey.

US customers can buy Molan Gold Standard Manuka honey at Amazon.

Another product with the same certification is Watson & Son Premium Certified Manuka Honey 15+ . At this moment it is not available.

Did you know..

Manuka honey is the only, currently known, substance that is effective in fighting off the antibiotic-resistant MRSA bug. This superbug as it is called is responsible for the deaths of 5000 hospitalized patients in the United Kingdom alone. So the help of the honey from New Zealand literally is a lifesaver.

According to experts (such as the Mayo Clinic) the most efficient treatment of Onychomycosis (nail fungus) is oral. They advice to use prescription drugs to fight off the fungus from the inside out (systemically).

But many people encounter side effects as a result of using such prescription drugs. Manuka honey, which is completely natural, can also be taken internally. Thus it works both topically and oral. Cricital note: whether or not the honey is powerful enough to enter the bloodstream and reach the infected nails is disputed.

Research indicates manuka honey to be able to effectively treat; athlete’s foot, jock itch, and ringworm. All fungal infections.

Nail fungus infections are highly contagious. Usually the fungus enters the nail through cracks or cuts in the nail. Once there it thrives under the nail bed. The nail affected by a fungus will start to get discolored, thick and sometimes bridle if left untreated. Optimal conditions for the micro organism are moist and warmth.

Medihoney Calcium Alginate Dressings

Looking to buy Medihoney Calcium Alginate Dressings with medical grade honey? They can be easily purchased at Amazon.

This type of FDA approved wound care product is suitable for moderate to heavily exudating wounds.

Indications
The dressings are indicated for the management of moderate to heavily exuding wounds such as:

• -diabetic foot ulcers
• -Venous stasis leg ulcers
• -Arterial leg ulcers
• -Leg ulcers of mixed etiology
• -Pressure ulcers (I-IV)
• -1st and 2nd degree burns
• -Donor sites
• -Traumatic and surgical wounds.

As wound fluid enters the dressing, the honey is released while the dressing absorbs and forms a gel. This makes the dressings easy to remove without disrupting the wound bed. This adds to the healing process and inflicts less pain and discomfort on the patient.

Product Description
MEDIHONEY dressings, a unique line of dressings containing Active Leptospermum Honey from New Zealand and Australia, have been shown to possess unique qualities that make them ideal for the management of chronic and acute wounds and burns. Because they contain a very high percentage of Leptospermum honey, MEDIHONEY dressings are able to work in the presence of wound fluid, blood, and tissue, thus promoting an optimal healing environment.

MEDIHONEY dressings provide a moist, occlusive environment conducive to optimal wound healing. As wound exudate is absorbed, the alginate forms a gel, making the dressings easy to remove without disrupting the wound bed.

Due to their versatility and lack of toxicity, MEDIHONEY dressings can be used in all stages of wound healing, and can also be used as an important component of wound bed preparation. As such, placing these dressings as the cornerstones of a wound care formulary can take a great deal of the guess-work out of wound management.

Strep throat or streptococcal pharyngitis is caused by a group A streptococcus bacterium. The most common symptoms are a sore throat and fever.

Preferred choice of antibiotics are penicillin V in the United States and Amoxicillin in Europe. In general these are still effective. Resistance is reported to azithromycin and related antibiotics.

Most sore throats are caused by viruses instead of (strep) bacteria. Sore throats should only be treated with antibiotics if the strep test is positive.

What If Antibiotics Don’t Work For Strep Throat
Medicinal manuka honey may very well be the next best option in case antibiotics don’t work. Laboratory studies have demonstrated active manuka to be able to cure antibiotic resistant infections such as MRSA and VRE. Such studies have also shown manuka honey to be effective against the streptococcus bacterium.

Since strep throat treatment with manuka honey will be topical, unlike antibiotics treatment which is systemic, it would be necessary to expose the nose and throat area to the honey as much as possible ( the strep throat causing bacteria are mostly located in the nose and throat).

Probably the best treatment would be to take tablespoons of manuka honey regularly and keep them as long as possible in the mouth. In order to reach the nose a spraying device as used in hospitals to administer antibiotics and honey into the sinus cavities can be used.

(Always seek professional medical advice in case the strep throat doesn’t get better. This information does not replace the advice of a qualified health care professional.)

The recommended, therapeutical, strength will be between 12 and 18 UMF, Molan Gold, or a comparable MGO strength.

Manuka honey also seems to cure throat congestion and other symptoms caused by bacterial infections. Sometimes, supposed allergies turn out to be bacterial infections which may be cured with manuka honey.