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Is Manuka Honey Really a Natural Healer?
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Manuka honey has been praised for eons for its natural healing properties. And with that comes a very high price tag, compared to store-bought honeys.
But is manuka honey really medicinal? And how can it help you heal?
What is manuka honey?
Native to New Zealand, indigenous people have used rich manuka honey for thousands of years.
Manuka honey is different to normal honey because the bees that make it pollinate the manuka or tea tree (Leptospermum scoparium), which has unusually high antibacterial properties.
As a result, manuka honey is richer and darker than other honeys.
What is manuka honey used to treat?
Traditionally, manuka honey has been used to treat wounds, keeping bad bacteria at bay and warding off infection.Today, you can buy special dressings and creams containing manuka honey to speed up wound healing.
Manuka honey is also said to help heal stomach ulcers and sore throats, as well as common skin conditions.
You can eat honey by the spoonful (just don’t go overboard!) to soothe a sore throat and keep your digestive system happy. Or simply spread it on bread, add it to a smoothie, and enjoy it as you would normal honey.
And if you have a wound, bite, or infection, smear manuka honey onto the skin. That being said, health experts recommend applying a special manuka honey formulation to the skin, and not straight from the honey jar in your pantry.
Is manuka honey a proven healer?
While all honeys contain hydrogen peroxide – providing antibacterial qualities – manuka honey has the added benefit of methylglyoxal (MG) in extraordinarily high doses. More MG means a stronger antibacterial effect.Recent research from the University of Sydney found that manuka honey kills every bacteria. Yep, every single bacteria – even those pesky bugs that are resistant to antibiotics.
Scientists are so fascinated by manuka honey’s healing properties that New Zealand’s University of Waikato has launched a honey research unit to study it in-depth.
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