When we think of honey, we think of sweet, sticky goo that we add to dishes as a sweetener but in terms of honey’s medicinal properties most of us know very little. It’s most commonly known medicinal use is as a soothing relief for a sore throat, but it can be used to treat so much more.

Honey has been shown to have antiseptic and antibacterial properties and as such can not only fight and kill bacterial infection, but it can reduce pain and induce healing. It’s little wonder then that traditional medicine is showing so much interest in this natural food item.

Manuka Honey

One honey, which stands out as having very powerful medicinal properties, is Manuka honey, which is made from the pollen of the Manuka bush, which grows in New Zealand.
Research has shown that active Manuka honey has the highest levels of antimicrobial action against a wide range of bacteria and fungi.

As a result in 2004 Manuka honey was licensed for use in NHS hospitals in the form of Manuka honey wound dressings and sterilised Manuka honey creams.
This is great news for the natural health industry, which is always trying to get mainstream medicine to recognise the value of natural products.

What conditions can Manuka honey treat?

Manuka honey can be used to treat a variety of skin conditions such as acne, athletes foot, burns and wounds. It has also shown to be beneficial in treating internal conditions such as stomach ulcers and gastroenteritis.

Why is Manuka Honey so effective?

While researches know that Manuka honey can greatly inhibit bacterial growth they remain uncertain as to why. They have been unable to identify the element that gives the honey its very powerful antibacterial properties. One theory though is that the honey’s high sugar content is responsible.

It is thought that the presence of the enzyme glucose oxidase, which causes the release of hydrogen peroxide is responsible for the honey’s antiseptic properties.

Not knowing exactly what creates the benefits hasn’t stopped progress though. Some researchers are wondering if it can even be used to treat super bug MRSA!

Is all Manuka honey the same?

Due to the variable properties of the honey, for consumer use it has been classified based on it’s antiseptic strength. The rating system used is the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF), which ranges in strength from UMF 20 down to UMF 5. The ratings are supposedly equivalent to standard antiseptics i.e. UMF20 is equivalent to a 20 per cent solution of antiseptic.

The different strengths of honey are recommended for different purposes. Anything below UMF 10 is suggested for general health and good digestion with the higher ratings 10-15 being used for indigestion, heartburn and diarrhoea.

Only sterilised honey at the higher strengths can be used on cuts, grazes, burns, fungal infections and wounds. Manuka honey with a UMF of 20 can be used to treat gastroenteritis and a range of stomach ulcers.

Why not visit the Honey Research Unit at Waikato in New Zealand for more details.