Manuka honey - the healing agent
Manuka Honey
Ambrosia - the drink of the gods, according to the Greek mythology brings immortality to the person that consumes it. And it is no wonder that some scholars think that its main component is honey - the sweet product of the bee's hard work which has powerful healing and cleansing properties. Since ancient times honey has been used widely - to sweeten cakes, in different dishes, to heal rashes and burns, to soothe soar throat, and many more. While all honey has beneficial properties, there is one type of honey that is quite superior - this is the Manuka Honey.
What is Manuka Honey?
Manuka tree flowers
Manuka Honey is a premium, mono-floral honey which is produced by bees that gather nectar from the flowers of the Manuka tree (also known as Leptospermum scoparium). The Manuka tree or Tea tree is native for New Zealand and Australia. All manuka products have very high antibacterial potency.
Manuka honey has a distinct flavour, it's dark in color and rich in taste and has very strong antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. The Active Manuka Honey Association (AMHA) created a Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) - a standard which grades honey based on its anti-bacterial strength. This is important when buying honey - the higher the UMF the higher the antibacterial properties.
What are the benefits?
Manuka honey has a distinct flavour, it's dark in color and rich in taste and has very strong antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. The Active Manuka Honey Association (AMHA) created a Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) - a standard which grades honey based on its anti-bacterial strength. This is important when buying honey - the higher the UMF the higher the antibacterial properties.
What are the benefits?
- antibacterial - remarkably potent antibiotic properties and no negative side effects
- antimicrobial
- antiseptic
- antiviral
- antioxidant - Manuka honey’s antioxidants fight and neutralize harmful free radicals, which may otherwise cause cell damage and accelerated aging.
- anti-inflammatory -used to treat sore throats, irritated skin and sunburn.
- anti-fungal
Major differences with other types of honey
There are several major differences with all other types of honey:
There are several major differences with all other types of honey:
- Only manuka honey contain non-hydrogen peroxide antibacterial component.
- The antibacterial components are unaffected by enzymes in the body that can destroy them.
- It is highly effective against antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria - MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and VRE (Vancomycin-resistantenterococcus).
- It maintains its potency even when diluted 50 times.
- It is not affected by light or heat.
- Does not require moisture or oxygen to be effective.
- Diffuses deep into skin tissue.
