HEALTH JOURNEY: THE BENEFITS OF MANUKA HONEY
Honey has been recognised for its natural healing properties in folk and traditional medicine for millennia. Not only was it celebrated as a symbol of abundance and fertility, but even held a place of honour in sacred ceremonies dedicated to its worship.
Honey was revered by many ancient cultures as far more than a luxury staple food. This superfood is nutrient-rich and packed with antioxidants, however, not all honey is created equal when it comes to improving health and well-being.
Due to the presence of naturally occurring bioactive properties, Manuka honey provides superior therapeutic and medicinal benefits and can support your journey to greater health.
What Makes Manuka Honey Nature’s Great Gift?
Earthy-flavored Manuka honey is special for many reasons. It is made by bees pollinating the Manuka tree that grows in Australia and New Zealand for one.
Manuka honey’s claim to fame is on account of the immune-boosting natural compound – Methylglyoxal (MGO). The higher the MGO number on your Manuka honey, the greater the naturally occurring bioactivity levels.
A stronger immune system helps you ward off sickness including coughs and colds, and honey rich in MGO boosts your immunity.
Manuka is loaded with antioxidants that fight free radicals roaming around in your body. These rogue elements cause oxidation and inflammation at the cellular level. Your health gets impaired in the long run with aging and chronic diseases attributed to these toxins.
Manuka and natural honey also regulate the production of prostaglandins, a group of proteins that aid inflammation in the human body.
Organic Manuka honey is an antibacterial and antimicrobial functional medicine food, supported by science. The higher the level of bioactive MGO it contains, the stronger the Manuka honey and the more potent its medicinal benefits for helping to heal antibiotic-resistant and treatment-resistant wounds, burns, and skin infections.
Honey, and Manuka honey, in particular, can be a valuable source of minerals, amino acids, and vitamins, containing fair amounts of iron, zinc, magnesium, calcium, and Vitamin B among other vital nutrients.
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein which along with magnesium helps repair and strengthen the body. These play an important role in fertility and during pregnancy by aiding the development of the fetus.
Honey provides a natural source of energy in the form of glucose when feeling fatigued and makes a wonderful addition to an overall healthy diet when taken in moderation. Manuka honey in particular can be used to help sustain well-being and to build immunity levels.
Whether you simply want to stay healthy or need additional support for more complex chronic conditions, Manuka honey may be used as a natural and complementary method to maintain and improve health.
Keep reading to discover just some of the numerous evidence-based benefits and medicinal uses of this special honey.
Boosts Digestive Health
Manuka honey can be the perfect natural supplement for a healthier gut and digestive system.
Your gut is home to both good and bad bacteria that boost or degrade your health depending on which germ team is in control.
As a deemed prebiotic containing fructo-oligosaccharides, Manuka honey fights a dual battle in your gut. It assists in repleting the stocks of good bacteria – natural probiotics.
This honey possesses the rare ability to eliminate over 50 species of bad bacteria and keep your gut healthy and working at optimal levels.
Manuka honey is packed with antioxidants that destroy toxic waste which in turn reduces inflammation. These flare-ups cause gastric ulcers, colitis, gastritis, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and other painful gut conditions.
When taken orally, Manuka honey helps reduce gut inflammation and swelling.
The sticky texture of honey acts as a protective coating for your digestive tract and your esophagus. This way it can treat constipation and regularize your bowel movements.
Another reason you should reach for medicinal-grade honey is to treat sore throats and stomachs.
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that damages your digestive system and causes lung infections. Manuka honey has been seen to combat two bacteria strains causing these infections and alleviate the symptoms.
The results of a study were encouraging as it revealed Manuka’s ability to help patients when used with regular antibiotics.
Treats Skin Infections
You have likely come across skincare products that list Manuka honey as a key therapeutic ingredient. Is it a marketing gimmickry or is there some truth behind the product’s claims?
A traditional skin remedy, Manuka honey nourishes and rejuvenates your skin from the inside out. As a natural exfoliator, topically applied honey removes dead skin and keeps your skin supple.
A natural moisturiser, honey works wonders on all types of skin (especially dry skin) by supplying moisture.
Its inflammation-fighting ability works on your skin as well and proves particularly useful while treating eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions. The effectiveness with which it heals scars and wounds proves helpful in treating acne, cold sores, sunburn, and blemishes.
With strong anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, Manuka honey can help prevent and treat skin infections. One study found that Manuka honey was effective in treating skin wounds arising from Staph infections.
Honey is a natural hydrating agent. This comes from the amino acids, glucose, and fructose it contains. It can help moisturise your skin even as it protects the skin from bacteria.
Manuka honey with MGO levels of 800 and above can be used as a last-resort option to attack biofilm (thin layer of bacteria) infections. These are generally considered untreatable, but Manuka honey was effective against the pathogens, especially in long-lasting infections.
Helps Treat Wounds
Studies reveal that Manuka like other kinds of honey can help in healing cuts and scrapes and promote the regrowth of damaged tissue. The antibacterial and antioxidant nature of Manuka honey is key for optimal healing.
A medical study found that Manuka honey-infused bandages were better at treating wounds compared to conventional methods. This applied to tests done on pressure wounds, diabetic ulcers, surgical wounds, and scarring.
Most kinds of honey have a low pH range of 3.2 to 4.5, but Manuka is more acidic than other varieties. Its lower pH promotes peptides and proteins that the body needs to repair itself.
Honey tends to pull out fluid and waste skin from the wound. It also drains water from surface bacteria effectively killing them in the process. In addition, honey is naturally high in sugar, and applying it topically acts as a protective barrier to wounds.
This encourages overall healing at a faster rate. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has permitted the use of Manuka honey for treating wounds.
Promotes Burn Healing
Using honey with its bioactive compounds and hydrogen peroxide content to treat burns is not a modern idea. Organic honey was used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and Indians as an effective restorative remedy.
In fact, a study accepts that modern medicine rediscovered honey, specifically Manuka honey, as an on-skin application for burns.
The reason that Manuka honey is super effective in healing wounds is that it works on burns and related pain. The anti-bacterial value of high-potency Manuka honey far exceeds that of other natural honey because of MGO.
Even when peroxide is destroyed due to exposure to heat or improper storage, other antiseptic activity remains stable in Manuka honey.
This unique quality is largely attributed to the presence of MGO making your honey a stronger player when it comes to relief from burns.
With its ability to regenerate cells and skin tissue, Manuka honey promotes quick healing. It provides relief from the intense pain resulting from these burns.
Works as Natural Antibiotic
The antimicrobial ability stems from hydrogen peroxide which incidentally is a by-product of a bee enzyme. With Manuka honey, this ability gets amplified by its MGO content. Higher-grade Manuka honey with higher levels of MGO is better equipped and more efficient in fighting bacteria and other disease-causing germs.
With microorganisms becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, Manuka honey can become a natural go-to alternative to standard antibiotic treatments.
At Biosota Organics, our passion lies in the natural healing power of Manuka honey. Our MGO grades are regularly tested by independent accredited laboratories both in Australia and New Zealand.
Biosota Manuka honey comes in a range of MGO strengths and suggested usages:
- Our Everyday Strength Manuka Honey range (table grade) - for general health and immunity;
- Our High Strength Manuka Honey range (medical grade) - for sore throats, coughs, and cold & flu.
- Our rare and Superior Strength Medicinal Manuka Honey range (hospital grade) - for burns, wounds, ulcers, infections, oral care, and gut health.
As a handy rule-of-thumb: the higher the MGO number, the greater the bioactive strength of the Manuka honey for more potent uses.
Use our helpful Manuka 101 Guide to discover the right honey to boost your health.
Disclaimer: Statements made have not been evaluated by the TGA (Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration) or FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration). Products sold are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Manuka honey is not intended to be a substitute for other medicines or advice and is best used as a complement to or in conjunction with any existing treatment plans. Please consult your healthcare professional before beginning any treatment.