written and researched by Heather (Published in issue 50 Renaissance Magazine)
Honey is honey is honey, right? Not entirely, no. It would seem that a certain honey is our equivalent to a Rolls Royce in the honey genre. I've written about Manuka Honey before, but the scientific research surrounding this miracle potion is never ending. The bees in New Zealand aren't just the best alchemists who turn pollen into liquid gold, but they are also producing an elixir of life. Honey has been known as the food of the gods, and has since ancient times been associated with blessings. However modern science is pointing a finger at the New Zealand Manuka Honey, as the possible source for such godly associations. There is no other honey that is known to cure everything from leg ulcers to gingivitis. Long life and good health for the gods would definitely have been sourced from New Zealand.
The list of attributes for this honey is extensive. For starters Manuka honey boosts the body's immune system by boosting cytokine production. This makes this honey unique and has seen it recommended by professionals for the treatment of acute, and chronic wounds, as it is such a potent wound healer.(1) The problem encountered by doctors with wounds, is the infection caused by Staphyloccus aureus. This strain of bacteria is drug resistant, yet Manuka honey used as a wound dressing is a non-antibiotic treatment which destroys this pesky bacteria.(2) It is so effective that it has been used to impregnate maxillofacial wound dressings in a wound care clinic for over a year. Manuka honey was found to be different to other honeys when used as a wound dressing. Normal raw honey produces hydrogen peroxide when applied to a weeping wound, and this is why honey was credited for healing wounds. However Manuka honey does not produce hydrogen peroxide when applied to a weeping wound, instead it works by quenching free radicals in the wound. This gives it a highly potent antibacterial activity which works as an anti-inflammatory in chronic wounds. (3) It is recommended as a treatment and as a prevention of infections at the insertion points of medical devices. (4)
The healing properties of Manuka honey don't stop there. This honey was applied in a test study on 8 individuals with leg ulcerations. The wounds were dressed weekly with Manuka honey. Initial wound size was 5.6 cm, yet after four weeks of Manuka honey treatment alone, the wound had halved in size, stopped producing an odour and there was far less pain experienced from the wound. In all 8 test subjects there was the same level of improvement! (5) In another study Manuka honey was evaluated as a potential treatment for gingivitis (bleeding gums) and dental plaque. After the 21 day trial of eating this honey 3 times a day there were highly significant reductions in plaque and the percentage of bleeding sites, concluding with Manuka honey being an effective treatment for gingivitis and periodontal disease. (6)
Burn victims run the risk of being infected by strains of Pseudomonas. Tested against 17 strains of this bacteria, Manuka honey was affective as a treatment and prevention of this infection. As burn wounds are hard to treat, honey has made life much easier. (7) Honey was compared as a dressing on burn wounds, to using silver sulfadiazine. Of the 52 patients treated with honey, 91% of them had sterile wounds within a week. Of the wounds treated with honey, 87% healed within 15 days! This included pain relief, lower incidence of scarring and post burn contracture, when compared to conventional treatments. This honey is a miracle substance! (8) This honey also helps with the skin conditions of dermatitis caused by fungi, such as athletes foot and ringworm. Manuka honey of course inhibited the infections completely. (9)
Stomach ulcers and dyspepsia are known to be caused by Heliobacter pylori. Manuka honey was introduced as a treatment for this bacteria and the results showed that all growth of this bacteria was inhibited by the honey. (10) Using only 5% of Manuka honey completely destroyed this infection in the stomach which causes ulcers. (9) Conventional medicine treats stomach ulcers by preventing the secretion of stomach acids, however this treatment has been known to have ulcers reappear, as reducing stomach acids does not remove the bacteria causing the ulcer. Only by eliminating the bacteria, can you be cured of stomach ulcers, which Manuka honey does effectively. (9) This is preferable to the treatment of antibiotics and bismuth, which also produce side effects. (9) Gastroentiritis (diarrhea and vomiting) is also treated with honey. It aids the re-absorption of sodium and water from the intestines, preventing dehydration and loss of electrolytes, and it shortened illness duration. (9) Manuka honey also works as a treatment for acid reflux, (11) again due to its effectiveness against h.pylori.
This amazing honey was even effective in treating mastitis in dairy cattle. (9) This is a far more preferable solution to treating milk cows than antibiotics, because the milk is unaffected. Manuka honey is also great served with foods, as out of all honeys tested, Manuka honey had an excellent inhibitory effect on food borne pathogens. (12) Honey should be a staple in your diet and a must have in your medicine chest. This fabulous substance has an anti-tumour and antimestatic effect (13), Manuka honey is effective in treating wounds even when diluted 54 times with fluid (9), it treats bedsores, burns, dermatitis wounds and ulcers without any side effects.(9) Manuka honey even eradicates Candida albicans! (14) This is far more affordable than conventional treatments, and as the proof has revealed, it does so in a highly effective manner.
After 2 years of writing about Manuka honey, I'm delighted to reveal that it is now finally available in SA! The bees are buzzing, as spring approaches us, so stock your summer emergency kit with Manuka which is now available from http://manukahoneyafrica.com And BEE blessed with good health.
South Africans can also get manuka honey from Faithful to Nature (Here)
References: 1. Tonks AJ, Dudley E, Porter NG, Parton J, Brazier J, Smith EL, Tonks A.: A 5.8-kDa component of manuka honey stimulates immune cells via TLR4.: J Leukoc Biol. 2007 Aug 3 2. Visavadia BG, Honeysett J, Danford MH.: Manuka honey dressing: An effective treatment for chronic wound infections.: Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2006 Nov 17 3. Henriques A, Jackson S, Cooper R, Burton N.: Free radical production and quenching in honeys with wound healing potential.: J Antimicrob Chemother. 2006 Oct;58(4):773-7 4. French VM, Cooper RA, Molan PC.: The antibacterial activity of honey against coagulase-negative staphylococci.: J Antimicrob Chemother. 2005 Jul;56(1):228-31 5. Gethin G, Cowman S.: Case series of use of Manuka honey in leg ulceration.: Int Wound J. 2005 Mar;2(1):10-5 6. English HK, Pack AR, Molan PC.: The effects of manuka honey on plaque and gingivitis: a pilot study.: J Int Acad Periodontol. 2004 Apr;6(2):63-7 7. Cooper RA, Halas E, Molan PC.: The efficacy of honey in inhibiting strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from infected burns.: J Burn Care Rehabil. 2002 Nov-Dec;23(6):366-70 8. Subrahmanyam M.: Topical application of honey in treatment of burns.: Br J Surg. 1991 Apr;78(4):497-8. 9. Honey for the Treatment of Infections by Dr. Molan, University of Waikato, New Zealand 10. al Somal N, Coley KE, Molan PC, Hancock BM.: Susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to the antibacterial activity of manuka honey.: J R Soc Med. 1994 Jan;87(1):9-12 11. Weston-RJ; Mitchell-KR; Allen-KL Antibacterial phenolic components of New Zealand manuka honey. :Food-Chemistry; 64 (1999) 295-301, 30 ref. 12. Patton T, Barrett J, Brennan J, Moran N.: Use of a spectrophotometric bioassay for determination of microbial sensitivity to manuka honey.: J Microbiol Methods. 2006 Jan;64(1):84-95. 13. Gribel' NV, Pashinskii VG.: [The antitumor properties of honey]: Vopr Onkol. 1990;36(6):704-9 14. New Zealand Beekeeper. 4(10):20-26; Nov 1997