Skin Care And Manuka Honey

Manuka Honey has proven to be the most effective natural ingredient in skin care products for treating a wide range of conditions from infected wounds to acne.

Manuka Honey is a form of mono-floral honey which is produced by bees that feed on the flowers that grow on the Manuka plant (also known as the tea tree or Leptospermum Scoparium) which is indigenous to New Zealand. A similar honey is reported to be made by Australian bees which feed on the Jelly Bush (also known as Leptospermum Polygalifolium).

Manuka Honey has antibacterial and anti-fungal activities that are effective in treating a variety of different conditions such as infected wounds, acne, eczema, ringworm, etc. Manuka Honey is believed to magnify the properties of the tea tree by synergistically adding the naturally antibacterial properties inherent in honey.

According to a number of reported studies, many types of honey contain low levels of hydrogen peroxide, enough to provide an antimicrobial effect without causing tissue damage. However, the hydrogen peroxide present in standard honey is rapidly decomposed into water and oxygen upon contact with catalase, which is an enzyme that is present in blood and wound fluid. This rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide makes the antimicrobial activity of ordinary honey short-lived. Although, Manuka Honey has been found to show a stronger antimicrobial effect than other types of honey that is stable and maintains its healing properties even in the presence of catalase. Manuka Honey is also non-toxic to tissue, thereby giving it a distinct advantage over many other topical antiseptics.

There are a number of interesting theories as to the active components of Leptospermum Scoparium. It has been reported that Leptospermum Scoparium contains monoterpenes at low levels and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons at higher levesl including those possessing cubebene/copaene, elemene, gurjunene/aromadendrene, farnesene/caryophyllene, selinene, calamenene and cadinene skeletons. Also reported as being present in Leptospermum Scoparium have been oxygenated sesquiterpenes and triketones. The antimicrobial activity of the Leptospermum Scoparium is believed by some to arise from the triketone fractions.

Because of its impressive medicinal qualities, Manuka Honey is now being used as a main ingredient in skin care products. One U.S. manufacturer has been capitalizing on the healing benefits of Manuka Honey. Honeymark International is a New York-based skin care company that imports Manuka Honey from New Zealand and blends it into their products. Their proprietary formulations take the sticky mess out of applying honey directly to the skin. Honeymark products are effective in treating skin ulcers, MRSA/Staph infections, fungal infections, dermatitis, etc.

"Manuka Honey is a natural healer that has recently gained worldwide notoriety, particularly because of its ability to eradicate MRSA and heal Staph infections," says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International. "No other skin care ingredient is as effective in healing bacterial and fungal infections."