The Healing Properties Of Manuka Honey

Studies have found that special plant-derived components have contributed to the production of a unique type of honey that has the ability to heal wounds, clear infection and remedy a variety of other skin irritants.
In addition to being considered a food item, honey was used many years ago for medical purposes because of its antibacterial properties. However, in the 1940s and '50s, honey was replaced as a medicinal ingredient because of the misconception that antibiotics worked better.

There is now a revival in the interest in the use of honey as a topical antibacterial agent for the treatment of surface infections, such as ulcers, bed sores, surgical wounds and burns. The antibacterial activity found in honey is attributed to its high sugar content, acidity and the presence of hydrogen peroxide. A particular type of honey known as Manuka Honey has recently attracted attention among the medical industry because it contains additional antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, primarily due to plant-derived components.

It has been reported that wounds in laboratory studies were healed more rapidly when treated with Manuka Honey, more so than by other types of honey. The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, which has developed resistance to many antibiotics (MRSA) is also very susceptible to the antibacterial activity found in Manuka Honey. In some cases, Manuka Honey has become the only solution in treating MRSA and other types of Staph infections where antibiotics have failed. The antibacterial activity of standard honey can be destroyed by heating, including pasteurization. However, Manuka Honey is stable so its potency is not affected by heat, light or aging.

The antimicrobial properties of Manuka Honey have been compared to other types of honey and have been found to be significantly more potent and effective in destroying infectious bacteria. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus are microorganisms that infect wounds. These two organisms are very sensitive to Manuka Honey and have been successful in destroying these microorganisms when used as a wound dressing. Unlike other types of honey, Manuka Honey has another antibacterial component in addition to hydrogen peroxide. This additional antibacterial component has become known as the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) which is responsible for destroying even the most hard-to-kill bacteria in wounds.

Manuka Honey is indigenous to New Zealand and certain parts of Australia. Recent studies have shown that this special type of honey inhibited enzymes called cysteine proteases, which have been implicated in muscle-wasting diseases such as muscular dystrophy, viral replication and tumor invasion and metastasis.
"The healing potential for Manuka Honey is great," says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International which is a U.S.-based company that imports Manuka Honey from New Zealand and blends it into their medicated creams and lotions. "In addition to being capable of destroying the bacteria responsible for infecting wounds, Manuka Honey has been proven to be effective in treating other health conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, arthritis, muscle and joint pain, ringworm, athlete's foot, etc."

Honeymark uses Manuka Honey as a main ingredient in its health care products and plans on developing a line of cosmetic products later this year. "Manuka Honey has natural antibacterial, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties making it an extremely valuable resource," says Buonanotte. "What's best is that Manuka Honey has also been found to have no negative side effects, unlike many pharmaceuticals."n n