What Is Manuka Honey?

• Manuka honey is a special type of honey that is only found in New Zealand. It is collected from the manuka bush that naturally grows throughout the country. Manuka honey has been promoted as a natural medicine for conditions such as stomach ulcers, sore throats, colds, acne, skin ulcers, wounds, boils, minor burns, pressure sores and infections. It is also said to improve health and general well-being.
  
  

Comparison

• According to Dr. Peter Molan from the University of Waikato in New Zealand, all honeys are antibacterial, but manuka honey is more effective against some conditions due to its high level of non-peroxide antibacterial activity. Unlike other honeys, manuka honey's effectiveness is not diluted by the catalase enzyme that is present in the human body. The antibacterial activity also continues even when exposed to heat and light. Manuka honey does not need dilution or constant oxygen supply to activate the enzyme required to produce the healing effect. Due to these characteristics, the manuka honey is more effective than other honeys against bacteria.
  
  

Identification

• Not all manuka honey is created equal. Only some products marketed as manuka honey have the non-peroxide antibacterial activity. The level of this activity depends on the variety of manuka plant that it is collected from, and the proportion of manuka nectar in the honey. Since 1998, the term "active manuka honey" has been used to distinguish honey with non-peroxide antibacterial activity, but today it is often used to refer to regular antibacterial activity that is often present in other types of honey.
  
  

Rating System

• There is confusion over how to rate the level of non-peroxide antibacterial activity in a certain manuka honey product. Dr. Molan devised a rating system called the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF), and for a while it helped consumers determine the effectiveness of manuka honey's antibacterial properties. However, it has been criticized as unreliable, as tests done on the same batch of honey can produce different results. Other methods have been invented, such the measurement of methylglyoxal (MGO) content in manuka honey. As of June 2010, the Bee Products Standards Council in New Zealand is also developing a new standard system.
  
  

How to Use Manuka Honey

• You can reap the benefits of manuka honey in many ways. You can drink it to heal stomach conditions and promote general health. You can also use it as a wound dressing and bandage it over the areas of skin with the conditions you want to heal. Manuka honey has also been promoted as a beauty product that can improve skin tone and appearance, and you can achieve this by having facials with manuka honey.