Manuka honey

Manuka honey is a type of honey that comes from New Zealand. It is produced by bees that pollinate the flowers of the Leptospermum scoparium bush, also known as the manuka bush. What sets Manuka honey apart from other types of honey is its antibacterial properties. The active ingredient in Manuka honey is methylglyoxal, which is probably responsible for these antibacterial properties. In addition, Manuka honey has antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Manuka honey is used in traditional medicine to help heal wounds, soothe throat inflammation, prevent tooth decay and relieve digestive discomfort.

Here is a list of the potential, science-based benefits of this unique type of honey.

Manuka honey can help heal wounds

Manuka honey has been used since ancient times to treat injuries, burns, ulcers and boils (1) and in 2007 Manuka was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of wounds (2).

Honey provides antibacterial and antioxidant properties while maintaining a moist wound environment and a protective barrier that prevents microbial infection of the wound. Several studies have shown that manuka honey can accelerate wound healing, improve tissue regeneration and even relieve pain in burns (3, 4). In a two-week study, the effects of Manuka honey were investigated in 40 volunteers with non-healing wounds. The results of the study showed that 88% of the wounds had become smaller. In addition, Manuka honey helped to create an acidic wound environment, which promotes wound healing (5). Manuka honey can also support the healing process of diabetic ulcers. A study from Saudi Arabia found that manuka honey in combination with conventional wound treatment resulted in better healing of diabetic ulcers than conventional treatment alone (6). In addition, a Greek study showed that manuka honey applied to wounds in patients with diabetic foot ulcers reduced healing time and disinfected the wounds.

Another study investigated the effectiveness of manuka honey in healing wounds around the eyelids after surgery. The study concluded that all wounds healed well regardless of whether they were treated with Manuka honey or Vaseline. However, the patients reported that the scar tissue was less hard and significantly less sensitive to pain after treatment with Manuka honey than with Vaseline (8).

Finally, Manuka honey is also effective in treating wound infections caused by antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus (9, 10). Regular use of Manuka honey even appears to help prevent such infections (11).

Summary: Applied externally, Manuka honey can be used effectively to treat burns, ulcers and non-healing wounds. Manuka honey has also been shown to treat infections caused by antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.

Manuka honey can promote oral health

To prevent tooth decay and keep gums healthy, it is important to minimize bacteria that cause plaque formation in the mouth. It is also important not to kill off the good oral bacteria that keep the mouth healthy. Studies have shown that Manuka honey attacks harmful bacteria associated with plaque formation, gingivitis and tooth decay. These studies show that manuka honey with high antibacterial activity is effective in inhibiting the growth of harmful oral bacteria such as P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans (12, 13). One study investigated the effects of sucking or chewing a honey chew on reducing plaque and gingivitis. The honey chew consisted of Manuka honey. Study participants were instructed to either suck or chew a honey chew or chew a sugar-free gum for 10 minutes after their three daily meals (14).

The idea of consuming honey for good dental health may seem counter-intuitive, as most people believe that eating too many sweets can lead to tooth decay. However, unlike sugar and other sweets, it is unlikely that Manuka honey will contribute to tooth decay due to its strong antibacterial effects.

Summary: Scientific research shows that Manuka honey inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria that can cause gum inflammation and tooth decay. Unlike refined sugar, Manuka honey is not a trigger for tooth decay.

Manuka honey can soothe sore throats

If you suffer from a sore throat, Manuka honey can provide some relief. Its antiviral and antibacterial properties can reduce inflammation and attack the bacteria that cause pain. But Manuka not only attacks harmful bacteria, it also lines the lining of the throat, which has a soothing effect. A recent study of patients receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer of the neck and head examined the effects of manuka honey on Streptococcus mutans bacteria, which can cause sore throats. Interestingly, the scientists observed a significant reduction in these bacteria after consuming Manuka honey (15). In addition, Manuka honey reduces the number of harmful bacteria that can cause mucositis, which is a common side effect of radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Mucositis leads to inflammation and painful ulcers in the mucous membranes lining the esophagus and digestive tract (16). Different types of honey have long been touted as natural cough suppressants. In fact, one study showed that honey was as effective as a widely used cough medicine (17). Although Manuka honey was not used in this study, it is very likely that it is just as effective when it comes to relieving coughs.

Summary: Manuka honey can help soothe sore throats. Scientific research shows that manuka honey fights bacteria that cause sore throats, which appears to be particularly the case for patients undergoing radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatment.

Manuka honey can help prevent stomach ulcers

Peptic ulcers are one of the most common diseases (18). These are ulcers that form in the stomach lining and can cause stomach pain, nausea and bloating. The H. pylori bacterium is the bacterium responsible for the majority of gastric ulcers. Scientific research suggests that manuka honey may help treat stomach ulcers caused by H. pylori bacteria. A test tube study examined the effects on biopsies of stomach ulcers caused by this bacterium. The results were positive and suggested that Manuka honey is a useful antibacterial agent to combat H. pylori (19). However, a small two-week study of 12 volunteers who consumed one tablespoon of manuka honey per day showed no reduction in H. pylori bacteria (20). This means that further research is needed to determine the ability of manuka honey to treat stomach ulcers caused by H. pylori bacteria.

Gastric ulcers can also be caused by excessive alcohol consumption. A study conducted with rats showed that manuka honey can help prevent alcohol-induced gastric ulcers (18).

Summary: Although the scientific evidence is mixed, the strong antibacterial effects of Manuka honey may help treat gastric ulcers caused by H. pylori bacteria. It could also prevent alcohol-induced stomach ulcers.

Manuka honey could help alleviate digestive problems

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common digestive disorder. It is associated with symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, pain and irregular bowel activity. Interestingly, scientists have found that regular consumption of manuka honey may help to alleviate these symptoms. Manuka honey has been shown to improve antioxidant status and reduce inflammation in rats suffering from irritable bowel syndrome or ulcerative colitis (21). Manuka honey has also been shown to fight strains of Clostridium difficile bacteria. Clostridium difficile bacteria, often referred to simply as C. diff, is a bacterium that can cause serious diarrhea and intestinal inflammation. This bacterium is usually treated with antibiotics. A recent study investigated the effectiveness of manuka honey in combating C. diff bacterial strains. It was observed that manuka honey kills these bacteria and could therefore be an effective treatment method (22). However, it is important to note that the studies mentioned above only examined the effects of Manuka honey on bacteria in rats or in test tubes. Further research is needed to conclusively evaluate the effects of Manuka honey on bacteria in the digestive tract.

Summary: Manuka honey may reduce inflammation in patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. It may also be effective in combating C diff. bacteria.

Manuka honey could be used to treat cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disorder that damages the lungs and can also affect the digestive system and other organs. This disease attacks the cells that produce mucus, causing the mucus to become abnormally thick and sticky. This thick mucus clogs the airways and makes it difficult to breathe. Unfortunately, upper respiratory tract infections are common in people suffering from cystic fibrosis. Manuka honey has been shown to fight the bacteria that cause upper respiratory tract infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia spp. are two common bacteria that can cause serious upper respiratory tract infections, especially in more susceptible groups of people. A study has shown the effectiveness of manuka honey in combating these bacteria in people with cystic fibrosis. The results indicated that manuka honey inhibits the growth of these bacteria and works in conjunction with antibiotic treatment (23).

Based on these study results, scientists concluded that Manuka honey could play an important role in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections, particularly in patients suffering from cystic fibrosis.

Summary: Manuka honey has been shown to fight harmful bacteria that can cause upper respiratory tract infections in people with cystic fibrosis, but further research is needed to evaluate this conclusively.

Manuka honey can be used to treat acne

Acne is usually caused by hormonal changes, but can also be a reaction to poor diet, stress or bacterial growth in clogged pores. The antibacterial activity of Manuka honey, when used in combination with a low pH product, is often marketed to combat acne. Manuka honey could help to keep the skin free of bacteria, which could speed up the healing process of acne. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, manuka honey could also reduce inflammation associated with acne. To date, there is very limited research on the ability of Manuka honey to treat acne. However, one study investigated the effects of Kanuka honey, whose antibacterial properties are similar to those of Manuka honey. This study found that manuka honey was as effective as an antibacterial soap in treating acne (24).

Further research is needed to make a definitive statement on whether Manuka honey is an effective treatment for acne.

Summary: Manuka honey appears to be suitable for the treatment of acne due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Is Manuka honey safe and harmless?

For most people, manuka honey is safe to consume. However, some people should discuss the use of manuka honey with their doctor:

Diabetics: all types of honey are rich in natural sugars. For this reason, consuming Manuka honey can affect blood sugar levels.
People who are allergic to honey or bees: These people could experience allergic reactions after consuming or using Manuka honey on their skin.
Infants: The American Association of Pediatricians recommends that honey should not be given to children under one year of age due to the risk of infant botulism.

Conclusion

Manuka honey is a unique type of honey. Its most notable property is its effect on wound healing.

In addition, Manuka honey has antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties that can help treat many conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, stomach ulcers, oral conditions and upper respiratory infections. However, further research is needed to confirm these beneficial properties.

When taken all in context, the use of Manuka honey is likely to be an effective treatment strategy that could speed up the healing process when used in combination with conventional therapies.