I was tasked with writing an extensive piece
for Abydos. We were prompted with researching a topic of our choosing and since
I am fascinated with all things chemical free, all natural, and holistic, I
chose manuka honey!
The
Holistic Healer: Manuka Honey
Manuka Honey- what is it?
Manuka (muh·noo·kuh) honey is not your average
honey that your local beekeeper harvests and sell on a Saturday morning at the
Farmer’s Market. In fact, manuka honey is indigenous to New Zealand. It is
made by bees that pollinate the manuka plant, a plant that is native to New
Zealand and Australia, and extract the nectar to create manuka honey.
Once America and other first world countries began experiencing industrialization booms and advancements in technology during the early 1900s, the use of honey as a medical treatment began decreasing. With the emergence of antibiotics in the 1940s, the use manuka honey in medical treatments became antiquated (Tsang).
Fast forward to present day, the use of honey and silver is once again gaining popularity in the holistic communities, especially with the increase in multi resistant bacteria and viruses due in part to the overuse of antibiotics. Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, addressed the public concerning this global epidemic. Chan notes, "The rise of antimocrobial resistance is a global crisis, recognized as one of the greatest threats to health today... compelling evidence shows that resistance is driven by the total volume of antibiotics used. The solution? Manuka honey (Chan).
In 2013 Manuka Health New Zealand LTD filed with the FDA for approval of the use of a medical device, manuka honey in dressing wounds. In 2015, the US FDA approved the use of manuka honey as a treatment in dressing wounds. The use of this honey is gaining interest among the would care community especially for diabetic foot ulcers, venous ulcers, pressure ulcers, and even MRSA (Mwipatayi).
How is it healing?
All honey contains antimicrobial properties. The use of manuka honey in the medical field is deeply rooted in science. Studies have proven manuka honey to have antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties.
Manuka honey is considered medical grade due in part to the chemicals that make it unique: methylglyoxal (MGO), dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and Leptosperin. Studies have revealed MGO to be effective against multiple strains of bacteria. DHA is found in the nectar of manuka flowers and converts to MGO during the honey production process. Leptosperin is a naturally occurring chemicals that is found only in the nectar of manuka plants. These three chemicals are used as markers for the honey to measure the potency of the honey. The UMF, unique manuka factor, measures the quantity of these markers. The higher the UMF, the higher the medical grade quality. Studies recommend using manuka honey with a UMF rating of 10+ or higher for medical grade quality (Barrell).
The Best Brands:
1. Comvita
Manuka Honey UMF 15+ (Super Premium) New Zealand Honey
Works
Cited
Manuka Honey- what is it?
Manuka (muh·noo·kuh) honey is not your average
honey that your local beekeeper harvests and sell on a Saturday morning at the
Farmer’s Market. In fact, manuka honey is indigenous to New Zealand. It is
made by bees that pollinate the manuka plant, a plant that is native to New
Zealand and Australia, and extract the nectar to create manuka honey.
Manuka honey has been
used for centuries, dating back to 1650 BC. The early Egyptians were the first
group of people documented to use honey in the topical treatment of wounds, as
evidenced from the Smith papyrus, an ancient Egyptian medical text. Manuka honey was also documented as a topical treatment in wound care during the Middle Ages (Tsang).
Once America and other first world countries began experiencing industrialization booms and advancements in technology during the early 1900s, the use of honey as a medical treatment began decreasing. With the emergence of antibiotics in the 1940s, the use manuka honey in medical treatments became antiquated (Tsang).
Fast forward to present day, the use of honey and silver is once again gaining popularity in the holistic communities, especially with the increase in multi resistant bacteria and viruses due in part to the overuse of antibiotics. Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, addressed the public concerning this global epidemic. Chan notes, "The rise of antimocrobial resistance is a global crisis, recognized as one of the greatest threats to health today... compelling evidence shows that resistance is driven by the total volume of antibiotics used. The solution? Manuka honey (Chan).
In 2013 Manuka Health New Zealand LTD filed with the FDA for approval of the use of a medical device, manuka honey in dressing wounds. In 2015, the US FDA approved the use of manuka honey as a treatment in dressing wounds. The use of this honey is gaining interest among the would care community especially for diabetic foot ulcers, venous ulcers, pressure ulcers, and even MRSA (Mwipatayi).
How is it healing?
All honey contains antimicrobial properties. The use of manuka honey in the medical field is deeply rooted in science. Studies have proven manuka honey to have antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties.
Manuka honey is considered medical grade due in part to the chemicals that make it unique: methylglyoxal (MGO), dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and Leptosperin. Studies have revealed MGO to be effective against multiple strains of bacteria. DHA is found in the nectar of manuka flowers and converts to MGO during the honey production process. Leptosperin is a naturally occurring chemicals that is found only in the nectar of manuka plants. These three chemicals are used as markers for the honey to measure the potency of the honey. The UMF, unique manuka factor, measures the quantity of these markers. The higher the UMF, the higher the medical grade quality. Studies recommend using manuka honey with a UMF rating of 10+ or higher for medical grade quality (Barrell).
Once America and other first world countries began experiencing industrialization booms and advancements in technology during the early 1900s, the use of honey as a medical treatment began decreasing. With the emergence of antibiotics in the 1940s, the use manuka honey in medical treatments became antiquated (Tsang).
Fast forward to present day, the use of honey and silver is once again gaining popularity in the holistic communities, especially with the increase in multi resistant bacteria and viruses due in part to the overuse of antibiotics. Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, addressed the public concerning this global epidemic. Chan notes, "The rise of antimocrobial resistance is a global crisis, recognized as one of the greatest threats to health today... compelling evidence shows that resistance is driven by the total volume of antibiotics used. The solution? Manuka honey (Chan).
In 2013 Manuka Health New Zealand LTD filed with the FDA for approval of the use of a medical device, manuka honey in dressing wounds. In 2015, the US FDA approved the use of manuka honey as a treatment in dressing wounds. The use of this honey is gaining interest among the would care community especially for diabetic foot ulcers, venous ulcers, pressure ulcers, and even MRSA (Mwipatayi).
How is it healing?
All honey contains antimicrobial properties. The use of manuka honey in the medical field is deeply rooted in science. Studies have proven manuka honey to have antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties.
Manuka honey is considered medical grade due in part to the chemicals that make it unique: methylglyoxal (MGO), dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and Leptosperin. Studies have revealed MGO to be effective against multiple strains of bacteria. DHA is found in the nectar of manuka flowers and converts to MGO during the honey production process. Leptosperin is a naturally occurring chemicals that is found only in the nectar of manuka plants. These three chemicals are used as markers for the honey to measure the potency of the honey. The UMF, unique manuka factor, measures the quantity of these markers. The higher the UMF, the higher the medical grade quality. Studies recommend using manuka honey with a UMF rating of 10+ or higher for medical grade quality (Barrell).
The Best Brands:
1. Comvita
Manuka Honey UMF 15+ (Super Premium) New Zealand Honey
2. Kiva
Certified UMF 15+ – Raw Manuka Honey
3. Manuka
Health – MGO 400+ Manuka Honey, 100% Pure New Zealand Honey
4. Wild
Cape UMF 15+ East Cape Manuka Honey
5.
Bee’s Inn Manuka Honey
UMP 15+ Pure Natural Honey
All of the brands mentioned above can all be found on Amazon.com.
Whole Foods and other natural grocers also carry quality manuka honey (Dixon).
Works
Cited
Barrell, Amanda. “Manuka
Honey: Uses, Qualities, Wound Care, and Health Benefits.” Medical News Today,
MediLexicon International, 10 July 2017, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318298.php.
Berkheiser, Kaitlyn. “7
Proven Benefits and Uses of Manuka Honey.” Healthline, Healthline Media,
29 Mar. 2018, www.healthline.com/nutrition/manuka-honey-uses-benefits#section9.
Chan, Margaret. “WHO Director-General Briefs UN
on Antimicrobial Resistance.” World Health Organization, World
Health Organization, 19 Apr. 2016, www.who.int/dg/speeches/2016/antimicrobial-resistance-un/en/.
Dixon, Melanie. “5 Best
Manuka Honey Brands: How to Pick the Right Manuka Honey.” Good Health
Academy, 2 July 2019, www.goodhealthacademy.com/health-benefits/best-manuka-honey/.
Flahive, Brad. “MÄnuka Honey
Not Routinely Tested for Added Substances despite Fears of Corrupt Producers.” Stuff,
www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/114186757/mnuka-honey-not-routinely-tested-for-added-substances-despite-fears-of-corrupt-producers.
Ka-Kit
Tsang, Enid Wai-Yung Kwong, Kevin Y. Woo, Tony Shing-Shun To, Joanne Wai-Yee
Chung, and Thomas Kwok-Shing Wong, “The Anti-Inflammatory and Antibacterial
Action of Nanocrystalline Silver and Manuka Honey on the Molecular Alternation
of Diabetic Foot Ulcer: A Comprehensive Literature Review,” Evidence-Based
Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2015, Article ID 218283, 19 pages,
2015. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/218283.
Mwipatayi, BP; Angel, D; Norrish, J;
Hamilton, MJ; Scott, A and Sieunarine, K. The Use of Honey in Chronic Leg
Ulcers: A Literature Review [online]. Primary Intention: The Australian
Journal of Wound Management, Vol. 12, No. 3, Aug 2004: 107-108, 110-112.
Availability:<https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=676364891505557;res=IELHEA>
ISSN: 1323-2495.
