Education Center

by Steve Reed, Oct 25th 2007

You remember the cures your Grandma used whenever you came down with a flu or a cold? How about when you scraped your knee? Often the cure in our old home remedies is valid, but has not been improved upon after all these years. Until now.

Every year a plant indigenous to New Zealand flowers from September to February. During those six months all the nectar that will become an ancient but rediscovered antibacterial agent is collected and converted for the entire year. But not by human scientists. Manuka flower nectar is collected by New Zealand honey bees and converted into what is becoming an increasingly treasured commodity: Active Manuka Honey.

The Manuka shrub/tree (Leptospermum scoparium) is the New Zealand version of the Tea Tree and is related to the Eucalyptus of Australia. Manuka trees grow wild in NZ with the greatest concentrations on the East Cape in the northern part of the country. The native Maoris have used the Manuka shrub for many purposes. The leaves are used in vapor baths and to scent personal care oils. Maoris pulp the seed casings and apply the poultices to wounds. Teas made from the leaves are used as supplements to treat a variety of internal complaints.

Taking a page from the Maoris’ unwritten book, Dr. Peter Molan of the University of Waikato in Auckland has researched the unusually strong antibacterial properties of the Manuka shrub as they are presented in honey. All honeys exhibit natural antibacterial properties, but the honey made from Manuka flowers inexplicably presented antibacterial properties nearly 100 times that of other honeys. Dr. Molan has spent the past twenty years trying to isolate the reason.

Dr. Molan and the entire University of Waikato Honey Research Unit staff have been unable to do that – discover the one element that sets Manuka honey head and shoulder above all other honeys. Though unable to identify the factor, they named it the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF). And they developed a rating scale where 0 equals no advanced activity and 25 is probably unattainable consistently. They call a Manuka honey that registers greater antibacterial activity than normal honeys “Active Manuka Honey” and rate each batch’s activity individually. A Manuka honey certified to be UMF 5+ presents half the antibacterial activity as a Manuka honey rated UMF 10+, and so on. Manuka honey that has been certified as UMF 15+ is considered the scientific norm for research and applications, yet only 1% of all Manuka honey harvested is certified at UMF 15+. Although all Manuka honeys show some antibacterial activity – just as all honeys do – Manuka honey from East Cape on the North Island exhibits the strongest activity.

Honey has been used as wound dressing for centuries all over the world. Using Active Manuka honey for treating wounds, especially infected ones, seemed a natural application and test of its efficacy. The results have been astounding.
One such study proved raw active Manuka honey stopped the growth of Streptococcus pyogenes, the bacteria that causes sore throats. Active Manuka honey’s anti-inflammatory action can also relieve pain associated with sore throats. In another study in 1994 the Manuka antibacterial factor in raw active Manuka honey stopped the growth of Helicobacter pylori (bacteria responsible for upper GI dyspepsia of stomach ulcers) at concentrations as low as 5%, while the hydrogen peroxide components in other honeys did not, even at concentrations as high as 50%.

Active Manuka honey presents truly unique properties. Only active Manuka honey provides non-hydrogen peroxide antibacterial components. The Manuka antibacterial factor is unaffected by enzymes in the body that destroy hydrogen peroxide components. The Manuka antibacterial factor is highly effective against antibiotic resistant “superbugs.” The Manuka antibacterial component maintains its potency even when diluted over 50 times as will happen when used on or in the body. The Manuka antibacterial factor is unaffected by heat, light, or time and the Manuka antibacterial factor may be used full strength and completely covered; it does not require moisture or oxygen to be effective, as do other honeys. And Active Manuka honey’s antibacterial factor diffuses more deeply into skin tissue than do the enzymes of other honeys.

All very interesting, you say. Another bit of information that is nice to know but really doesn’t apply to me. Not so. This is truly information that can benefit you and your family.

Virtually everyone will find a use for Active Manuka honey, especially for home treatments. Here are some of the most common applications:

Wounds: Treating open wounds is perhaps receiving the greatest attention at this time. Not only does Active Manuka honey attack existing infection in a wound, but it creates a barrier over the wound that prevents exposure to new bacteria. Apply Active Manuka honey to the dressing before placing the dressing on the wound. Active Manuka honey may be applied directly to an open wound, but applying it to the dressing saves the patient from an unpleasant manipulation of the wound.

Leg ulcers: Leg ulcers that are not healing qualify as open wounds. Active Manuka honey is also effective at reducing mal odor often associated with festering open wounds.

Burns: Burns are similar to open wounds in many ways and Active Manuka honey’s usefulness in preventing infection is quite important in Burn treatment. And again, relief from pain is also reported. Additionally, use of Active Manuka honey on wounds and burns has displayed an unusual ability to reduce scarring in the healing process, stimulating regeneration of healthy tissues more rapidly than any other known treatment.

Digestion: Digestion has received less research compared to Active Manuka honey’s use for wounds. However the natural antibacterial properties presented by Active Manuka honey helps fight bacteria infections in the mouth, throat, and stomach as well.

Coughs and Colds: A common home remedy for a sore throat or cold has always been a cup of hot tea with lemon and honey. Now we know this is because of the natural antibacterial activities found in any honey. Active Manuka honey is more beneficial due to its higher antibacterial properties.

You can buy Active Manuka honey in its raw form but be sure it is certified with a UMF rating. You can use Active Manuka honey for everything from your sore throat to sweetening your tea or cereal. And now you can buy skin care products that are based on Active Manuka honey too. The oldest skin care company in New Zealand has begun exporting to the United States. All the Apicare Healing Honey Skin Care products are based on UMF 16+ - the only company in the world producing this level of personal care products.

The bottom line is that your Grandma was right. Honey is either a cure or an aid to cure for many of our most common ailments. And Active Manuka honey is proving not only a way to dramatically improve the cures for our most common complaints, but providing cures for some of the most uncommon and previously untreatable ailments as well.

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