Manuka honey has been popular over the last few decades. Not only because of its rich and earthy taste, but also because of the amazing health benefits it offers. Manuka honey is a type of honey which is native to New Zealand. Being well known to be rich in antibacterial properties, manuka honey is produced by bees which pollinate the flower called Leptospremum scoparium, or known as manuka bush. Its antibacterial properties set it apart from the traditional honey.
Besides antibacterial property, manuka honey is also rich in antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Many people use this honey for wound healing, soothing sore throat, preventing tooth decay and improving digestive issues. Are you curious of the other amazing health benefits of raw manuka honey? Let’s discuss each of these 6 amazing benefits.
- Healing Wounds
Similar to other types of honey, manuka honey is also able to help healing wounds. All forms of honey are acidic and they have a pH between 3.2 to 4.5. This property has been helpful to promote healing. The acidity of honey also blocks enzymes that break down the protein and peptides the body needs to repair itself.
Besides, the high concentration of sugar also helps to protect the wounds from getting infected. Honey is low in moisture and gets rid of fluid from a wound. As a result, it helps remove waste and speed the healing process.
- Promoting Oral Health
To keep your gums healthy and prevent tooth decay, it is very important to minimize bad oral bacteria which can cause the formation of plaque. However, the good oral bacteria shouldn’t be totally wiped out as it is responsible to keep your mouth healthy.
Some studies have shown that manuka honey has been effective to attack harmful oral bacteria which is associated with the formation of plaque, tooth decay and gum inflammation.
There’s also one study which examined the effects of chewing a honey chew. It is shown that it had great effect on reducing plaque and gingivitis. The honey chew used was made of manuka honey and similar to a chewy honey candy.
- Soothing Sore Throat
Manuka honey is one of the best cures for soothing sore throat. It provides some relief from a sore throat. Its antiviral and antibacterial properties are in charge of reducing inflammation and attacking bacteria causing the pain.
Not only attacking the harmful bacteria causing sore throat, raw manuka honey is also able to coat the inner lining of the throat for an effect of soothing.
Sore throat can be cured by several remedies. You can check benefits of throat coat tea too!
- Treating Skin Infection
The ancient people have understood the advantages of applying honey to the skin. It has been used as a beauty treatment and serious skin disease. Nowadays, modern science is exploring the specific advantages of manuka honey in skincare products. There is a research, some skin disorders are treated well to manuka, though they are often quite small.
Manuka honey has antifungal properties which make is an effective way to treat fungal diseases, such as ringworm and tinea infections. Besides, it also helps improve some serious skin disorders, such as dermatitis.
- Curing Stomach Ulcers
Raw manuka honey is packed with flavonoids, which can help preventing the formation of gastric ulcers. There was an early research which points to the potential of manuka honey for treating the H pylori, the bacterium which causes ulcer.
It was also shown that raw manuka honey was able to inhibit the growth of H pylori in vitro. Read more about Tulsi for stomach ulcer.
- Acne Treatment
Hormonal changes usually cause acne, though sometimes it can also be a reaction to poor diet, stress or bacteria growth in clogged pores. Raw manuka honey has an antimicrobial property which is very effective to fight acne when it is combined with a low-pH product.
Manuka honey is able to keep your skin free of bacteria which is able to expedite the healing process. The inflammation associated with acne can also be reduced by its anti-inflammatory properties.
Acnes can be treated with many ways. Check benefits of egg white soap for skin health and benefits of buttermilk for acne.
Though it has a lot of amazing health benefits, consulting with the doctor will be better. For people who suffer from diabetes should really pay attention to the use of manuka honey.
Manuka honey may affect the blood sugar level. Also for the people who are allergic to bees or honey, there may be some allergic reactions after ingesting or applying it.
Do you want to know more about the benefits of other types of honey? Check health benefits of honeycomb. They are sweet!