You NEED to Know about Manuka Honey and its Healing Potential

Most people know regular honey; they use it in their tea or as an alternative sweetener to sugar. Sometimes people add it to their homemade masks. Honey is known to be antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. It has been used for centuries by the Ancient Egyptians, Romans, Chinese, and many other cultures for healing. Manuka Honey, though, is a special type of honey from Australia or New Zealand, and somehow it is the least-talked-about and yet most hyper-potent natural healing product available to us. It’s regular honey on steroids in terms of its healing potential. I have witnessed its power firsthand during my skin breakouts and digestive health journey. I used it in the form of a mask, but also just ate it by the spoon, and I truly saw the potential it has to heal active acne, help digestion, and improve scarring on the skin.

Everything about Manuka honey is amazing, other than its price tag, which can be quite steep depending on the potency you want in yours. Keep reading to find out what potency I recommend for your particular issue.

What is it?

Manuka Honey, derived from the Leptospermum genus of plants in Australia and New Zealand, stands out for its wound-healing properties. The high concentration of methylglyoxal (MGO) in this honey makes it a potent antimicrobial agent, effectively addressing infections in wounds specifically open cuts, abrasions, burns, and ulcerated sores, as well as helping heal scarring using the antioxidant and amino acid power of the honey.

Research shows Manuka Honey's efficacy in treating open wounds, particularly those infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria like Staphylococcus Aureus. The honey's unique ability to combat superbugs without inducing resistance sets it apart as a significant medical resource. Manuka Honey is rich in nutrients and enzymes. Despite its sweetness, it has a lower glycemic index and includes plenty of B vitamins, amino acids, and antioxidants.

Holistic Healing Uses:

Soothing Sore Throats: For me, the first time I discovered Manuka Honey, I started eating it by the spoon every time I had a tickle in my throat. Which I also used to do with regular honey as a kid as directed by my grandmother’s Russian remedies. Manuka Honey surpasses traditional honey in its effectiveness in soothing sore throats. Its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, courtesy of MGO and hydrogen peroxide, make it an amazing choice as a pantry staple for relieving throat discomfort. For this reason alone, I think everyone should have a jar at home.

Digestive Wellness Ally: Manuka Honey's lesser-known benefit lies in its positive impact on digestion and gut health. Functioning as a prebiotic, it supports the growth of beneficial bacteria in the stomach. Ancient peoples, including the Romans and Egyptians, used regular honey to heal digestive problems. So now imagine what a honey that is even more potent and effective in healing wounds in the body can do. It seems counterintuitive to eat or ingest something sweet when you don’t feel well; however, I highly recommend you try this. I began incorporating it into my diet through regular ingestion when I felt stomach pain or a feeling of inflammation in the belly, and it quickly started soothing my indigestion and pain. I fully believe the more you use it, the more it helps digestive well-being, it's like skincare; if you use it once, you probably won’t see a difference in your skin, but after a few times, the effects are noticeable.

Sleep Supportive Properties: For those of you who know me well, know that I have phases of not sleeping well. For most people, it is hard to fall asleep when you have an anxious or busy mind after a long day. I’m also someone who loves to come home and snack, and some of the first things I grab are sweet. Instead of going straight for the chocolate, I started either starting or finishing the evening with honey. Studies have shown that Manuka Honey can contribute to a restful sleep. Consuming a small amount before bedtime releases glycogen slowly, facilitating essential bodily functions during sleep. In addition, the glycemic index is quite low, so it may also aid in regulating blood sugar levels before sleep. (Again, probably avoid overdoing it before bed, but a little goes a long way.)

Acne Treatment Testimonials: When I first started experiencing serious breakouts, I was so distraught I could not think of what I could do at home that could soothe my skin naturally. Most creams, masks, and skincare had some form of irritating product that would not be okay on new acne on the skin. My first instinct was to dry out my skin with masks that reduce the oil and sebum in my skin which was, of course, a mistake as my skin started overproducing oil. But then I started to do regular honey masks (organic honey, of course). Finally, I discovered the power of Manuka Honey as a natural remedy for acne. Its application as a face mask, particularly when using a variant with a minimum MGO rating of 550+, has actually shown effectiveness in reducing acne and scarring. This has been studied, but I also have seen its power on myself. The feeling when you see progress after doing 2 Manuka face masks a week for a month - there’s honestly nothing like it. It brought down the inflammation of my hormonal acne and helped my skin stay well-hydrated and ultimately helped it to stop producing so much oil.

Manuka Rating Factor

Each jar of Manuka Honey you see sold on shelves should have an MGO number written on it, and often it also has a Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) number written on it.

UMF 10 to UMF 15 are considered low- to mid-grade and called Therapeutic Grade. For someone just starting to incorporate Manuka for regular benefits like for sleep, this is perfect. You will also notice the lower UMF price point is quite affordable for anyone to incorporate into their day-to-day use without breaking the bank. Which is definitely a benefit of the lower-grade option.

Lower UMF ratings mean less MGO, less MGO means fewer antibacterial benefits. So if you have a specific desire around healing your gut, your active acne, or scarring generally, we would suggest getting a slightly higher grade UMF 15+ or UMF 20+, or MGO 800+ Manuka honey. These are clearly more effective at killing active bacterial infections as they are much more potent.

Definitions:

UMF™ is a more comprehensive measurement of the quality factors that matter when assessing the quality of a Mānuka honey product. MGO is one of four factors measured to ensure consumers around the world get a pure, potent, genuine New Zealand Mānuka honey product that will meet their needs and expectations.

The four factors are:

1. Methylgloxal (MGO): A key potency measure for New Zealand Mānuka honey.

2. Leptosperin: A component unique to Mānuka honey, created in nature and unable to be added to honey. This makes it an important authenticator of purity.

3. DHA: A component that converts to MGO over time and therefore in correct amounts ensures that the MGO levels will remain as tested throughout the life of the product.

4. HMF: Indicates whether a honey has been overheated or stored too long, which can reduce shelf life and so potency for a purchaser.

DISCLAIMER

The skinbodyalchemy blog and articles are not meant to instruct or advise on medical or health conditions, but to inform. The information and opinions presented here do not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals for your unique situation.