Honey is well known as a sweet treat, but it has also been used medicinally for centuries. The Egyptians used it in wound dressings because of its natural antiseptic properties.
The relatively acidic pH level of honey prevents the growth of many bacteria.

While honey is, in general, a healing food, one type of honey in particular is becoming increasingly known for its medicinal properties. Manuka honey is produced in New Zealand by bees that feed on the manuka bush, which is more commonly known as the tea tree. The oil from the tea tree is used as a topical antibiotic and antifungal, which may also be why manuka honey has so many medicinal uses.

Manuka honey was originally used by the native Maori tribe as a medicinal. Today, this traditional medicinal substance is being studied for its many astounding applications.

Dr. Peter Molan, a professor of biological sciences in New Zealand, has identified an antibacterial property that has a non-hydrogen peroxide activity called organic manuka activity (OMA) or unique manuka factor (UMF). This factor remains steady even under heat and light-a unique property that makes manuka honey useful for many external and internal treatments.

Manuka honeys are graded on their activity level. The activity can be thought of in relation to the strength of carbolic acid used as an antiseptic in hospitals. For example, manuka honey with an activity range of 5–25 has an equivalent antibacterial strength of a five to 25 percent solution of carbolic acid-the higher the number, the more powerful the manuka's antibacterial activity.

An OMA activity rating of 0–4 is used for nutritional purposes only, 5–8 as a health food and for increased energy, 9–16 for digestive maintenance, and 17+ is appropriate for topical application only.

The OMA activity of a particular honey varies from year to year and has to be measured in a laboratory. Manuka honey contains vitamins, such the Bs, C, D and E, and minerals, especially iron, magnesium, calcium, sodium, silica, manganese and potassium.

Other nutritional benefits include natural carbohydrates and enzymes. Aside from its high nutritional value, manuka honey has been scientifically proven to stop the growth of several serious bacteria, which is good news since super bugs are becoming a serious issue for the medical industry.

Our overuse of antibiotics is creating bacteria that are resistant to drugs. Staphylococcus aureus, for example, is a bacteria that is resistant to a large group of antibiotics, including penicillin.

Fortunately, manuka honey has an antibacterial potency 10–50 times higher than what is needed to stop Staph aureus. News of this has prompted several hospitals in the UK to trial the honey.

Other research concluded that manuka honey was successful in killing the spiral-shaped bacterium, Helicobacter pylori, which causes stomach and intestinal ulcers and is commonly treated with antibiotics, long-term antacids or surgery.

An article in the Journal of the New Zealand Royal Society of Medicine reported that a five-percent solution of manuka honey was able to eliminate every colony of H. pylori. This treatment is much safer than the antibiotic drug used to kill
the bacteria and histamine blocker drug used to lower stomach acid. Both drugs have side-effects including gastrointestinal issues, yeast infections and diarrhea.

Ulcer treatment with manuka honey is as simple as taking one teaspoon of honey consumed with bread twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed. The bread helps to ensure that the honey stays in the stomach long enough to have an effect on the bacteria and ulcers. The length of treatment may be as long as two or three months, even though relief is often felt within the first week.

For sore throats and colds, a teaspoon of the honey can be melted in the mouth at the first sign of symptoms. In addition to its internal uses, manuka honey can be used topically for many conditions, such as acne, minor skin abrasions and minor burns. Manuka is also energy enhancer, but should be used with caution by diabetics as it has a high sugar content.

It is thrilling to learn about treatments found naturally in our environment, and manuka honey certainly is a healing gift.


Sarah Dobec is a certified nutritional practitioner in private practice in Toronto. She aspires to restore clients' health through whole foods and a focus on the mind, body and spirit. Sarah is also an educator, speaker and organic farmer. www.1appleaday.ca or (416) 371-3471

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