Why is Manuka Honey so special and what are the benefits
Why is Manuka Honey so special and what are the benefits - Manuka honey is a monofloral honey that is mostly
produced in New Zealand. This is different from all other types of honey
because bee sources of pollen and nectar are almost entirely from the flowers
of the Manuka Tree (Leptospermum Scoparium).
These trees are closely related to the Tea Tree; and
occurs naturally throughout New Zealand and southeast Australia, but is very
common at high densities in the drier east coast of New Zealand's North Island.
Like all other honey varieties, Manuka Honey shows
anti-bacterial properties resulting from the presence of hydrogen peroxide and
natural acid pH. Some honey groups have shown additional anti-microbial
activity that is unique to the Manuka variety; this additional trait is called
Unique Manuka Factor (UMF).
This UMF is Manuka Honey's claim for fame.
High-quality honey that shows these special properties is considered a medical
grade honey and has been shown in laboratory tests to kill even
antibiotic-resistant microbes.
Regular Honey
versus UMF
Not all Manuka Honey have special UMF properties.
Samples of each batch of honey must undergo rigorous laboratory testing to
determine whether the batch shows the above and above antiseptic properties
associated with peroxide and acidic pH.
Only about 10% of all batches produced turned out to
be active UMF. Batches produced in the area in one season may be active UMF and
batches produced in the same area the following year may be inactive UMF. It is
not clear why only a few batches in several seasons developed specific UMF activities.
All honey batches that showed UMF activity were
called UMF Manuka Honey or Healing Honey, while batches that did not develop
UMF activity were called ordinary honey. It is important to understand this
difference when buying this particular honey for therapeutic use.
UMF Honey
Association
In an effort to standardize laboratory testing and
protect consumers from counterfeit products, the Manuka industry in New Zealand
formed the UMF UMF Manuka Honey Association (UMFMHA). All honey producers must
be licensed by this association.
UMFMHA stores samples from each batch of honey
produced and tests in each batch through third parties to determine UMF
activity in batches. In addition, the association also establishes relevant
product labeling guidelines to ensure a simple and standard label format.
In general this format determines that all active
manuka honey products must have UMF followed by a number (from 1 to 20) on the
label. Numbers show UMF activity with 20 as the most active. So, honey labeled
UMF 5 has less UMF activity than honey labeled UMF15.
As a guideline, any batch that is UMF10 or higher is
considered a medicinal honey. The compliance standards and procedures
established by UMFMHA are in addition to regular food safety procedures managed
by the New Zealand government.
Health
Benefits of Manuka Honey
Native New Zealanders have learned about the
extraordinary health benefits of this special honey for centuries. It has an
amazing ability to treat wounds when applied. The compounds that make up UMF
activity from honey are able to penetrate deep into the skin to neutralize even
sowing infections. Honey also tends to stimulate tissue regeneration; thus
minimizing scarring.
This honey has also been used as a treatment for acne
and is also very useful for treating dental infections. After tooth extraction,
the application of honey has been shown to minimize the risk of developing dry
sockets; which is a painful condition that is thought to be due to the
dissolution of a premature blood clot after the tooth is removed.
There is also evidence that Manuka Honey can reduce
stomach inflammation. You should always consult with a health professional
before using Manuka Honey to treat any health condition.
