Why is Manuka Honey so special and what are the benefits
Why is Manuka Honey so unique, and what are the benefits - Manuka honey is monofloral honey primarily
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 occur naturally throughout New Zealand and southeast Australia but are very
common at high densities on the drier east coast of New Zealand's North Island.
Like all other honey varieties, Manuka Honey shows
anti-bacterial properties resulting from hydrogen peroxide and
natural acid pH. Some honey groups have demonstrated additional anti-microbial
activity unique to the Manuka variety; this different trait is called
Unique Manuka Factor (UMF).
This UMF is Manuka Honey's claim for fame.
High-quality honey that shows these unique properties is considered medical-grade honey demonstrated in laboratory tests to kill even
antibiotic-resistant microbes.
Regular Honey
versus UMF
Not all Manuka Honey has unique UMF properties.
Samples of each batch of honey must undergo rigorous laboratory testing to
determine whether the collection 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 made in the same spot 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 was
called UMF Manuka Honey or Healing Honey, while collections that did not develop
UMF activity were called ordinary honey. It is essential to understand this
difference when buying this particular honey for therapeutic use.
UMF Honey
Association
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 each set through third parties to determine UMF
activity in collections. In addition, the association also establishes relevant
product labeling guidelines to ensure a standard and straightforward label format.
This format generally determines that all active
manuka honey products must have UMF followed by a number (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 a honey labeled UMF15.
As a guideline, any batch that is UMF10 or higher is
considered 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 unique honey for centuries. It has a fantastic ability to treat wounds when applied. The compounds that makeup UMF
activity from love can 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 to treat acne
and is 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.
