Long used by people as a source of sweetener, honey is added to foods and beverages, but can also be used for medical purposes. As a sweetener it is primarily composed of fructose and glucose. While mild and health supporting, honey does present a health hazard to children under one year of age due to the potential for naturally occurring botulism spores. For this reason children under one year of age should not be given honey.
There are various kinds of honey available, all made from different nectar sources. These different types of honey have a number of properties which can help treat a range of health problems. A few types include avocado, clover, fireweed, buckwheat, blueberry, alfalfa, eucalyptus, but there are many more. Honey also comes in a number of different forms, crystalized, raw, on the comb, creamed, and dry among them.
Honey is produced in all over the globe; in United states alone there are over 300 different kinds. When it comes to taste, darker honey has a stronger taste while the lighter honey is milder in flavor.
When it comes to health benefits, Manuka honey is at the top of the list. It is produced mainly in New Zealand where the bees feed off of the Manuka plant (which is native to New Zealand). What sets Manuka honey apart from other varieties is it's anti-bacterial properties.
Normally used to treat minor burns and wounds, it can also be used for a wide variety of health issues. Not only does it have extraordinary antibacterial properties, it also boasts great antiviral, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties as well. There is even emerging evidence that manuka honey may fight MRSA and possibly prevent antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Below is a list of common ailments helped by the use of manuka honey?
Hair Problems: Many people believe it can prevent common hair problems like split ends, hair loss, hair thinning, dry scalp, and more. simply mix a tablespoon of the honey, a tablespoon of mayo, and an egg together and then apply it directly to your hair.
This will also help moisturize your hair in the process to help give your hair a good shine. Make sure you massage the mixture into your head and leave it there for at least 10 minutes before rinsing out.
Stomach Problems: Manuka honey is thought to help calm your stomach for certain issues such as indigestion, stomach ulcers, and acid reflux. Suggested usage is to eat 1 to 2 tablespoons of the honey thirty minutes prior to consuming a meal. The beneficial properties of the Manuka will quickly go to work to calm your stomach.
Colds and Coughs: The antibacterial properties can coat your throat and stop the coughing. Some suggest that is may also fight off bacteria. Suggested usage is 1 tablespoon of raw Manuka honey to help fight a cold when you feel it coming on.
Gum Disease: Another antibacterial use for Manuka is it's use as a mouthwash to help eliminate bacteria responsible for gum disease, bad breath, and tooth decay.
Cuts & Burns: Manuka honey is also used for treating minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. Once the wound is cleaned thoroughly apply the honey directly to it and make sure you cover the surrounding area of the cut as well.
Found in most health food stores, more grocery stores are beginning to stock it as well. To make sure you are getting 100% raw Manuka honey with all its health benefits you have to check the UMF of the brand. If you notice a brand of Manuka honey doesn't have the certified UMF trademark on it don't buy it.
John Maddox writes articles for a variety of sites. He also runs the website How To Get Rid Of Cellulite promoting natural ways to get rid of cellulite.
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Manuka honey is gaining its popularity as a medicine for a lot of diseases. The post was very informative. Thanks for sharing.
Abe,
I hadn’t heard about cinnamon and olive oil mixed with the honey for thinning hair. In doing some research it looks like this is supposed to be beneficial due to cinnamon oil’s effect as a purported follicle stimulator. One study from Pakistan appeared to promote the use of what you are suggesting. http://demo.pjps.pk/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/CD-PJPS-26-2-13/Paper-13.pdf
The good news is that unless you are allergic to them, none of these ingredients should be harmful when applied to the skin. Just be careful about the amount of cinnamon as it can be rather “hot” when applied directly to skin.
Thanks for the tip on using Manuka hone. I was reading somewhere that ground cinnamon with some olive oil added to the honey would help against thinning hair. Do you know anything about that vs mayo and egg that you mention here.
Really good to see the importance of looking for the UMF® mark on the label of the jars mentioned (regardless of the individual brand).
On Amazon and in stores there is a real mixture of products labelled ‘manuka honey’, but many brands do not contain any of the special additional non-peroxide activity.
Is a UK based site – but the information is free for all to read, and you can download an eLeaflet “Know Your Manuka Honey” from http://www.newzealandhoneyshop.co.uk
Thanks Mira for the fascinating information about honey!
Honey is a super food for sure. I only wish we were doing more to protect our bees. ♥
Wow! Until today I had never heard of this type of honey … or tht it could be used to heal minor cuts!
I had no idea honey had so many other uses!
Thanks for this information.
Healthy body – healthy business
Hi Jessica,
Yes, raw, local honey is great for helping with allergies. This is because the local pollens are in the honey but in a way that helps many people to assimilate them better. It’s best to start with a small dose first to make sure it does not provoke an allergic reaction.
Hi Sue, You can actually purchase Manuka honey here in the US. You can even get it on Amazon if you can’t find it locally.
I’ve also heard that you should have local honey to help with allergies. Do you know anything about this?
I have not heard of this kind of honey, it sound like it is pretty good stuff. My Dad used to make a cough syrup out of honey and a tablespoon of whisky. It sure worked for us kids. We also slept well after a dose.
I love manuka honey. It saved one of my 3 day speaking tours when I was almost losing my voice!
Interesting that it can used as a mouthwash to prevent tooth-decay – since it does also contain fructose and glucose!
I have never heard of this type of honey, but I’d be willing to go there to try it, LOL! I am a big believer in using honey in foods and sometimes on the skin, too.