Top 4 Health Benefits of Mānuka Honey
Supports Healing
Mānuka honey is probably most renowned for its wound-healing properties. When applied directly to a wound, it may improve the healing process and decrease pain, so much so that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved this honey as an option for wound treatment in 2015. Mānuka honey is relatively high in antioxidants (more than other types of honey) which may help reduce tissue damage from oxidative stress and ease swelling during recovery.
Research suggests that Mānuka honey has some unique advantages when it comes to treating burns. As well as being antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, honey creates a physical barrier and a moist environment. This is particularly good for healing burns because burn wounds heal faster if kept moist. Also, using honey means that bandages are less likely to stick to the wound. That means dressings are less painful to change and more gentle on regenerating tissues.
Supports Gut Health
Mānuka honey acts as a prebiotic, being a source of non-digestible carbohydrates known as oligosaccharides. We can’t digest these carbs but the bacteria in our guts can. Using the oligosaccharides as fuel helps levels of ‘good’ bacteria in our digestive system, including bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, thrive. There is some evidence that Mānuka honey may help treat other gut infections including those from bacterial strains such as clostridium difficile. Help protect against gastric ulcers, by providing an anti-inflammatory effect and potentially helping manage infections such as helicobacter pylori which can cause ulcers and acid reflux.
May offer antiviral properties
The Bee Society's line of therapeutic honey products are known for their quality and purity. Mānuka honey has been shown to have powerful anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral properties, great for acid reflux, upset stomachs, sore throats, and more. Mānuka honey is a powerful anti-bacterial agent, and could be effective at preventing or alleviating the symptoms of bacterial infections. One study showed that Mānuka honey was effective in killing several strains of bacteria.
Soothes a sore throat
The honey and lemon combination is an age-old remedy for a cold, and studies support this claim. A study in 2010 found that honey was more effective at alleviating a cough in children than over-the-counter cough suppressants. Following the recent SARS Cov-2 (Covid-19) outbreak a study is currently looking at the efficacy of natural honey in the treatment of patients infected with Covid-19.