Wednesday 9 November 2011

Active Manuka Honey


I first discovered Manuka Honey's healing powers about seven years ago when I was advised to take it to help with reflux I was experiencing due to a hiatus hernia and I have been taking a spoonful in the morning and a spoonful at night ever since. The most remarkable thing I have noticed is that I haven't had a cold since I started taking it! As soon as I start to feel a sore throat developing, I take a spoonful of honey and then another one every hour until it goes away.

For thousands of years honey has been well recognised for its healing powers. Local honey, for example, is supposed to help sufferers of hay fever. Manuka Honey is produced by bees that gather pollen from the flowers of the Manuka tree (Leptospermum scoparium) which is indigenous to New Zealand and also known as the Tea Tree Plant. UMF is an acronym for Unique Manuka Factor which is an antibacterial property present in Active Manuka Honey. This antibacterial property is not found in other types of honey and is only present in some of the manuka honey produced. It is this property that makes Active Manuka Honey special!

Active Manuka Honey has been used successfully to treat stomach ulcers and a purified form of Active Manuka Honey is now widely used in the treatment of leg ulcers and pressure sores. Further research is currently taking place to examine its potential to treat superbug infections such as MRSA. 

If you would like to purchase the honey, make sure the Active Manuka Honey you buy is genuine, you need to look out for the following :

  • the UMF trademark on the front label
  • the honey is packed into jars and labelled in New Zealand
  • the supplier is licensed to use the UMF trademark
  • the supplier's license number is on the label
  • it has a rating of UMF10 or higher