Nowadays, natural skincare is emerging to be the people’s favourite option for natural health and beauty treatment. Natural skin care not only beautifying your skin but also absorbing natural antioxidants, enhancing your skin’s UV resistance and stimulating your immune system. Manuka honey is a superfood and one of the most popular natural skin care product that is good for your health and can improve your beauty. Let’s investigate this super honey usage and benefits.
What is Manuka honey?
Manuka honey is special honey made only in New Zealand and southern Australia from the nectar of Manuka. It is harvested from the hives of bees that buzz around the wild Manuka bush, which is also known as tea tree. These tea trees have been known for centuries among the native tribes for their healing powers. This type of honey contains antimicrobial properties and non-hydrogen peroxide, so it has both the healing power and beauty benefits.
Manuka honey source of power, its’ flower power
Manuka honey contains some natural chemical compounds that make it special like:
- Dietary Methylglyoxal (MGO): This substance exists in the natural form of the nectar of Manuka bush. It is resistant to heat, light and enzymatic activity. MGO has demonstrated high activity against several bacteria like H. pylori and Proteus mirabilis.
- Dihydroxyacetone (DHA): This compound converts into MGO during the honey production process.
How is Manuka honey produced?
Manuka plants are usually planted in remote areas of New Zealand and the south of Australia. Manuka honey is traditionally harvested directly from the hives between December and March every year. At the time of harvest, Manuka honey will be tested immediately by independent laboratories to test the antibacterial properties of honey. Newly harvested Manuka honey can have antibacterial activity from 10+ to 18+. To produce honey with a higher antibacterial level of 20+ or more, this type of honey will be stored in the factory for one or two years to ensure that the enzymes in the honey are developed and make the honey “active”. After this period
Manuka honey helps wound healing
Dr Dee Carter of the Department of, the honey will be tested to verify antibacterial and vial.
Manuka honey and antibacterial effect
What makes this particular honey stand out from other kinds of honey is the very effective bactericidal effect in the long run without the presence of resistance. If our last antibiotics are no longer resistant to bacteria, Manuka honey can be the key to solving this problem, potentially saving the lives of thousands of people.
Molecular and Microbiology, University of Sydney, Australia note that antibiotics are only usable in the short-term and that the bacteria quickly resist the drug and after a short time, these drugs will no longer work. An article in the European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases concluded that Manuka honey is resistant to most bacteria and pathogens tested. Unlike the antibiotics we are using now, all types of bacteria can’t survive with this honey treatment.
According to Dr Dee Carter, special compounds in Manuka honey such as Methylglyoxal can inactivate bacterial defence systems, kill bacteria before they can adapt and become resistant.
Health effects of Manuka honey
The biological properties of Manuka honey include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antibiotic, wound healing and immune stimulation. However, the difference in Manuka honey is the ability to kill powerful bacteria. Manuka honey is marketed for the treatment and prevention of cancer, high cholesterol, chronic inflammatory diseases, diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal diseases and infections of the eye, ear and nose.
According to research in a science journal Peer J, wound injuries are becoming a concerning global health problem due to antibiotic resistance. These wounds are difficult to treat, and treatment is expensive, in which bacterial biofilm plays an important role in slowing wound healing. New drugs are needed to provide effective wound care. Manuka honey is proven to have great healing potential in this field.
In this study, the scientists looked at the use of Manuka honey as an alternative treatment to wounds due to its effectiveness on the broad-spectrum bactericidal activity and because of the inability of the bacteria to resist. Research has shown that honey can prevent bacterial biofilm and remove biofilms that have been formed. They also reported that Manuka honey could be used to eliminate the biofilms of MSSA (methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus) and MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) in a long-lasting wound, favouring the use of this honey as a topical treatment for chronic wound infection. (Staphylococcus is a type of bacteria caused by a wound or operational infection)
Scientists have also proven that Manuka honey can control the extremely dangerous MRSA, E-Coli for both children and adults.
Manuka honey is very popular for its antibacterial properties
Beauty benefits of Manuka honey
Manuka honey also keeps our skin clear, youthful and hydrated.
- Treat acne: Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, Manuka honey reduces redness and heals congested or inflamed skin and eczema. Acne is caused by the Propionibacterium; this microbe can get out of control in your oily pores. The anti-inflammatory properties will work on the acne bacteria on your skin to help the blemishes heal up and keep the Propionibacterium at a normal level.
- Moisturise the skin: When applied to your skin, Manuka honey will hold in moisture and absorb moisture from the air to your skin. The amino acids in this honey will help our skin maintain the moisture needed, especially for those with dry and ageing skin. You can use Manuka honey combined with other natural ingredients such as lemon or milk to moisturise your skin.
- Anti-ageing: Methylglyoxal has been proven to increase collagen in human skin, promoting the structural growth of collagen in skin cells. It also inhibits MMP, a group of enzymes that destroy collagen.
- Nourish the skin: The Manuka honey contains many nutrients such as magnesium, potassium and calcium, etc. These substances are effective in regenerating and promoting the growth of skin cells. The result is you will have smooth and fresh skin.
Using Manuka honey make you have a healthy and smooth skin
- Treat burns and ulcers: Manuka honey is effective in treating burns thanks to its high antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It helps to soothe burns and prevent ulcers.
- Defend against tooth decay and Gingivitis: A research from the School of Dentistry at the University of Otago in New Zealand has learned that chewing or sucking on a Manuka honey product has reduced plaque by 35 per cent furthermore those who suffer from gingivitis bleeding also reduce by 35 per cent. This is mainly due to the antimicrobial properties of manuka honey.
- Digestive system health: The antibiotics properties make manuka honey a fantastic treatment for Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), or bacterial diarrhoea as it eliminates bacteria. This honey also lows stomach acid and acid reflux by coating the outer stomach and oesophagus. Hence preventing acid from build up and the mixing of bile juice causing the reflux.
- Improve sleep: Manuka honey helps the body release glycogen and provide melatonin to the brain for a deep, restful sleep. Some people think that sleeplessness is not a big problem, but people who are sleepy are often tired, stressed and unable to focus, worse their body can even shut down during the daytime, making their work and life unstable. As such, frequent sleeplessness also leads to the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke. Therefore, using this superfood is not only to promote a good sleep but also protect you from the risk of illness. It is recommended that young children do not take manuka honey directly as there is a small amount of toxic compound in the honey. It is recommended that they take a warm cup of milk with a small amount of honey to get them to sleep.
Manuka honey also gives you a good sleep
Attention: In natural skincare, Manuka honey can needs to be applied to clean skin. If you are using cosmetics, sunscreens, etc. then you should use makeup remover, or toner, etc. to cleanse your face first before using Manuka honey to moisturise and soothe the skin.
Manuka honey can cause allergic to many people, especially those who are allergic to bees, so should always test it out on a small area of your skin before applying it to your whole face.
Above are some advantages of this superfood, Manuka honey is super healthy, with natural beauty benefits and treatment. For more useful tips and knowledge about natural skin care, or manuka honey please take a look at our website. We hope you find this information about Manuka honey benefits helpful. Let us know what you think? Try some manuka honey the next time you go to the supermarket.
