The proven therapeutic properties of Manuka Honey
- LeeAnn Hamilton
- Jul 31
- 5 min read
There's more to Manuka Honey than meets the eye
The proven therapeutic properties of manuka honey make it a very important and worthwhile part of the home medical kit.
A recent round of accidents at home that were quite severe led me to a revisit ways to heal the body more naturally. A bad fall that skinned my husbands legs to the bone requiring stitches in some places was the start of a journey that led back to looking deeper at Manuka Honey.
I had used it years ago on my young son when he took a tumble off his roller blades on gravel and had multiple scrapes down the legs and arms and it had worked really well.
Professor Peter Molan, Professor in Biological Science at the University of Waikato spent three decades studying honey and has compiled all of his work on an independent website with no commercial interests. He has taken care to make sure that all the information is scientifically correct and that there is no bias, using language accessible to the public.
This article is based on his research on manuka honey, and explaining the testing process for therapeutic manuka honey that was developed in New Zealand by Professor Molan and his fellow Professor's at the University of Waikato.
What is unique about Manuka Honey?
All honey that is fresh is known to inhibit the growth of bacteria. This is a result of the activity of hydrogen peroxide formed by enzymes that bees add to nectar as they digest it and turn it into honey. In a laboratory it is tested using a Total Activity (TA) test.
Peroxide in honey breaks down reasonably quickly so as it ages the peroxide activity reduces and so does the anti-bacterial properties.
The first important discoveries about manuka honey was that it often had a high level of TA and that the TA did not reduce over time like other honey. The activity was not dependent on peroxide.
Professor Molan developed a new test called an NPA meaning a Non-Peroxide Activity test. NPA is unique to New Zealand manuka honey and some types of Australian honey that come from the nectar of the Leptospermum species found there. It is not found in honey in any other part of the world.
The small group of pioneering beekeepers and processors who worked alongside Professor Molan agreed to use the term UMF meaning Unique Manuka Factor to grade the levels of the NPA activity in honey batches.
The reason manuka honey had this unique Non-Peroxide Activity was not understood until the early 2000's through 2010 when research in New Zealand and overseas showed that manuka honey naturally contains Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and methylglyoxal (MGO).
It is these compounds that are responsible for the non peroxide activity of manuka honey. The DHA is found naturally in manuka nectar, and when turned into honey by the bees some of this DHA is converted to MGO. This conversion process continues over time and so the DHA concentration tends to decrease as the MGO concentration increases. The MGO correlates to the the NPA test result for a manuka honey.
For me the key here is the higher the MGO the more powerful the anti-bacterial properties of the manuka honey.
For more information on how to read grading systems you can check out the website
Neutralising Free Radicals
Phenolic acids are natural antioxidants, antimicrobials, and anti-inflammatory agents used by plants and humans. They are powerful free radical scavengers and metal chelators, whose job it is to neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) to prevent cellular damage.
In terms of total phenolic acid content Manuka Honey is the star of the show.
A comparative study found Manuka honey had the highest total phenolic content (899.09 g gallic acid/kg), in comparison to other tested varieties, making it superior at neutralizing free radicals and protecting cells from oxidative stress.
Fighting Infection with MGO
Manuka Honey is also world famous as a natural antibiotic.
The high concentrations of methylglyoxal (MGO) found in manuka honey also provide it with strong anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties that contribute to its healing value.
Low-pH environment
High osmolarity that inhibits bacterial growth
Disperses protective biofilms preventing bacteria from developing resistance.
These mechanism have made it highly effective against antibiotic-resistant strains like MRSA and Staphylococcus aureus.
When fighting infection Manuka Honey can be used either:
Topically - by applying directly to wounds, burns and ulcers.
Systemically - when suffering from sore throats and chest infections.
For topical application for wounds and burns
Here are some guidelines that are important.
Select only Medical-Grade Honey
Using honey that has been sterilized and certified for medical use (often Manuka honey with a UMF or MGO rating) ensures it is free of harmful bacteria like Clostridium botulinum.
Clean the Wound
It is important to thoroughly clean the wound with saline or a recommended cleanser and remove any necrotic tissue if possible and pat the area dry.
Apply directly
Apply a thin layer of medical-grade honey directly to the wound bed. Do not over-apply, as excess moisture can damage the surrounding skin
Use a Secondary Dressing
Cover the honey with a sterile, non-stick dressing (like a gauze pad). For wounds with heavy drainage, an absorbent secondary dressing is necessary
Change Dressings Regularly
Change the dressing whenever it becomes saturated with fluid. . In low-drainage wounds, the dressing may be left in place for up to seven days.
Keep it dry and monitor healing
If the wound does not show improvement within a week, or if signs of infection worsen, consult a healthcare professional.
Treating sore throats and coughs
In Grandma's day the first thing we would be given was a hot lemon drink laced with honey to sooth the throat and boost the Vitamin C levels.
This evidence based remedy is just as true today for soothing sore throats and reducing cough frequency and severity, performing as well as many over-the-counter cough suppressants. It works by coating the throat lining to reduce irritation and triggering salivation, which further lubricates the airways.
Usage and Dosage
Adults
Take 1–2 teaspoons of raw honey straight or mix it into warm (not boiling) water, tea, or lemon juice.
Children
Use a small amount (0.5–1 teaspoon) for children over 12 months of age, particularly before bed to help with night time coughing.
Frequency
Consume 2–3 times daily or as needed for symptom relief.
Safety Warning
Never give honey to infants under 12 months due to the risk of infant botulism.
While honey provides significant comfort and may shorten illness duration by a day or two, it is not a cure so if the symptoms persist or include high fever and difficulty breathing it is important to seek medical attention.
Home made Honey and Onion Cough Syrup
This is a simple but effective home cough remedy that can easily be kept on hand.
The link is here.
Chest & Immune Elixir with Mānuka Honey & NZ Propolis
Check out our online store for the full range of Elixir's for coughs and colds, including
this one which combines native herbs, manuka honey and Propolis. We have had first
hand feedback on how well this product works for persistent chest and cough problems.
The link is here.
Therapeutic Manuka Honey
We are now stocking high grade fully tested (comes with the testing certificate) manuka honey in our store. The link is here.
For a deeper dive into manuka honey and the research into cancer, gut health, and a range of other research you can find Professor Molan's papers at this website.
Other research papers
The included papers showed that Manuka honey can inhibit the process of carcinogenesis by controlling different molecular processes, and progression of cancer cells.
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