Raw honey is honey that has not been heated or processed in any way. It goes straight from the hive to the jar. It has numerous health benefits not found in processed honey. Heating destroys most of the benefits found in raw honey. Raw honey is thick and opaque, almost solid at room temperature, whereas processed honey is more fluid and usually has a transparent amber color.

Manuka honey (also called Leptospermum honey) is a type of raw honey that is made by bees who collect nectar from the manuka plant in Australia and New Zealand. It is a monofloral honey, meaning that the bees collect their nectar from only one type of plant.

Manuka has been found to have remarkable antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and healing properties when used on wounds. One company, Derma Sciences Inc., has even created a wound care product called Medihoney that uses manuka honey. Medihoney is used in hospitals around the world.

In one study published in the June 2008 issue of the Journal of Wound Care, Medihoney was found to significantly reduce the presence of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) in chronic wounds.

New Zealand manuka honey is rated on the UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) scale, a measure of the antibacterial strength of the honey. According to the Active Manuka Honey Association (AMHA) of New Zealand, UMF „is an antibacterial property which is naturally present in some strains of manuka honey, but it is not in all manuka honey.“ It is not found in all manuka honey because not all manuka flowers contain the UMF factor.

UMF is measured on a numeric scale, with UMF 10 being the minimum UMF factor effective in the treatment of infections and anything rated UMF 16 and higher having very high therapeutic value. In general, the higher the UMF rating, the higher the price of the honey.

People are using UMF active manuka honey on skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, eczema, burns, sores, skin ulcers, herpes, cold sores, blisters, rashes, and more. It is used in clinical settings to treat burns, diabetic leg ulcers, wounds that won’t heal, and MRSA infections.

It’s a good product to keep on hand at home in case of an accidental burn or to aid in the healing of any of the skin issues listed above.

Manuka also fights internal infections such as the flu, cold, and other viruses and is great for sore throats. It has also shown promise in the treatment of H. pylori infections and stomach ulcers.

In short, manuka appears to be a great overall immune system booster and healing agent. Many people take a tablespoon or two every day to prevent illness and maintain good health.

If you’ve had success in using manuka honey to heal a condition, please post a comment here. We’d love to hear your story!

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