Natural Health: Can manuka honey really heal cuts and burns?
Many have touted its abilities to heal infections and treat burns, but does this particular type of honey really have super healing properties?
If there ever were miracle honey, the rare and pricey manuka honey would be it. Or so we’ve been told. You may have heard of manuka honey, a pungent monofloral honey produced from the nectar of the New Zealand manuka tree. Good quality manuka honey has an incredibly strong flavour that’s been described as “earthy”, “florid” and “rich”. If you don’t already know, this honey is incredibly expensive due to its alleged medicinal properties and because it only comes from one corner of the world.
Commonly sold in supermarkets and health food stores, this uncommon honey, cultivated only in New Zealand and certain parts of Australia, has been used as an alternative medicine for years. It has a high level of viscosity, perhaps the highest among all types of honey, and has a very distinctly dark cream to dark brown colour.
So, what exactly can manuka honey do for you?
Manuka honey has been said to be able to improve the condition of external ulcers, wounds, and superficial burns when used as a dressing because of its extremely high, naturally occurring antibacterial properties. While the honey does have antibacterial benefits (measured by its Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) levels), studies have so far been inconclusive due to insufficient evidence that it can heal such ailments. As such, it isn’t advised that you use manuka honey as a topical treatment.
That said, manuka honey, like all other types of honey, is very rich in amino acids and trace minerals that can be very beneficial for the body when ingested as a health food. The nutritional content of manuka honey can also be up to four times that of normal flower honeys. So, feel free to use this superfood as a sweetener for your morning oat porridge and herbal teas.
What you should look out for
If you want to purchase the very best manuka honey out there, be sure to look out for genuine UMF manuka honey that clearly displays the UMF trademark on the label. While the lowest UMF rating for manuka products is UMF5, keep in mind that manuka honey is only considered beneficial if it is UMF10 and above.
Angela Goh
Photo: Getty Images
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