Manuka Honey. Pronounced “MAH-nooka,” is named after the manuka bush, from which bees gather nectar and pollen. I am a Health foodie and I have simply fallen head over heels in love with this honey that comes from New Zealand.
Packed with a powerful punch of antiseptic, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, it’s one of the best ways to give your health care needs a needed boost. The key is to use raw manuka honey that hasn’t been pasteurized, processed, or heated in any way as that preserves the best qualities.
Research from around 2008 found that its healing properties were due to something known as methylglyoxal (MGO) which is a byproduct of the bee’s honey production in itself. To make this even better they also noted some Manuka honey actually contains over one hundred times more MGO than other kinds of honey.
Researchers published a body of work back in 2010 that proved further how beneficial this amazing honey could be when they actually put it to the test. This study was published in the European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases and found that the honey itself was able to kill every pathogen or bacteria they introduced it to/tested it on. Also important to note is that none of these pathogens or diseases were able to build up immunity which is something we are battling with antibiotics in current times.
The abstract for this study goes as follows:
Clinical use of honey in the topical treatment of wounds has increased in Europe and North America since licensed wound care products became available in 2004 and 2007, respectively. Honey-resistant bacteria have not been isolated from wounds, but there is a need to investigate whether honey has the potential to select for honey resistance. Two cultures of bacteria from reference collections (Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 10017 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853) and four cultures isolated from wounds (Escherichia coli, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa and S. epidermidis) were exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of manuka honey in continuous and stepwise training experiments to determine whether the susceptibility to honey diminished. Reduced susceptibilities to manuka honey in the test organisms during long-term stepwise resistance training were found, but these changes were not permanent and honey-resistant mutants were not detected. The risk of bacteria acquiring resistance to honey will be low if high concentrations are maintained clinically.
What is manuka honey?
“All honey has some antibiotic qualities,” Largeman-Roth states. “In typical honey, it is hydrogen peroxide that provides this benefit, whereas in manuka honey, it’s UMF that is antibiotic.” UMF stands for Unique Manuka Factor, a grading system that uses a scale of 5 to 20 to gauge each batch of honey’s antibacterial strength.
The higher the UMF number, the stronger manuka honey’s antibacterial properties—meaning it can be used to treat wounds, cuts, burns, and even bed sores, says Largeman-Roth. Types of manuka honey that possess a UMF content of 12 or higher are actually considered medical grade, and can be added to bandages to treat wounds, she says.
Mead that the Vikings drank was made from fermented manuka honey. The Norseman’s thirst was quenched by the golden nectar of the gods: Mead. Also called metheglin, this delicious brew is made from fermented manuka honey, water, and sometimes yeast. Other ingredients included spices and herbs such as cloves, ginger, rosemary, hyssop, and thyme and can be light, rich, sweet, dry, or bubbly.
Our Viking pals would drink an abundance of mead, not just out of the usual pleasure of getting smashed. It also held medicinal properties too. Unlike our Greek friends in the Mediterranean, our Viking pals didn’t have the vines to create wine. They had honey, and honey is an antibiotic that not only tasted great, but helped in blood-purifying, digestion, and stimulated immunization.
Did you know Cleopatra allegedly bathed in milk and honey to achieve a flawless complexion? Try your own honey bath: Just dissolve 2 to 3 tablespoons of raw manuka honey in 1 cup of hot water. Pour into a hot bath, sit back, and relax—you’ll emerge feeling like a queen.
Medicinal Honey with Many Healing Capabilities
Some of the most common uses of Manuka Honey include:
1. Gastritis
2. Stomach Ulcers
3. Tonsillitis
4. Sinusitis
5. Skin ailments eg eczema, hives, rosacea, rashes
6. Building Body Immunity
7. Facial masks
8. Common Flus, Coughs and Colds
9. Cuts and Burns
Why does manuka honey have such a good reputation for healing wounds and staving off infection? “Honey is very low in moisture content,” says Largeman-Roth. “When you put it on a wound, all the liquid in the wound gets drawn into the honey because it has the ability to absorb the moisture. By sucking up all the impurities, the honey protects the body against infection.” Medical grade manuka can also restore the natural pH of the skin and remove dead tissue when used topically, she adds.
Though most studies that support the use of manuka honey have been done in animals rather than humans, the research has demonstrated its safety and efficacy when compared to a placebo. “The greatest risk is simply verifying the source of [manuka honey],” adds Dr. Graham. “Quality and purity really matter when we’re talking about food-based therapies.”
Anyone who is allergic to bees should use manuka honey with caution. “Otherwise, it’s a win-win with little side effects,” says Dr. Graham.
1.Manuka honey has been used as a powerful antibacterial agent, one that has “bactericidal activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria” that pose a danger to humans.
Study have shown where the scars of people recovering from surgery heal faster when Manuka honey is used as a part of the post-operative process.
2.Mary Poppins sung a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go away but actually a spoon full of manuka honey will help soothe a cough and ease the common cold symptoms.
Drinking tea or warm lemon water mixed with manuka honey is a tradition passed down threw the ages way to soothe a sore throat. But this amazing honey alone may be an effective cough suppressant, too.
In one study, children age 2 and older with upper respiratory tract infections were given up to 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) of honey at bedtime. The honey seemed to reduce nighttime coughing and improve sleep.
In fact, in the study, honey appeared to be as effective as a common cough suppressant ingredient, dextromethorphan, in typical over-the-counter doses. Since honey is low-cost and widely available, it might be worth a try.
However, due to the risk of infant botulism, a rare but serious form of food poisoning, never give honey to a child younger than age 1 per the Mayo Clinic.
3.On your face
Combat acne. Leave it to honey to attack the bacteria that causes breakouts, while also drawing moisture to the skin. Dab a small amount onto blemishes, leave for 15-20 minutes, then rinse.
Lighten up dark circles. A spoonful of honey may help fade dark circles and ease swelling under the eyes. Mix equal parts honey and almond oil, then apply as you would an eye cream before bed; rinse off in the morning.
Smooth out wrinkles. Got an avocado lying around in your kitchen? This all-natural concoction hydrates dull skin and may help fight wrinkles. Mix 1 tablespoon of raw honey with half a ripe avocado. Spread out evenly over face and rinse off with warm water after 15 to 20 minutes.
4. On your body
Reverse cuticle damage. Cracked cuticles are not only unsightly, but they’re also an invitation for fungus and bacteria to creep in. Coat your cuticles and nails with a mixture of raw honey and apple cider vinegar (1 teaspoon each) to cleanse and soften. Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse off.
Reduce razor burn. Soothe the irritation caused by shaving mishaps by smearing a dab of raw honey over razor bumps post-shave. Rinse off after 10 to 15 minutes.
Pamper your skin. Did you know Cleopatra allegedly bathed in milk and honey to achieve a flawless complexion? Try your own honey bath: Just dissolve 2 to 3 tablespoons of raw honey in 1 cup of hot water. Pour into a hot bath, sit back, and relax—you’ll emerge feeling like a queen.
6. In your hair
Add shine. Treat your hair to this volume and shine-boosting mask: Mix 1/2 cup raw honey and 1/4 cup olive or coconut oil. Apply to your hair from roots to tips, leave in for 20 minutes, then rinse. Use once weekly for hair that shines like silk.
Soften strands. Raw honey is a humectant, meaning it locks in moisture. Revive dry, lackluster hair by thoroughly mixing in 1 teaspoon of raw honey with your shampoo. Lather up as usual and rinse well. The goo will wash out (we promise!), leaving strands super-soft.
Soothe an itchy scalp. Thanks to its anti-fungal properties, honey helps nix the gunk that clogs hair follicles, leading to itchy flakes. Dilute 1 tablespoon of honey with a teaspoon of water and massage it in to your scalp for two minutes; rinse with warm water after two hours. Repeat every other day until your scalp is flake-free.
7. It could help treat wounds
Honey has quite a long reputation as a healer. Its first written reference dates back to 2100-2000 BC on a Sumerian tablet that mentions the use of honey as a drug and ointment, according to the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine. There’s a medical-grade solution called Medihoney that is is derived from manuka honey, which comes from New Zealand bees that pollinate the native manuka bush. “The patches of Medihoney work fantastic on patients that come in with cuts and wounds,” says Robin Miller, MD, a board-certified internist and co-author of The Smart Woman’s Guide to Midlife and Beyond. “They’re antibacterial and soothing.”
In a study in the British Journal of Surgery, Nigerian researchers used honey to treat 59 patients with hard-to-heal ulcers. All but one of the cases improved, and infected wounds and ulcers became sterile within one week of applying the honey.
8. Many commercial anti-wrinkle creams contain harmful ingredients in small quantities. While they might look like tiny amounts, rubbing them into your skin on a daily basis can often compound the cause of wrinkles rather than reduce them. There are no harsh or drying chemicals when you make your own wrinkle creams and other DIY skin care recipes, so your skin will look and feel softer right away.
Homemade Anti-Aging Face Cream
Makes about ½ cup (lasts about 3 months)
Ingredients
¼ cup almond oil or jojoba oil ( find jojoba oil here)
2 tablespoons coconut oil ( find coconut oil here)
2 tablespoons beeswax ( find beeswax here)
½ teaspoon vitamin E oil ( find vitamin E here)
1 tablespoon shea butter ( find shea butter here)
1/2 teaspoon Maluka honey ( find maluka honey here)
2 drops of organic lemon essential oil ( find lemon essential oil here)
Directions
Place all ingredients in a glass jar. Bring a pot filled about 3-4 inches with water to a simmer. Put the jar, without its lid, in the pot, and let it sit there until the ingredients have melted. Stir occasionally. Once the mixture has melted and all is evenly combined, pour it into a small glass jar. Let it sit at room temperature until the cream hardens, close the jar’s lid, and store in a cool place. Apply morning and night after washing.
Homemade Face Moisturizer Anti-Aging Cream
Ingredients ( click on the highlighted links to order yours)
1.5 ounces beeswax
3 ounces avocado oil
3 ounces coconut oil
2 teaspoons manuka honey
15 drops frankincense essential oil
15 drops myrrh essential oil
10 drops sandalwood essential oil
Instructions
In a double boiler, melt beeswax, avocado oil, and coconut oil.
Once fully melted, stir the cream and honey allow to cool slightly.
While still liquid, add essential oils to the cream.
Pour into two 4-ounce containers (4-ounce glass mason jars work wonderfully).
How to eat manuka honey
Manuka honey and regular honey have about the same sugar content, though some reports suggest manuka honey could have a slightly lower glycemic index. Yet overall, manuka can be consumed just like regular honey: added to sweeten tea, spread on toast, drizzled on top of desserts, and more.
One difference, however, is in its texture. Unlike standard honey found on supermarket shelves, manuka honey isn’t a liquid at room temperature. “Rather, it’s a spreadable, thick consistency made of very fine stable crystals,” says Largeman-Roth.
Where to buy manuka honey
To get familiar with brands that sell certified manuka honey, head to the UMF Honey Association’s website. If you’re in the market for manuka, it’s not tough to find it in stores or online. Everything from UMF5+ manuka honey ($28; amazon.com) to manuka lozenges ($8; amazon.com) and manuka adhesive pads ($27; amazon.com) are all available online. Sweet!
In my book Awareness has Magic, I will teach you have to how to blend oils and natural scents where you can make body butters, lip balms, rose water, body butters, anti-aging facial creams, shampoo’s, detox baths, Vanilla grapefruit linen spray, Kombucha deodorant, toothpastes, non-toxic cleaning recipes and many, many other wonderful things.
Not to mention YOU’LL ALSO LEARN ESSENTIAL OIL BLEND RECIPES.
Click on this link to order: Fresh and Fabulous Hypothyroidism Body Balance: Learn How to Create Organic Non-Toxic Homemade Products for Your Skin, Health and Home
Body butters are simply pure joy and nourishment for your skin!
The true art of creating body butters has to do with the ratio of butter to oil to wax. To create a chapped skin body butter that’s soft and easy to apply, a 6:1 ratio is ideal. Six parts of butters and oils, to one part beeswax.
It’s very gentle for even the most sensitive skins, and most nurturing for the skin that needs A LITTLE BIT OF extra care.
I want to share a few hand cream recipes along with a few perfects of scents that will not only offer nourishment to hands and feet and has a history from royalty!
Hand Cream
1 oz (28 g) unscented natural skin cream
4 drops Neroli/Petitgrain co-distill
5 drops Frankincense
1 drop Patchouli
1 drop Ylang Ylang
Make this blend in a 1 oz (30 ml) jar. Put the natural skin cream into the jar, drop the essential oils in, and stir gently with a glass stirring rod or the handle of a stainless steel spoon. Use your hand cream as often as you like throughout the day.
You can use any natural, unscented cream that you like for this blend. I do suggest making a fresh jar every few weeks, because most natural skin cream is water-based, and is not made with a preservative.
When you have dry, cracked knuckles, it can feel like you’re constantly applying moisturizer but not experiencing much benefit from it.
Here is a recipe for a hand salve that can really help!
You can apply this hand salve as often as you need throughout the day. Some people even apply a thick layer on their hands and feet while they wear hand gloves along with footies while they sleep, so their dry, cracked skin can absorb as much of the healing components as possible.
This recipe makes 7 oz (196 gm) of hand salve. You can make it in an 8 oz (240 ml) glass jar or in two 4 oz (120 ml) jars.
I have over 200 recipes in this book… I have over 12 published books..
Sometimes we have to do a little pruning of the branches, in order for the tree to be healthy again. A number of things can be the reason why you have hormonal imbalances, food intolerances, thyroid issues, adrenal fatigue, weight gain, insomnia, personality changes, leaky gut, depression, an autoimmune disorder, chronic pain, no metabolism and low sex drive, bloating, anxiety, menstrual problems and infertility. It starts with becoming aware and how your health can be influenced by many different circumstances.
How would you define good health? Logically one would define good health as absence of a disease or following some sort of ground rules that avoid developing a disease. This book can help you begin to understand what a Keto Autoimmune protocol is and start guiding you in the redevelopment and healing of your body. You will begin to understand how to fix your gut, strengthen your immunity and fight inflammation with an autoimmune approach. The Keto AIP removes all the common inflammatory food triggers that stimulate a possible autoimmune reaction in the body. Along with helping to reset those adrenals, boosting that energy and doing a little ass kicking to those hormones that have decided to act like a wild college student and pull an all-nighter the day before final exams.
Your health doesn’t have to be a difficult situation but a positive realization that things need to change. This new lifestyle change has many parts to it and I hope you will embrace not only the physical but the spiritual awakening. Common food intolerances that are known to trigger inflammation are eliminated in this Keto AIP protocol are Nightshades, Eggs, Grains (gluten), Dairy, Legumes, Corn, Soy, Dairy and lectins.
Audrey Childers is an internationally recognized published author, blogger, freelance journalist and an entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in research and editorial writing. She is also the creator and founder of the website the hypothyroidismchick.com. Where you can find great tips on everyday living with hypothyroidism. She enjoys raising her children and being a voice for optimal human health and wellness. She is the published author of : A survivors cookbook guide to kicking hypothyroidism booty, Reset your Thyroid, The Ultimate guide to healing hypothyroidism and A survivors cookbook guide to kicking hypothyroidism booty: the slow cooker way. You can find all these books on Amazon. This blog may be re-posted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this copyright statement.
disclaimer
The information and recipes contained in blog is based upon the research and the personal experiences of the author. It’s for entertainment purposes only. Every attempt has been made to provide accurate, up to date and reliable information. No warranties of any kind are expressed or implied. Readers acknowledge that the author is not engaging in the rendering of legal, financial, medical or professional advice. By reading this blog, the reader agrees that under no circumstance the author is not responsible for any loss, direct or indirect, which are incurred by using this information contained within this blog. Including but not limited to errors, omissions or inaccuracies. This blog is not intended as replacements from what your health care provider has suggested. The author is not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of any of the suggestions, preparations or procedures discussed in this blog. All matters pertaining to your health should be supervised by a health care professional. I am not a doctor, or a medical professional. This blog is designed for as an educational and entertainment tool only. Please always check with your health practitioner before taking any vitamins, supplements, or herbs, as they may have side-effects, especially when combined with medications, alcohol, or other vitamins or supplements. Knowledge is power, educate yourself and find the answer to your health care needs. Wisdom is a wonderful thing to seek. I hope this blog will teach and encourage you to take leaps in your life to educate yourself for a happier & healthier life. You have to take ownership of your health.
References:
https://www.health.com/nutrition/manuka-honey-health-benefits-uses
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3609166/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27429228
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/expert-answers/honey/faq-20058031
https://www.health.com/beauty/9-surprising-beauty-uses-of-raw-honey
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bjs.1800750718
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mānuka_honey
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