15 Impressive Health Benefits Of Manuka Honey (Eat More?)

Treats Infections

Manuka honey has well-known anti-bacterial qualities and can treat infections caused by bacteria, fungi, and viruses. It has been used as a natural medication for hundreds of years in New Zealand and Australia, where the bees that produce it are endemic. However, it was only recently that Western medicine began researching the anti-bacterial properties of manuka honey, which has led to some exciting discoveries.

Manuka honey’s healing properties come from an ingredient called methylglyoxal. It is relatively rare in nature and is thought to be produced by bees as a byproduct of enzymes used to digest pollen. While honey can have antibiotic properties, manuka honey has higher levels of methylglyoxal than other types of honey. The methylglyoxal kills off harmful bacteria and fungus in the wounds, leading to faster healing.

A study published by the Journal of Clinical Pathology found that most patients who were given antibiotics for their wounds developed a fungal infection within two weeks. In comparison, when researchers applied manuka honey to patients’ wounds, only one out of fifteen developed an infection within two weeks. Thus, manuka honey is especially good at preventing infections after surgery or other invasive procedures where you may already be susceptible to them.