Top 10 Health Benefits
Top 10 health benefits of manuka honey
- Supports wound-healing - Numerous studies demonstrate its benefits for tissue regeneration, superficial partial thickness burns, diabetic ulcers, eyelid wounds and post-surgery.
- Soothes a sore throat - One study in 2010 found that honey alleviated coughs in children better than traditional over-the-counter medication.
- May support gut health - Manuka honey acts as a prebiotic by helping ‘good’ bacteria, including bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, thrive.
- May soothe a gastric ulcer - Studies have demonstrated the potential for manuka honey to help protect against the damaging effects of gastric ulcers. It does this by providing an anti-inflammatory effect, by helping manage infections such as helicobacter pylori and finally by protecting the gut mucosa from damage.
- May be helpful for gastroenteritis - There is some evidence that honey and especially manuka honey may help treat gut infections caused by bacterial strains like clostridium difficile. One benefit is that it appears to shorten the duration of symptoms such as diarrhea.
- May offer antiviral properties - A 2014 study of manuka honey found that in a laboratory setting, it efficiently inhibited influenza viruses, and another test tube study found it had significant activity against shingles.
- May be useful for antibiotic-resistant infections - In 2020, a study investigating the application of medical-grade honey as an approach to treating multidrug-resistant infections showed significant promise.
- May help prevent the build-up of dental plaque - The antibacterial properties of manuka honey can help prevent dental cavities by minimizing build-up of dental plaque.
- May help manage cystic fibrosis - The potent antibacterial properties of manuka honey also appear to augment the effects of antibiotics in cystic fibrosis patients who have an upper respiratory infection. It does this by inhibiting the growth of bacteria like pseudomonas aeruginosa and burkholderia.
- May be effective against inflammatory skin conditions - Recognised for its anti-bacterial and wound-healing properties, manuka honey is now being trialed for its effect on other skin disorders, including rosacea and acne. Test tube studies suggest honey is able to modulate the immune system of the skin.