Food & Nutrition

Manuka Honey Benefits & Uses

Manuka honey is one of the most significant and unique form of honey in the world. Manuka honey is a special medicinal grade honey mainly produced in New Zealand and Australia from the nectar of the tree named “Manuka”.

Manuka honey is comparable with Indian NEEM HONEY, which has similar medicinal properties and high antimicrobial activity. However, honeybees build their hives on the NEEM tree, but they are feeding on several flowers. Manuka Honey is produced by Apis mellifera (Western honeybees) that feed only on Manuka Tree or tea tree. This is a significant difference in NEEM honey and Manuka honey.

Why Manuka honey is better?

There are varieties of honey in the market, but manuka honey is quite different from others. This honey contains more naturally occurring active ingredients than the other local honey. It has the special property of higher UMF (Unique Manuka Factor). Higher the UMF, the more potent or effective the honey is. Manuka honey has more antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties.

Manuka Honey Benefits

Some benefits of manuka honey are as follows.

Cures Cuts, wounds and Ulcers

Manuka honey has been in great traditional use for curing wounds and cuts due to its strong medicinal properties. Use of manuka honey to treat burns, wounds or sunburns is the very accurate choice. Manuka honey always helps to pull liquid away from the infected part and checks the growth of the microbes. Its antibacterial properties make the honey good medicine for wounds. In addition, this honey is an effective and useful treatment for curing the leg ulcers in the elder people.

Works against Helicobacter pylori infection

Manuka Honey is used as a good natural antibiotic and it is responsible for curing the diseases and disorders caused by bacteria. It works against Helicobacter pylori.

Due to this antibacterial property, Manuka Honey is beneficial regimen for eliminating H. Pylori from the linings of the stomach. Therefore, it is good choice for patients with duodenal ulcer or gastritis caused by Helicobacter pylori infection.

Give sound and relax sleep

Everybody will have this question in their mind that how can manuka oil improve sleep? Actually, Manuka honey releases glycogen that is very good for human body functions during sleep.

You just have to take one or two teaspoon of manuka honey with milk during the bedtime. It will produce melatonin, which is responsible for the healthy and deep sleep.

There are also many other health disorders that arise from unhealthy sleep like heart disorders, diabetes (type 2) and arthritis. Using Manuka honey regularly can lower the risks of these diseases. This honey is proven perfect for the sound and healthy sleep.

Improves skin tone and remove skin disorders

Manuka honey nurtures, protects and moisturizes our skin. It is responsible for giving us bright and shiny skin.

Most of the women use it for facial purposes, as there is no irritating problem with it. It also draws out the impurities out of the pores.

In addition, this honey is beneficial to remove acne problems. Many girls have acne problems and never able to find the solution without going to the doctors. The use of Manuka honey is the natural method to remove acne permanently. It is also safe to use it and it is beneficial for sensitive skin.

Helps in allergic problems

Some people have allergies. Allergies can be seasonal or can be from particular thing or food. Almost 30 percent of the people are suffering from different type of allergies.

People with allergies can reduce frequency of allergic reactions using Manuka honey daily. You can take one teaspoon of Manuka honey to prevent and reduce allergic attacks. It also purifies our blood and makes us free from allergies.

Teeth protection

The bacteria in the mouth always create thin film on the teeth and our teeth become yellow and cause plaque with bad breadth.

Manuka honey can help our teeth free from plaque and gingivitis. It helps in curing cavities and bleeding problems in teeth. Use this honey as a mouthwash in your daily life, definitely the honey will protect your gums as well as your teeth and make your mouth healthy.

Provide immunity

It is very true to say that the Manuka honey boost our immune system. All the natural ingredients in this honey help our immune system to fight with foreign particles and microbes and make us healthy. Manuka honey contains METHYL-GLYOXAL (MG), which makes it a good antibacterial medicine than other local honeys. If our immune system will be healthy then we will be able to live life healthy.

Helps in losing weight

Manuka Honey has 4 times more effect than any other honey. Taking one teaspoon of this honey with warm water in the morning burns your calories and helps in losing weight. Adding lemon juice in this remedy can boost its action by rectifying metabolism in the body.

For seeing good results, you should continue taking this remedy for at least one month. Most people have reported that they have lost 2 to 6 pounds weight only using Manuka honey and lemon juice. This remedy also helps you to feel confident and energetic.

In short, Manuka honey can treat all common problems that a man can have like cough, cold, weight gain, skin infection, pimples, plaque, cavities etc. Use of honey in daily life will improves our quality of living.

Dosage of Manuka Honey

1 to 2 teaspoon of manuka honey is a perfect dosage for everyone.

It would be good if you consume it 30 minutes before meal for its therapeutic effects. For insomnia or sleeplessness, you can take it just before your bedtime. For weight loss, you should take it with warm water and lemon juice on empty stomach in the early morning.

Otherwise, you can eat it with meal or anytime as you desired to eat something sweet.

External Application

You can apply a thin layer of manuka honey on wounds, cuts, burns etc. It acts as antiseptic and antimicrobial. It also helps increasing the wound healing time.

How to take Manuka Honey

Here are some ways to consume or use of Manuka Honey in our daily life.

  • You can take Manuka honey with chapatti or bread. The sweetness of honey tastes better with chapatti.
  • You can take one or two teaspoon of it with milk at night.
  • You can take one or two teaspoon with warm water in the morning time.
  • You can use it as a face wash to make our skin free from acnes, pimples and dark circles. It improves our skin tone too.
  • You can use it as a mouthwash daily before or after brushing to improve oral health.

Apart from above, constipation is also a very common problem. Manuka honey also helps in eliminating constipation. Manuka honey can also prevent chronic diseases and improve overall health.

Shelf life

Manuka honey can last for several years if it is properly packed and stored. There is no expiration period for Honey. According to ayurveda, fresh honey is nutritious and maintains health and old honey is fat burner. Old honey (old than at least one year) is used for losing weight in Indian subcontinent.

Caution & Side Effects

Generally, Manuka honey does not have any side effect. It is SAFE in food amounts and in therapeutic dosage not exceeding from 2 teaspoons twice a day.

Manuka Honey for children

You should not give honey to children under age of 1 year as a food because digestive system in infants is still developing. Infants are also more prone to botulism poisoning due to certain foods including honey.

However, herbalist or naturopath can recommend using honey under the age of 1 year for specific conditions especially productive cough or common cold. Doctors of alternative medicine can also advise using it as adjuvant for certain herbal medicines. You should not use it in children under the age of 12 months without a professional recommendation.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Manuka Honey is LIKELY SAFE in pregnancy and breastfeeding. The dosage should not exceed from 2 teaspoons per day.

Pollen Allergies

If you have any kind of pollen allergy, you should also avoid manuka honey because it may also contain a small amount of pollens, which may result in allergic symptoms.

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Dr. Jagdev Singh

Dr. Jagdev Singh is a qualified Ayurvedic Practitioner and Herbalist with B.A.M.S. and M. Sc. in Medicinal Plants. He has a wealth of experience in using Ayurveda to treat patients, including the use of herbal medicine and personalized Ayurvedic diets. His passion for spreading accurate and scientific information about Ayurveda and Medicinal Plants led him to create Ayur Times, a trusted resource for those seeking reliable information on the topic. Through his dedicated work, Dr. Singh has helped thousands of patients find relief and improve their health with Ayurveda and Herbal Medicine.

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5 Comments

  1. We are using Manuka honey for common cold. We add a small amount cinnamon powder. This combination helps a lot and person gets relief from all symptoms of cold.

  2. Honge Mara ( In Kannada )Hindi or English Name not known
    Flowering time-Feb Mar Every Year- Very good Medicinal Quality Honey
    Keeps cool the Body-Wards off many types of Fever

  3. Chewing and sucking of Manuka honey can reduce the plaque and bleeding gums. The best Manuka honey has calcium and zinc, which protects your teeth.

  4. I am suffering from breathlessness, sore throat, cannot carry things trouble leaning over etc, can the cider vinegar and Manuka ho ey combined heal Me?

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