Manuka honey is so healing due to its high concentration of Methylglyoxal (MGO), a potent antibacterial compound, working alongside general honey properties like high sugar content (osmotic effect) and low pH to create a synergistic healing environment that kills bacteria, reduces inflammation, cleans wounds, and promotes tissue repair. It effectively combats infection, even antibiotic-resistant strains like MRSA, while its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds stimulate skin regeneration, making it excellent for wounds, burns, and sore throats.
Manuka honey as a wound dressing is useful in maintaining a moist wound environment and acts as an autolytic debriding agent in debriding wounds. The rapid healing that was observed after topical honey application can be explained through a dual effect on the inflammatory response.
You can eat Manuka honey every day in small amounts. It's safe for most healthy adults, and it may give you benefits such as soothing a sore throat or supporting digestion. But it's still sugar, so too much can raise your blood sugar or add extra calories.
Manuka honey should start working straight away. For wound and burn care the area should be soothed and show noticeable changes overnight. For skin conditions it should soothes the skin quickly and then might take a few applications to get a good result.
It gets its antibacterial effects from an active ingredient called methylglyoxal (MGO). MGO is created in manuka honey thanks to the conversion of another compound known as dihydroxyacetone (DHA). A high concentration of DHA is found in the nectar of manuka flowers.
Does manuka honey need to be refrigerated? No, you should avoid refrigerating your manuka honey. It is best stored in a cool, dark place like a cupboard or pantry. Refrigeration of any honey — not just the special manuka variety — can cause crystallisation.
While Mānuka honey may be more expensive than other honey varieties, its renowned wellness properties and distinctive flavor make it a worthwhile investment for those seeking the best in natural sweetness and wellness support.
Since manuka honey contains high levels of MG, we speculate that patients with diabetes may be at risk due to either the direct negative effect of MG on cells and components in the wound or the indirect formation of AGEs, which could impair the wound-healing process.
Here's a brief summary of how long you should leave manuka honey on different types of wounds:
Thanks to its natural prebiotic compounds, Manuka can help feed the good bacteria in the gut, supporting a healthy microbiome. Research suggests it may also aid in fighting harmful bacteria like H. pylori and C. difficile, which are linked to stomach ulcers and food poisoning.
Yes, taking Manuka honey in the morning is a common and recommended ritual. Many people enjoy it first thing in the morning. In fact, a heaping spoonful on an empty stomach may allow your body to absorb its nutrients more directly, making it a natural and mindful start to the day.
How to identify authentic Manuka honey from New Zealand
A maximum of two teaspoons a day (15g) is a good portion size of manuka honey, as while it has many impressive health benefits, it is still high in sugar. If you are using manuka honey as part of a balanced diet, try drizzling it over porridge, overnight oats or natural yogurt.
In addition to manuka honey, royal jelly and bee venom are both recognized for their beneficial properties in skincare, offering advantages such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, and anti-aging properties [14].
You can apply Mānuka honey directly on your skin and it works wonders on all types of skin, including acne-prone skin. New Zealand Mānuka Honey heals and nurtures skin, and can be applied as a mask, a cleanser, or moisturiser.
Manuka honey can be safely used as an alternative natural antibiotic, which exerts a stimulating effect on macrophages to release mediators needed for tissue healing and reducing microbial infections.
Honey has anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used as a wound dressing to promote rapid and improved healing. These effects are due to honey's anti-bacterial action, secondary to its high acidity, osmotic effect, anti-oxidant content and hydrogen peroxide content.
Most small wounds heal naturally with time, but home remedies, such as aloe vera, antibacterial ointment, or honey, may speed up the healing process. A wound leaves the body's internal tissues exposed to the external environment. Cuts, blows, or other impacts are common causes.
Honey has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal properties that may provide benefits for your skin. Research suggests that honey can help with wound healing, hydration, and acne. There are different ways to incorporate honey into your skin care routine.
Moreover, acetylcholine present in Manuka honey lowers blood pressure and improves blood circulation, choline has a protective effect on the liver and increases the secretion of bile. Metal ions stimulate the production of red blood cells and hemoglobin.
Robinia pseudoacacia honey has the best antioxidant potential among the five honey types. This honey has also the best anti-inflammatory potential than the other honeys evaluated in this work. Flavonoids and organic acids were found in Robinia pseudoacacia honey.
Costco's Kirkland Signature Manuka Honey is genuine New Zealand-sourced honey with UMF certification (typically UMF 10+ or 15+). Prices run $20-$30 for 17.6oz—roughly 30% cheaper than specialty brands. Always check the UMF logo and batch number on the jar. Not safe for infants under 1 year due to botulism risk.
Below, we list some of the best honeys the world has to offer.
Studies have indicated that MGO can induce oxidative stress, leading to cell damage and apoptosis (programmed cell death). This raises concerns about the long-term consumption of high-MGO Manuka honey.