The Healing Benefits Of Honey

An ancient remedy is being re-evaluated as a viable solution to treating infected wounds and other skin irritants in the wake of cases involving antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.

Honey has been developing a good reputation for its medical qualities. It has been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of different health conditions. Hippocrates discovered that honey clears infections and heals wounds. The misconception that modern medicine is more effective had shadowed the previously recognized healing properties of honey but recently it's been making a comeback.

For seriously infected wounds, a particular type of honey has proven to be more effective than standard types of honey. Indigenous to New Zealand, Manuka Honey is particularly valuable because it has a higher level of antibacterial activity than other honeys. Manuka Honey has been found to keep wounds free of infection and reduced inflammation, allowing the wound to heal more efficiently.

Because of its healing properties, Manuka Honey is now being used as an ingredient in wound care and other health care products. The antibacterial properties of Manuka Honey are so powerful that they have even been found to stop the superbugs associated with antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria (such as MRSA) in their tracks. As a result, Manuka Honey products are now being used where antibiotics and standard forms of medicine fail.

In New Zealand, beekeepers move the beehives close to a plant called the Manuka bush. The flowers of this plant produce nectar containing strong antibacterial elements. Unfortunately, Manuka Honey is not an abundant resource. The Manuka bush only flowers during a 6 week period between the months of December and January. Honeybees carry twice their weight in nectar back to their hives where they produce this special type of honey. Only a small percentage of this honey contains high enough antibacterial properties to be used for medical purposes.

Manuka Honey products have one major advantage over antibiotics. Bacteria has the ability to mutate and become resistant to elements that are attempting to destroy them. However, there have been no reports of any bacteria being able to develop a resistance to Manuka Honey. Doctors caution patients that only Manuka Honey contains enough antibacterial and antimicrobial properties to be as effective. Standard forms of honey do not work as well for medical purposes.

The general consensus among the medical community is that Manuka Honey is a viable solution for healing infected wounds and other types of skin conditions. "Manuka Honey has antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties, making it an amazing natural resource," says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International which is a manufacturer of health care products containing Manuka Honey as a healing agent. "It has also been found that Manuka Honey has no negative side effects when being used for medicinal purposes. At a time that people are losing faith in pharmaceuticals and gaining faith in natural alternatives, we predict that Manuka Honey will soon become widely used as a main ingredient in many health care products."nnnn