Honey for Healing? It's a Food Isn't It?

Honey is one of nature's oldest folk remedies. Ancient civilisations used honey to help heal wounds.
There are many reports in medical literature of honey being successfully used for wounds, burns, skin ulcers, boils, infections.
Scientific university research is showing the reason why honey could assist the natural healing process and that Genuine New Zealand UMF Manuka Honey (with activity higher than UMF10) has even greater healing qualities because of its enhanced antibacterial potency.

University Research confirms Honey as a Healer

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Dr Peter Molan, MBE, Associate Professor in Biochemistry at The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand, has since 1981 researched the ancient healing properties of honey. He has found that honey heals primarily because of a natural hydrogen peroxide antibacterial property present in varying levels in most honeys.

Bees gather nectar from flowers. Back in the hive to help preserve the honey they add an enzyme, glucose oxidase, to the nectar when they are processing it into honey.

When honey comes into contact with body moisture the glucose oxidase enzyme slowly releases the antiseptic hydrogen peroxide. This is released at levels sufficient to be effective against bacteria but not tissue damaging.


In the research laboratory a catalase was added to honey samples to remove the hydrogen peroxide and then the honeys were tested again to see if there was still any antibacterial activity.
Some manuka honey samples were found to still have significant antibacterial activity - known as non-peroxide activity.
Manuka Honey which has this unique non-peroxide antibacterial activity is denoted by the trademark UMF (Unique Manuka Factor).


The hydrogen peroxide antibacterial activity in honey can vary widely according to:
1. Honey floral type. Some floral nectars produce a catalase which destroys the glucose oxidase enzyme.
2. How the honey has been handled, especially during processing. The glucose oxidase enzyme is easily destroyed by heat, fluid and sunlight.
3. The hydrogen peroxide can be broken down by a catalase enzyme present in body tissue and serum, so reducing the antibacterial potency when used on a wound or infection.






A Second Natural Antibacterial Agent
Dr Peter Molan and his research team at the Honey Research Unit at New Zealand's Waikato University found in some specific strains of manuka honey a second natural more powerful and more stable non-peroxide antibacterial activity. Manuka Honey which this non-peroxide activity is denoted by the trademark UMF.
The non-peroxide activity is additional to the hydrogen peroxide activity and gives the honey a wider range of uses and effectiveness.

In laboratory tests honey with high non-peroxide activity (over UMF10) has been found to be effective against a wide range of bacteria including:
• helicobacter pylori - this bacteria causes most stomach ulcers,
• staphylococcus aureus and escherichia coli - the most common cause of infected wounds and MRSA,
•streptococcus pyogenes - causes sore throats.


Laboratory tests showed that honey with only the hydrogen peroxide antibacterial activity, this includes ordinary manuka honey, is not effective against helicobacter pylori.


The non-peroxide antibacterial activity is very stable. It is resistant to heat and more resistant to being broken down by the catalase effect of body fluids than is the hydrogen peroxide activity.


Studies are showing UMF Manuka Honey with high UMF rating (over UMF10) could be very effective in:
• digestive care by supporting the body's natural digestive bacterial balance which bring relief to stomach ulcer symptoms and gastritis
• wound care by assisting the natural healing of skin ulcers, diabetic ulcers, wounds, burns, boils, cracked skin, pressure sores, MRSA, eczema, dermatitis
• soothing throats
• oral hygiene.


The non-peroxide actibacterial activity denoted by the trademark UMF is a phytochemical activity meaning it is a floral derived activity coming from the nectar of some manuka flowers. For this reason it is in only some specific strains of manuka honey.
The hydrogen peroxide antibacterial activity is from the enzyme glucose oxidase which the bees have added to the honey.