Used throughout the world and in all civilizations, honey is a food that is full of health benefits. While it is certain that honey has always been used by men for the incredible therapeutic virtues it possesses, it is only recently that researchers have begun to examine more closely its various powers, such as its energy, healing, antiseptic or antioxidant properties.
Among the different types of honeys that exist and whose virtues vary depending on the flowers that bees have foraged, Manuka honey, which is produced mainly by bees from Manuka, a shrub endemic to Australia and New Zealand , seems to have particularly caught the attention of researchers.
Manuka honey, an extremely powerful natural antibiotic
According to a study conducted on the properties of Manuka honey and published in 2010 in the European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, it possesses immense antibacterial properties.
In this study, researchers tested the effect of Manuka honey on a range of bacteria and were surprised to find that it was able to kill them all without exception, and among them, the most resistant bacteria antibiotics. This exceptional honey has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties up to 100 times more potent than those usually attributed to other honeys.
Manuka honey has thus neutralized a particularly pathogenic strain of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, mainly responsible for serious and potentially fatal infections.
It is only recently that the exact constituent that gives Manuka honey its antibacterial power has been discovered. In 2008, Professor Thomas Henle from the Technical University of Dresden, Germany, discovered dihydroxyacetone, the active compound that gives honey its antibacterial action.
The reason why Manuka honey is said to have such a high level of antibacterial agents could be that this shrub grows in arid and very sunny areas, and is therefore very robust enough to resist such conditions.
Some other benefits of Manuka honey
- It helps fight against gastrointestinal disorders by protecting the intestinal flora and treating irritations of the colon.
- It strengthens the immune system and helps fight against respiratory diseases. For example, it helps fight fatigue, headaches and has been effective in treating sore throats and many respiratory problems such as chronic cough and bronchitis, pneumonia or asthma.
- It improves oral health. Because of its antimicrobial action, Manuka honey prevents the formation of dental plaque. It also treats the gums by decreasing bleeding and contains active ingredients that help keep teeth healthy and white.
- It helps healing minor injuries. Manuka honey, with its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, improves the healing of wounds or burns when spread over and when consumed.
- It helps to have a beautiful skin. Applied to the skin like a mask, Manuka honey is the ideal remedy for reducing acne and pimple scars.
- It is a cure for sleep disorders. A spoon of honey tasted shortly before bedtime allows the body to release glycogen, an essential substance for the proper functioning of the body when sleeping and promotes a deep and restful sleep.
