Honey is one of the most praised substances in mythology and historically one of the first antimicrobials to be used in natural medicine. But the quality of the product will always depend on the source. Manuka honey comes from a particular type of nectar produced by Manuka trees, a small tree or bush that grows in New Zealand and eastern Australia.

But, is there anything special about New Zealand Manuka Honey?

Harvesting for Manuka Honey

If you want to produce Manuka honey, the first thing to do is moving to New Zealand. Next, you need to locate areas full of Manuka trees and analyze them carefully. Manuka honey beekeepers move their hives to forest area populated with Manuka trees. Otherwise, bees would contaminate the final product by foraging on different types of nectar.

Another smart move is to predict the flowering season of Manuka trees to move the hives to the right location at the exact moment. But, why bothering? Is there anything special about this type of honey?

Interesting facts about Manuka honey

The reason why beekeepers make so many efforts to reach a 100% pure Manuka honey is that this type of honey has one of the highest concentrations of a special nutrient called Methylglyoxal (MGO or MG).

Besides MGO, people look for Manuka Honey for its multiple health benefits and its amazing nutritional profile. This variant contains 4-fold the nutrients regular honey has. It includes B vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and various amino acids.

Manuka Honey for health

As the levels of MGO increase in Manuka Honey, the antibacterial and antiviral effects increase exponentially. Manuka Honey contains 1000-fold higher levels of MGO compared to non-Manuka variants. Moreover, various studies have reported a very efficient bactericidal effect, and there are hundreds of testimonials about patients with burns, ulcers, and even eczema, who improved with Manuka honey.

The antimicrobial activity in this type of honey is also useful in dentistry. People suffering from gingivitis may reduce their gum bleeding and even decrease plaque formation by eating Manuka honey regularly. The calcium and phosphorus contents are also essential to maintain proper tooth health.

As many other honey variants, Manuka is also suitable for a sore throat. However, it is an excellent modulator of the immune system, and it will improve allergic rhinitis, seasonal allergies, and similar health problems.

Finally, we cannot talk about honey and forget the applications in cosmetics and the beauty industry. Manuka honey is known to improve the texture of the skin, and it is used as a shampoo to make your hair shine brighter.

Using Manuka honey depends on the health applications you need the most. A teaspoon or two every day will be great for a sore throat, and if you are going to use it in infected wounds, it should be covered for 20 minutes and then rinsed with abundant water. Use with precaution in people with allergies and consult your doctor before using it as a rem