Honey is known for its delicious sweet taste and its many health benefits. However, there is one type of honey that stands out from the rest and that is Manuka honey.

Manuka honey is a unique type of honey, and ounce for ounce it is much more potent than "regular" honey. In fact, a scientific study found that this honey can kill a wide range of wound pathogens, including those with high levels of innate or acquired antibiotic resistance.

This means that this honey could kill more bacteria than the available antibiotics.

In this article, we will discuss the many health benefits and uses of Manuka honey and why it is so special.

What is Manuka honey and how is it produced?

Manuka honey is produced in New Zealand, where the Manuka bush grows uncultivated. The Manuka shrub is part of the Leptospermum shrub species. Honey is produced when bees pollinate the flowers on the Manuka bush

The reason why Manuka honey is unique is because the bush contains strong antibacterial compounds that are mainly found in Leptospermum plants.

Components of Manuka honey

There are two main components of Manuka honey that give it many health benefits:

· Hydrogen peroxide, a natural antibiotic found in all honey.

· Methylglyoxal (MG). A powerful antibiotic compound found in large amounts in Manuka honey.

It is the compound of methylglyoxal (MG) that differentiates Manuka honey from other types of honey. Other types of honey contain some GM but in much lower amounts. Hydrogen peroxide in honey is not very stable and breaks down easily when exposed to light and heat.

MG, on the other hand, is much more stable and does not lose its antibacterial properties.

To know the percentage of MG in this honey and, therefore, to know its concentration of healing properties, two laboratories in New Zealand carry out independent tests. They establish what is known as the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF).

What is Unique Manuka Factor (UMF)

The UMF stands for the antibacterial strength of Manuka honey and is directly related to the amount of MG in the honey, not hydrogen peroxide.

To get the health benefits of this honey, you should look for a UMF rating of at least 10+. However, for the best medicinal benefits, you should buy Manuka honey with a UMF of at least 16+.

At this point, it is worth noting that some honey is sold as Manuka honey, but it only contains a small amount of GM. Therefore, make sure to buy this honey that is UMF branded with the UMF factor.

Also, to be classified as Manuka honey, it has to come from New Zealand.

What is MGO

Sometimes you can see the term MGO used instead of UMF. The MGO rating also indicates the amount of methylglyoxal in honey. Therefore, the higher the MGO rating, the more antibacterial properties are found in honey. An MGO rating of 100+ is equivalent to UMF 5+ and MGO 550+ is equal to UMF 15+.

Manuka Honey Uses and Health Benefits

Let's take a look at the many uses and health benefits of Manuka honey and how it can be used as a natural treatment for many ailments.

1. Manuka honey has strong antibacterial properties

Honey has been used since ancient times as a topical treatment for wounds and other skin infections.

Scientific research on the healing properties of Manuka honey has established that it is certainly a powerful antibacterial agent.