I scalded my hand the other day, and to make matters worse I was wearing gloves... Someone jogged me, the hot water spilled onto my hand and I couldn’t get the glove off quickly enough. By the time I took off my glove the skin had blistered under the heat. Then, I should have covered the wound with a clean cloth but failure to do so meant it became infected.
Why do I tell you this sorry tale? Well, there is a happy ending. After cleaning the wound I applied some manuka honey, well known for its powerful antibacterial properties. It sealed the wound perfectly, and when I applied some more the next day I could feel it working, cleaning away any left over disease.
Hospitals are using manuka honey to heal wounds after surgery, it’s that effective, and while a Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) of 15+ is recommended for acute infections, the milder 10+ antiseptic manuka will do a good job (the number is the equivalent to the potency of a chemical antiseptic). What’s more manuka honey is completely natural.
People with digestive problems often testify to how eating manuka with just UMF 5+ kills off the bacteria that causes them pain. Researchers report excellent results in using manuka to defeat MRSA, and it is useful for eczema, acne and sunburn; scientists are even looking into its possible benefits with food poisoning. However there are imitations of the real thing so make sure you don’t go paying a lot of money for nothing.
Another benefit of manuka is with oral health and gum disease. For this purpose manuka is often diluted and gargled because it defeats some of the bacteria which produce acid and thereby plaque. Honey New Zealand have developed a throat spray with a power of 20+ which fights infections using a mixture of manuka and propolis.
Propolis itself is another product which helps to produce white blood cells and can be bought in liquid form alone. Studies continue in order to clarify the properties of Propolis and the potential treatment of eczema, asthma, arthritis and immune disorders.
