Healers have used honey in the treatment of injuries and ailments for generations. The Maori folk medicine healers used a particular type of honey made in New Zealand, Manuka honey, for centuries. Modern medical practices have recently observed the medicinal capabilities of this remarkable honey. It is helpful for skin conditions, wounds and internal ailments. Manuka honey's healing properties are confirmed by the approval in Australia as being of Theraputic Good (the equivalent of the approval of a drug by the FDA) and by the UK Health Ministry as the primary treatment for wound care.
Skin Conditions
The application of Manuka honey to skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and acne leads to improvement in these conditions. The active form of Manuka honey, as measured by its antibacterial activity, penetrates deeper into the site of infection to rid the skin of the bacteria responsible for these conditions. Within the body, the Manuka honey fights the infection that causes these skin eruptions. The enzymes of the body that inhibit the antibacterial action of normal honey do not stop the extra activity of the Manuka honey. Manuka honey can also be used to treat athlete's foot and ringworm infections because of its anti-fungal properties. These infections benefit from both external application and internal consumption of Manuka honey. The majority of research done on the health benefits of Manuka honey health was conducted at the University of Waikato in New Zealand by Dr. Peter Moran. He began his research over 20 years ago.
Wounds
Wound healing is one of the primary uses of Manuka honey in the medical industry. Properly administered, the honey has the ability to protect wounds from infection and promote healing of the wound site. The application of the honey between the bandage and the wound allows for changes of the bandage without disruption of the new skin growth as the wound site heals. The glucose content of the honey also supports the white blood cells that protect the site from the attack of bacteria. Internal consumption of Manuka honey helps to protect the body and wound from internal infection. The results of studies examining these results is noted by a complete bibliography of the wound healing work done at the University of Waikato Honey Research Unit directed by Dr. Moran.
Other Internal Applications
Many internal infections and conditions respond well to treatment with Manuka honey. Bacterial and fungal infections including yeast, MRSA and VRE respond to internal treatment with Manuka honey. The additional mechanism of fighting infections, similar to peroxide action, enables Manuka honey to fight the infections without having to worry about the enzymes in the body deactivating the effectiveness. Ulcers respond excellently to the internal consumption of Manuka as reported by Salem in the Bulletin of Islamic Medicine in 1981. His study of gastrointestinal ulcers showed a dramatic decrease in symptoms for the participants in the study.
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