If you suffer from a fungal infection on your feet, such as athlete's foot, natural home remedies such as active manuka honey may be able to offer you a safe and effective complementary treatment. Manuka honey comes from New Zealand and has been the subject of much medical research in recent years. Consult with your health care provider before purchasing manuka honey in order to discern if it is right for you and your individual health needs.
Manuka Honey
Manuka honey comes from the native New Zealand plant called Leptospermum scoparium, which has been used in traditional Maori herbal medicine for a range of health problems, including coughs, colds, skin infections and scrofula. Manuka honey has become popular in recent years, as medical research has been done to explore the many wound-healing, antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-ulcer properties that set manuka apart from other honeys. Bandages and dressings that provide a layer of active manuka honey to wounds are now available in hospitals around the world.
Research
Though most of the focus on manuka honey has been on its antibacterial properties, some research shows it has anti-fungal properties that could benefit your foot fungus. According to the Waikato Honey Research Unit at The University of Waikato in New Zealand, manuka honey was found to be active against a range of fungi strains. In addition to actively inhibiting the pathogens, less manuka honey was needed in treating fungi such as tinea, the organism responsible for athlete's foot, than for open wounds. Researchers conclude that manuka honey was effective, but more research is needed to test the antifungal properties of manuka honey on human subjects.
Anti-inflammatory
Manuka honey may improve the symptoms of foot fungus, such as inflammation and itching, as well as resolve the underlying fungal infection. In a study published in "The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy" in 2007, researchers from the University of Wales tested the antioxidant potential of manuka honey. They found that manuka honey had significant antioxidant action compared to other honeys, possibly explaining its ability to reduce inflammation in chronic wounds.
Safety and Toxicity
Manuka honey is considered safe and nontoxic for the majority of the population, though some reports indicate that honey products should not be given to infants due to the risk of botulism, notes Drugs.com. If you have a known allergy to bees or bee stings, you should use honey products with caution as well. Purchase manuka honey products that have been labeled with a Unique Manuka Factor, or UMF, number, as this indicates the product has been independently tested for antibacterial and anti-fungal effectiveness.
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