Manuka honey, made by bees that feed on manuka bushes, is most commonly exported from New Zealand. Honey has long been a folk treatment for a variety of conditions and is now being used to treat conditions such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Treating Superficial Wounds
Manuka honey can be used to treat superficial wounds such as minor cuts or burns. The honey has antibacterial properties that help prevent infection that can slow healing, according to Prevention magazine. Manuka honey is usually applied directly to the cleaned wound and covered with a bandage. Bandages impregnated with manuka honey are also available.
Healing Deep Wounds
Deep wounds include bedsores and diabetic ulcers. These wounds can be extremely hard to heal and may at times even involve underlying bone. Manuka honey helps heal these wounds by killing bacteria without killing delicate new skin cells that are forming, and providing energy for healing. In 2007, manuka honey was approved in the United States and Canada for treating wounds, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Killing MRSA Bacteria
MRSA is a form of staph infection caused by staph bacteria that has become resistant to the antibiotic methicillin. Manuka honey kills MRSA bacteria in laboratory studies. More important, MRSA has shown no evidence of developing a resistance to manuka honey.
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