| Are there effective natural first aid remedies available | | | | the same, as a naturally occurring product, it does |
| for horses? Yes there are. | | | | come with natural variation. The UMF® trademark |
| UMF manuka honey - ever gaining in popularity for its | | | | is there for consumer protection for them to know |
| effectiveness on people - also makes a great natural | | | | they are getting honey that has been properly |
| first aid treatment for your horses. | | | | tested and measured for its antibacterial property. |
| Cuts, scratches, wounds, all things that horses tend | | | | After applying the honey to a wound on your horse, |
| to get from time to time. On humans there has been | | | | the best thing to do is place a dressing over top of it |
| a growing amount of research, university, clinical and | | | | (use as non-absorbent a dressing as possible - you |
| anecdotal, of how UMF® manuka honey is | | | | don't want to draw too much honey away from the |
| effective in treating infected wounds, making them | | | | wound). This is mostly to stop the horse, or another |
| sterile, and aiding healing. The same natural | | | | horse, from licking the honey off. But don't worry if |
| antibacterial properties it contains can also have a | | | | they do still end up licking it - unlike some other |
| positive impact on animals. | | | | products there are no chemicals or other things in it, |
| What is UMF® Manuka Honey? | | | | it is still just pure honey. |
| A unique honey from New Zealand that research | | | | You can make use of the jars of UMF® Manuka |
| shows has extra antibacterial properties. There are | | | | Honey that have a rating of 10+ or higher, although |
| now specialist sterilised versions of it aimed at | | | | there are also now options with this honey in |
| external wound use. Main attributes include providing | | | | sterilised form in tubes, specifically aimed at external |
| antibacterial barrier protection, a moist wound healing | | | | wound use, and potentially easier to apply. There are |
| environment, osmotic action resulting in odour control | | | | even ready made dressings with it too. |
| and reduction in wound fluid, and helping with growth | | | | The use of this particular type of honey for healing |
| of new tissue. | | | | wounds is supported by a growing amount of |
| There is unfortunately a downside to using honey - | | | | university and clinical trial research (focused on |
| it's sticky - but if you can deal with that minor | | | | humans but applicable to horses), that does make it |
| aspect, then this is a great natural remedy that | | | | an effective first aid remedy for cuts and wounds. |
| actually has some proper research supporting it". | | | | And there is growing anecdotal reports of people |
| It is important to remember not all manuka honey is | | | | successfully using it on animals. |