| For centuries, honey has been used as an effective | | | | Inflammation, swelling and pain are rapidly reduced, |
| treatment for wounds, burns and ulcers. In recent | | | | unpleasant odors are eliminated, debridement is |
| years there has been renewed interest in the | | | | enhanced as the honey dressings remove dead |
| medicinal properties of honey because of the | | | | tissue painlessly and without causing damage to the |
| identification of strong antibacterial properties. There | | | | re-growing skin cells. Therefore, Manuka Honey |
| are many features in the composition of honey that | | | | promotes rapid healing with minimal scarring. |
| create its antibacterial properties. Honey is a | | | | Additionally, it has also be used as a first aid |
| saturated solution of sugars that has strong | | | | treatment for burns because of its potent |
| interaction with water molecules. | | | | anti-inflammatory activity. |
| When honey is diluted by wound fluids, hydrogen | | | | "For the treatment of infected wounds, it is |
| peroxide is produced in a slow release manner by the | | | | important that a sterilized, laboratory-tested honey |
| enzyme, glucose oxidase. Indigenous to New Zealand, | | | | for medicinal purposes is used, not the regular honey |
| the honey from Manuka trees (also known as | | | | that's used as a food item, says Frank Buonanotte, |
| Leptospermum scoparium) has been found to have | | | | CEO of Honeymark International which is a |
| the highest levels of antibacterial phytochemical. This | | | | manufacturer of health care products containing |
| type of honey has become known as Manuka Honey. | | | | Active Manuka Honey as a healing agent. Honey |
| In addition to its antimicrobial properties, it also | | | | produced from the flowers of Manuka trees is |
| appears to stimulate lymphocytic and phagocytic | | | | tested for antibacterial activity and given a potency |
| activity. These are key body immune responses in | | | | rating called the Unique Manuka Factor or UMF. The |
| the battle against infection. | | | | higher the UMF rating, the greater the level of |
| In most cases, Manuka Honey is used when | | | | antibacterial activity. Honeymark uses Active Manuka |
| conventional antibacterial treatment with antibiotics | | | | Honey with a rating of UMF 10 or higher in their |
| and antiseptics are ineffective. Such cases include | | | | health care products, says Buonanotte. UMF graded |
| staph infections, MRSA and VRE. Numerous studies | | | | honey is also sterilized by gamma irradiation without |
| have shown that these difficult-to-heal wounds | | | | loss of any antibacterial activity. |
| respond well to Manuka Honey dressings. | | | | |