Man has known about the positive properties of bee products for a very long time, but manuka honey is a particularly useful remedy. It is able to maintain its healing qualities for a long time, therefore it is often found on drugstore shelves and in catalogs of cosmetic companies. The article describes the characteristics and composition of manuka honey, describes its benefits and harms for the body, as well as methods of application and storage rules for this product.

What is manuka honey?

In New Zealand, a tea tree grows - a tree-like shrub of Manuka (Leptospermum Scoparium). New Zealand bees collect nectar from its white or pink flowers and transport it to the hives, where they add glucose oxidase enzyme to it.

This substance helps the product to be stored for a long period of time and not ferment. As a result of such a chain of actions, honey is obtained from manuka, which is capable of entering into a chemical reaction with biological fluids and emit hydrogen peroxide.

Product Feature Below:

1. The melliferous flowering period lasts from September to the end of February. At this time, the bees collect nectar from the flowers of the bush.
2. Manuka shrub grows only on mountain slopes and in lowlands, as well as on the banks of mountain rivers, therefore it is considered an environmentally friendly product.
3. Only 120 tons of this product are produced per year. Such low productivity is due to the fact that the area of ​​honey plant growth is very small.
4. It is a viscous substance of light yellow or brown color. It slowly crystallizes during storage and turns into a puree mass. At subzero temperatures, the substance hardens.
5. The taste of the product is sweet and refreshing, no bitterness. There is a strong specific aroma.

Did you know? The word "honey" has Jewish roots and literally means "magic spell."

Chemical and vitamin composition

In 1980, the chemical composition and properties of manuka honey were studied by professor of biochemistry Peter Molan from New Zealand. He noted that the product retains all its beneficial properties even after hydrogen peroxide is artificially removed from it. The reason for this fact was established in 2008, when the substance methylglyoxal (MGO) was found in the composition of the product.

It has powerful antimicrobial properties, because after penetration into an diseased cell, the body produces hydrogen peroxide and removes fluid from there. As a result, pathogenic bacteria die.

50% of manuka honey consists of tea tree pollen, and the composition of the remaining 50% depends on numerous external factors and the area in which the nectar was collected.

The chemical composition of the agent is described below:

• sugar (glucose, fructose, maltose, sucrose) - 80.5%;
• water - 16.2%;
• vitamins and beneficial acids (B, E, K, H, PP, folic and ascorbic acids) - 1.3%;
• enzymes, proteins, antioxidants and amino acids - 1%;
• minerals (iodine, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, copper, phosphorus, manganese, aluminum, etc.) - 1%.

Did you know? In ancient Rome, it was possible to pay a tax or a fine not only with money, but also with honey.

What properties does

Manuka honey is characterized in that it has very strong antibacterial properties. The specified product suppresses the vital activity of harmful bacteria and effectively removes toxins from the body, contributing to a speedy recovery. But in some cases, the tool can harm the body, so before using it, you must consult your doctor.

Useful and healing properties

A feature of the product is that it treats many internal and external diseases, and is also an effective means for their prevention. Due to its pronounced antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiseptic properties, manuka honey has a positive effect on the human body and is used in medicine.

• Indications for use of the drug in question are listed below:
• diseases of the oral cavity (tonsillitis, gum disease, runny nose);
• digestive system disorders (belching, diarrhea, constipation, increased intestinal irritability);
• diseases of the stomach (gastritis, ulcer, pain cramps);
• dermatological diseases (rash, acne, dermatitis, eczema, skin ulcers and pressure sores);
• mechanical damage to the skin (scratches and wounds, burns, insect bites, frostbite);
• fungal infections;
• overwork and depression;
• bacterial and parasitic diseases (streptococcus, staphylococcus, worms);
• arthritis and joint pain;
• viral diseases (SARS, herpes);
• oncological diseases and premature aging of the body;
• weakened immunity and depressed state of the body.

Important! In the presence of the listed diseases, manuka honey can be used for treatment only as an adjuvant after prior consultation with a doctor.

Contraindications and harm

Despite the long list of positive qualities, in some cases it is impossible to use manuka honey.

• First of all, the described product is contraindicated for people in the presence of such factors:
• a tendency to food allergies - any honey can cause a powerful allergic reaction in the body;
• individual intolerance - the composition of the product includes flower pollen and other biologically active compounds that can cause an asthma attack;
• diabetes mellitus - the product contains glucose, so its use can lead to sharp jumps in blood sugar;
• children's age up to 1 year - in infants, the risk of food allergies is especially high, so you need to introduce this tool into the diet of children gradually and only after they reach the age of 1 year.

Preliminary consultation with a doctor is necessary in such cases:

• pregnancy and lactation in women - the drug can cause allergies in the child;
• obesity - the product contains a lot of carbohydrates, so even when it is consumed in minimal doses, you need to consult a nutritionist and recalculate the energy value of your diet;
• children under 3 years old - when using the product in children, a food allergy may occur, so the dosage should be definitely discussed with the pediatrician.

Recommendations for use

Manuka honey can have a powerful healing effect on the body, but only if they are not abused and know how to take it. The described product is suitable for internal and external use, therefore, it can be used both in cooking and in cosmetology.

Important! The daily allowable dose of manuka honey for an adult is 3 tsp. in a day.

In cooking

Due to its rich and sweet taste, manuka honey is often used as a food for the treatment and prevention of diseases, as well as for the general strengthening of immunity.

The main recommendations for the use of this tool in cooking are listed below:

• you can eat pure manuka honeyslowly dissolving a teaspoon of the product in the mouth until completely dissolved - this strengthens the immune system, and also helps to treat diseases of the oral cavity and throat;
• when adding funds to tea, water or milk the liquid should be warm, but not hot - at high temperature the product loses its beneficial properties;
• if the product has crystallized, it is not recommended to melt it using heat treatment - the tool will lose most of its useful qualities. To soften, just hold it a little in a squeezed warm palm;

  
• you can mix manuka honey with turmeric, forming small balls from these ingredients - such a treat helps in the treatment of diseases of the digestive system;
• the product is often mixed with raspberry jam - such a tool effectively fights colds and well strengthens the immune system;
• you can combine it with whole grain bread - get a tasty and healthy treat for morning tea or coffee;
• Manuka honey is added to milk porridges, yogurts and puddings - the resulting dish has a sweet rich taste and is very useful for immunity.

Did you know? One of the oldest vessels with honey is an amphora found in the tomb of Tutankhomon. Taste and useful qualities of this product have not changed for many centuries.

In cosmetology

The rich vitamin composition allows you to use the described product for the preparation of various cosmetics that have a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin and hair.

The main recommendations for using this tool in cosmetology are listed below:

• for facial rejuvenation honey is diluted with a small amount of water until a moderately viscous substance is obtained and applied in a thin layer on the surface of the face;
• Manuka honey can be used for the preparation of moisturizers and lotions - just add a little water to the product so that it becomes more liquid, and rub it into the skin;
• you can dissolve a small amount of the product in warm water and use the resulting solution for daily washing - this will help get rid of blackheads on the skin and smooth out facial wrinkles;
• for the treatment of cracks and wounds on the surface of the skin you need to apply a small amount of the product on a layer of gauze and apply to the damaged area in the form of a compress;
• to combat dermatological diseases You can mix manuka honey with olive oil and beeswax, applying the resulting ointment to the affected areas of the skin.

Honey quality indicator

For manuka honey, a special quality scale has been developed based on the unique manuka factor (UMF). It displays the level of methylglyoxal in the product, therefore, how actively the product affects the human body depends on the value of the UMF index. Each batch has a different level of methylglyoxal content, so before buying, you need to pay attention to the data indicated on the label.

Important! The higher the UMF, the more expensive is the honey from manuka, so you need to decide when buying, for what purpose it will be used.

A description of the activity of honey from manuka depending on the UMF is presented below:

• UMF 5+ - neutral activity, the product tastes good, but its beneficial properties for humans are zero;
• UMF 10+ - average activity, the beneficial effect of such honey on the body is minimal, but it can be used to combat insomnia and to effectively strengthen the immune system;
• UMF 15+ - high activity, such a tool can be used to quickly treat inflammatory processes in the oral cavity, gastritis, dermatological diseases, as well as during colds;
• UMF 20+ - higher activity, the product has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect on the body and can be used to heal small wounds, treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, fungal and bacterial infections;
• UMF 25+ - superactivity, such honey brings maximum benefits to the body, quickly kills harmful bacteria, is used to quickly heal surgical wounds and treat stomach ulcers.

Learn about the properties of other honey varieties:

Basic storage rules

A manuka product may lose its beneficial properties under prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or improper storage conditions.

The following are the basic rules that allow you to permanently preserve its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties:

• storage containers must have dark walls - they protect the product from the harmful effects of sunlight;
• the product is recommended to be stored only in glass containers - it is considered the most environmentally friendly, does not transmit honey odors and an undesirable aftertaste;
• the air temperature in the storage room should be from +4 to + 15 ° С - in a too cold room, honey hardens, and at a higher air temperature it can ferment;
• it is recommended that the humidity in the storage be maintained at 60%, so that the product does not become damp, but also does not dry out.

Manuka honey is an environmentally friendly product that has a unique composition, which is why it is often used in medicine and cosmetology. Having studied the beneficial properties of manuka honey listed in the article and following the recommendations for its use, you can enrich your body with all the necessary vitamins and improve your health.