Benefits of Honey

What are the benefits of honey

As hipster culture permeates every wellness thing out there, people all over the country (many of whom aren’t even sure what makes it unique) have become obsessed. At $30 and up per bottle, it’s been lauded as everything from a skin treatment miracle to a cancer deterrent. Perhaps the wildest thing about Manuka honey besides its price is that unlike other passing health fads, this one actually has old-school science to back up its reputation as liquid gold. Here’s the deal with everything you want to know about the benefits of Manuka h

 How is Manuka honey different than regular honey? Manuka honey hails from the Southern Hemisphere, specifically from New Zealand and Australia. It’s created by bees that collect nectar from the flowers of the Leptospermum scoparium tree, also known as the tea tree. Sumerian tablets dating back to 2100 B.C. make reference to the medicinal uses of honey for wound care. All honey contains hydrogen peroxide which has long been used as a disinfectant, fighting off harmful bacteria including E. coli, staph, and even MRSA — a particularly nasty antibiotic resistant bacteria that can lead to blood infections, pneumonia, and even sepsis. What differentiates Manuka honey, though, from your average honey-in-a-bear-bottle is that it contains a

significantly larger amount of an organic compound called methylgloxal (MGO), which is known for its unique antibacterial effects. The honey is also believed to have antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant benefits. Okay but it’s 4,000 years later. Is Manuka honey seriously still a wound care treatment? A 2018 study showed that the MGO present in Manuka honey acts as an additional antibacterial agent when used for skin healing. Its viscosity also creates a thicker barrier between the wound and the external environment as well as preventing tissue damage by reducing inflammation and increasing oxygenation. There’s also evidence that using Manuka honey can be effective in treating burns, healing skin ulcers, and preventing scars. It was approved as a wound treatment by the FDA in 2014, so the stuff has indeed endured. In 2019, you can buy a sprawling array of over-the-counter 


Mwound gels, creams, and patches everywhere from your local naturopath to Target. What if my skin isn’t injured, just irritated or acne-riddled? Manuka honey has become a key ingredient in skin products claiming to offer relief from conditions like acne, rosacea, and eczema in addition to acting as a basic skin moisturizer. The claims of the curative powers of Manuka honey for troubled skin are no joke, says Dr. Natalie Yin, an assistant professor of dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center. “Manuka honey can have many beneficial effects on the skin,” Yin adds. “Firstly, it can act as an 

antibacterial agent to fight and destroy bacteria. Its anti-inflammatory 
properties can also help to decrease inflammation and redness in the skin. Together, these properties make it useful as a natural, adjuvant treatment for both acne and wounds. Furthermore, Manuka honey is great for hydration and moisturization.”