Using Honey to Heal Infections

Honey has been used for centuries to treat various medical conditions, such as wounds, burns, skin ulcers and scrapes. Now researchers are discovering strong antimicrobial properties in a special type of honey made ​​by bees that gather nectar from a flower indigenous to New Zealand. This special honey called "Manuka Honey" and is now used as the main ingredient in various health care products on account of his amazing ability to heal.

Although honey has been used as a medicine thousands of years ago, has lost its popularity as a wound dressing when antibiotics were invented during World War II. However, new research is bringing this natural remedy back in the modern medical use, especially with the increase in Staph infections and findings of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.

Manuka Honey helps wounds in several ways. Its thickness provides a protective barrier around the wound. hydrogen peroxide, which contains the released slowly, killing bacteria that may exist in the wound. Manuka Honey also reduces inflammation and speeds up the growth of healthy tissue. It even makes wounds smell better. Scientists believe that this could be because when the bacteria in wounds eat the sugar in honey, they give off sweeter smelling gases. Patients who use honey for wounds in the early report that they experience less pain, leaking of wound fluid and scarring.

specific bacteria killing properties found in Manuka honey comes from nectar of flowers on the tea tree (Leptospermum) which grows wild in New Zealand. This antibacterial component has become known as the "Unique Manuka Factor" or more commonly known as UMF. Manuka Honey has been proven in clinical studies to destroy MRSA and heal staph infections where antibiotics have failed. It is gaining increased interest within the medical community as more cases of antibiotic-resistant bacteria plague our hospitals and communities. Manuka Honey has worked in very desperate cases where nothing else.

In order for Manuka honey, beekeepers set up hives close to tea trees so the bees will gather their nectar. Since the Manuka tree is indigenous to New Zealand and some parts of Australia, this special type of honey is becoming quite a commodity.

Studies to date have found no negative side effects to using Manuka honey for medical purposes, either internally or topically to the skin.