The health benefits of manuka honey are still being researched to this day. The honey comes from New Zealand where it is collected from the manuka tree.
Honey has healing properties and manuka’s special ingredients can be attributed to the tree itself.
Manuka tree
Leptospermum Scoparium, manuka or tea tree is found in New Zealand and Australia. So what is the tree known for?
The manuka tree is known for its healing properties. There are various oils made from the tree which use a distillation method which follows old traditions of the Maori people.
Various forms of manuka have been used for urinary problems. The plant was also used in the treatment of fevers. Other manuka oils were used for skin and joint inflammation.
Some people even used to chew the leaves which are said to have a positive and relaxing effect on the gums. Other people use to swallow the leaves to get rid of internal bacteria and digestive problems.
Manuka honey
This brings us to the content of manuka honey. It has been discovered that the honey comes with a high level of hydrogen peroxide, which is known for its antibacterial properties.
So even centuries ago, the local people were right about treating digestive problems with the leaves of the manuka tree.
Hydrogen peroxide is also well known to women or to people in the beauty industry. This is why honey is used to detoxify the face in various spas.
Most people use a mix of honey with warm water to see the most skin benefits. The beauty industry also uses honey to treat feet skin conditions in a similar mixture.
Since the local people where using manuka for the treating of the fever, scientists actually found similar uses for the high hydrogen peroxide found in the honey.
Some specialists recommend using a mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide as a nasal spray to cure and sinus problems you might have during wintertime.
Manuka Honey Benefits
Much as centuries ago when people use to chew manuka leaves, hydrogen peroxide is used in the production of mouthwash solutions.
Since chewing can take longer it would be advisable to clean your mouth for a few minutes if you want to use pure hydrogen peroxide.
But manuka honey was also used to clean wounds and heal inflammations. This is why so many conditions can be improved with the use of hydrogen peroxide. But years ago, people would use either honey or even the leaves from the manuka tree to treat these skin conditions.
The bleaching properties of hydrogen peroxide also recommend it for uses in hair products or other oral hygiene products such as toothpaste.
There are also other types of antibacterial agents in manuka honey. Some of them can also be found in regular honey but most in smaller percentages. This really gives manuka the edge when it comes to antibacterial qualities.
Manuka honey has also been used in the prevention and treatment of other conditions such as high cholesterol. High cholesterol levels can be present in men and together with diabetes can benefit from the consumption of manuka honey.
Diabetes is considered by many studies to be the result of improper diets, nutrition or stress. There are also many other unknown causes of diabetes but it seems that many professionals are starting to recommend manuka honey in the list of foods allowed for diabetics.
But not only is the product allowed for consumption as it may be linked to lowering your glycemic index.
Some types of infections can also benefit from the use of manuka honey extracts. Eye and Sinus infections have been treated with such extracts while ear infections.
One of the most interesting facts about manuka honey is its natural antibacterial properties. It seems that while regular antibiotics can develop resistant bacteria, manuka treatments are safer to use.
Possible Side Effects
Although it seems manuka honey has wide uses, some proven, other unproven, we still need to see how a high use of it can cause some discomfort.
Most people should not worry about the effects as they might apply to a small percentage of the population.
But it is still advisable to know what you can about the honey, especially if you want to use it long-term to treat some conditions.
Some people with allergies might need to stay away from manuka honey. Bee allergies might be discovered or unknown.
Some common symptoms include face swelling, itchiness or irritation. If one of these conditions appears after you use the honey you should consult a specialist to determine the root cause of the problem.
In some cases, it may not be a bee reaction but it is well worth researching.
Then there is the risk of unhealthy sugar levels in the blood. While many specialists recommend using the honey in the treatments of diabetes there is little proof of its efficiency.
Together with your own doctor, you should establish what foods you can and can`t eat. If you decide to include manuka honey into your diet it’s still well worth researching the results.
After a few weeks of consumption, you should check your glycemic index to see if the honey has a negative impact on you.
There are also voices saying manuka honey might be the cause of some reactions with chemotherapy treatments.
If you are currently undergoing chemotherapy you should keep eyes on the reaction whey eating honey.
As you can see there are many health benefits associated with manuka honey. There are many studies to be made on this type of honey still, which makes it an interesting healthy food source to discover.
There are also some possible side effects and you should be aware of them especially if you plan to use the honey in the long term.
It must be said that negative reactions can occur even if you don`t eat the honey, especially if you are allergic to bees and try a beauty treatment mask.
But for most people, manuka honey is a versatile source for many conditions as it also fights bacteria.
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