Honey is well known for its extensive health benefits, but scientists have recently discovered a new type of honey. This obscure type of honey is found in Australia. Scientists have come to the conclusion that it kills off almost everything they can throw at it, including some of the worst bacteria known to man.
The honey is referred to as Manuka Honey. It is created by bees foraging on the nectar of Leptospermum Scoparium, the New Zealand Manuka Bush, as well as tea trees native only to Australia and New Zealand. Australian researchers reported that it killed every type of bacteria and pathogen they tested it on.
The honey can be applied topically to help fight against infections of the skin, cuts, and insect bites, or taken internally. Susan M. Meschwitz, Ph.D., explains that it uses an osmosis effect to fight bacteria. It fights bacteria on different levels which make it harder for the bacteria to fight back. The osmosis effect is due to the high concentration of sugar content. It works by drawing water from the bacteria cell causing it to dehydrate and die. One of the most exciting discoveries of the honey is that no matter how many times one bacteria was tested, it never grew an immunity. This is one of the leading issues with today’s antibiotics.
You can find the Manuka honey in local health stores, and online. Supply levels have fluctuated in recent years and fake honey scams have been documented. When looking for Manuka Honey it is best to look for one that is UMF certified. UMF stands for Unique Manuka Factor, which is the phytochemical property derived from the manuka bushes. A handful of UMF certified honey can be found on amazon.com.