Honey, the Ultimate Natural Antibacterial Agent

Honeymark, a manufacturer of skin care products, uses honey as a main ingredient because of its ability to kill bacteria and other infectious microbes.

Most people think of honey as merely a food item. However, honey is gaining its well-deserved notoriety as a medicinal ingredient because of its powerful antibacterial properties. There are four main characteristics of honey that are responsible for its ability to kill bacteria: Osmolarity, acidity, hydrogen peroxide and floral nectar.

Honey is a supersaturated solution of sugar that is high in osmolarity. It is this osmolarity that allows honey to destroy bacteria and fungus by drawing moisture for their cells. Fungal and bacterial cells require moisture to survive. Therefore, honey destroys bacteria and fungi by dehydration.

In addition to honey's osmotic effect, its acidity plays an important role in its antibacterial activity. Honey contains a number of acids, including amino acids and organic acids. Honey has a pH between 3.2 and 4.5 which inhibits the growth of bacteria. The optimum pH for growth of these species normally falls between 7.2 and 7.4.

The hydrogen peroxide producing capacity of honey is believed to be the main reason for its antibacterial activity. Hydrogen peroxide kills bacteria on contact and has been widely used for that very purpose. However, straight hydrogen peroxide is unstable and rapidly loses its effectiveness when exposed to air and light. It can also damage tissue when used in high concentrations. However, honey produces low levels of hydrogen peroxide over a prolonged period of time. This slow-release capability makes honey particularly ideal for treating infected wounds.

The variation of honey's antibacterial properties are predicated on the floral source, more specifically, the nectar used by the honeybees that produce the honey. Some types of honey contain more antibacterial properties than others. It has been determined that Manuka Honey from New Zealand has the highest amount of antibacterial properties than any other type of honey. Manuka Honey is made by bees that gather nectar from the flowers that grow on the Manuka tree which can be found predominately in New Zealand and certain parts of Australia. It is believed that the floral components of Manuka Honey enhance the other antimicrobial properties that are present, creating a synergistic action that is optimal for therapeutic use.

In addition to Manuka Honey's antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, it has been determined that it stimulates B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes to multiply which boosts the body's immune system. Manuka Honey also contains anti-inflammatory properties which can help reduce pain when used topically on the skin. Manuka Honey is also rich in vitamins, antioxidants and amino acids.

Manuka Honey has a miraculous way of repairing damaged skin and regenerating new skin growth which is why it is an excellent natural ingredient to use in skin care products. A company called Honeymark has developed a line of skin care products that contain Manuka Honey as a natural healing agent. Honeymark's line includes the following products:

• Acne Cream
  
  
• Anti-Fungal Solution
  
  
• Anti-Itch Cream
  
  
• Antiseptic Spray
  
  
• Anti-Wrinkle Serum
  
  
• First Aid Antiseptic Lotion
  
  
• Hand Sanitizing Gel
  
  
• Liquid Hand Soap
  
  
• Pain Relief Cream
  
  

Blended with other useful ingredients, Honeymark products take the sticky mess out of applying honey directly to the skin. Honeymark also sells pure Manuka Honey for individuals who are interested in taking advantage of its internal uses. When taken orally, Manuka Honey is effective in treating conditions such as stomach aches, stomach ulcers, soar throats, steph throat, acid reflux disease, gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, cold and flu symptoms, etc.

"Manuka Honey has far more impressive healing qualities than any other type of honey," says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International. "Honey was used for medicinal purposes for many years before modern-day medicines were invented. With growing concerns of the negative side effects associated with the use of pharmaceuticals along with the ineffectiveness of antibiotics against certain drug-resistant strains of infectious bacteria, honey is slowing finding its way back into the favor of medical professionals around the world."

For more information or to purchase Manuka Honey products, call 1-866-427-7329 or visit www.HoneymarkProducts.com.

The Unique Manuka Factor (UMF)

Manuka Honey is a special type of honey that has been found to have extraordinary healing properties and is now being used as a main ingredient in health care products because of its natural antibacterial activity.

Researchers have discovered that Manuka honey is a superior and effective treatment for wound infections. Studies have shown that all varieties of honey have some levels of antibacterial activity, primarily due to the presence of hydrogen peroxide. However, Manuka Honey has a much higher level of activity, up to 30 times greater than that of other types of honey. The studies have shown that Manuka Honey contains an additional antibacterial component found only in honey produced from the nectar that bees gather from the flowers that grow on the Manuka bush which is indigenous to New Zealand and some parts of Australia. This other antibacterial component has become know as the Unique Manuka Factor or UMF.

There are several components that explain the antibacterial activity found in Manuka Honey. The high sugar content of Manuka Honey creates an environment in which there are very few water molecules, making it difficult for microorganisms to grow. In addition, the low pH level of Manuka Honey inhibits the growth of pathogens. During the developmental stage, bees add enzymes to the nectar to form honey. One byproduct of this enzyme is hydrogen peroxide. When Manuka Honey is diluted by wound or other bodily fluids, the enzyme activity increases, creating a slow release antiseptic that is antibacterial but does not cause tissue damage like other forms of hydrogen peroxide. The Unique Manuka Factor is an antimicrobial component that is somewhat of a phenomenon, creating an environment impossible for bacteria and other microbes to survive.

The fact that other types of honey do not posses this extra UMF compound is what makes Manuka Honey different in terms of its ability to heal. The antibacterial properties in standard honey can be rapidly destroyed if exposed to certain conditions such as heat or light. However the UMF activity in Manuka Honey does not break down, resulting in the antibacterial activity remaining intact and unaffected. It is also important to know that not all Manuka Honey is considered to be active or have healing properties. It is believed that only Manuka Honey with a UMF rating of 10 or higher is suitable for medical use. The higher the UMF rating, the higher its antibacterial activity.

Manuka Honey's ability to heal is so powerful that it has even been found to be effective in treating antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria such as MRSA and VRE. These new developments are taking the medical industry by storm as a need for alternative solutions to these life-threatening, hard-to-kill bacteria threaten our schools, hospitals and communities.

"Wound dressings made with Manuka Honey are a viable alternative to traditional forms of medicine when treating Staph infections," says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International, a manufacturer of health care products containing Active UMF Manuka Honey as a healing agent. "Our First Aid Antiseptic Lotion has been effective in treating MRSA when other products, including antibiotics, have failed."

For more information or to purchase Manuka Honey products, call 1-866-427-7329 or visit www.HoneymarkProducts.com.