Using Manuka Honey to Treat Wounds

Active Manuka Honey is a desirable healing agent for the purpose of treating wounds and infections. When using Manuka Honey for wound care, the amount of honey required depends on the amount of fluid exuding from the wound. The various beneficial effects of Manuka honey on wound tissues will be reduced or lost if small amounts of honey become diluted by large amounts of fluid. Likewise, the frequency of dressing changes required will depend on how rapidly the honey is being diluted by fluid.

Daily dressing changes are usual, but up to three times daily may be required. If the dressing sticks to the wound, this indicates that more frequent changes of dressing are required. Exudation of fluid should be reduced by the anti-inflammatory action of Manuka honey, so less frequent dressing changes may be needed later - a few days between changes. More honey is required on deeper infections, to obtain an effective level of antibacterial activity diffusing deep into the wound tissues.

A secondary dressing is needed to prevent honey from oozing out from the dressing. Waterproof dressings are better as they keep more of the honey in contact with the wound while absorbent dressings soak the honey away from the wound. Adhesive tape or bandages can be used to hold the dressings in place if an adhesive occlusive dressing is not used.

Pressure bandaging can be used over the Manuka honey dressing for varicose ulcers. Dressing pads impregnated with Manuka honey are a convenient way of applying honey to surface wounds. Otherwise, it is best to spread the honey on the dressing rather than directly on the wound. Abscesses, cavities and depressions in the wound bed should be filled with Manuka honey before applying the dressing, so that there is honey in contact with the wound bed. The Manuka honey dressing should be cut to a size that extends beyond the edges of the wound and any surrounding inflamed area.

Wound care products containing Manuka Honey are desirable as they are not as sticky as using pure Manuka Honey by itself.

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

Healing Wounds and other Health Conditions with Manuka Honey

Honey has been used for thousands of years to treat wounds, gastroenteritis and infections. Unfortunately, it was displaced from common usage by the advent of antibiotics in the 1940s. However, now that the widespread and rapidly increasing resistance of microbes to antibiotics has become a major global threat to health, there has been a renewed interest in the use of honey to treat infections.

It has been discovered that some honeys are better than others for treating infections. It was through scientific investigation that Manuka honey (from New Zealand) was discovered to have a unique antimicrobial component in addition to the enzymically produced hydrogen peroxide that is responsible for the antimicrobial activity of all honey. It has also been discovered that the unique antimicrobial activity of Manuka Honey is so powerful that it is effective against antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Unlike other topical antimicrobial agents used on wounds, Manuka honey does not slow the healing process by having adverse effects on the exposed wound tissue. This is considered to be a major advantage to using Manuka Honey for wound care. Clinical experience shows that active Manuka honey with high levels of this unique antibacterial activity gives rapid clearance of infection from heavily infected wounds that are not responding to other treatments, and gives rapid healing of chronic wounds.

There is also evidence showing that Manuka honey protects burns from becoming infected. Manuka Honey is now used prophylacticly on hospital patients that are at risk of acquiring infection through antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Manuka honey has a potent antibacterial action against MRSA, VRE, ESBL strains of various species, Acinetobacter baumannii, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and other species such as Pseudomonads and coagulase-negative Staphylococci that are difficult to control because of antibiotic resistance. The most common routes of infection for these bacteria, leading to fatal septicaemia in patients with a weakened immune system, are open wounds and where catheters are inserted into the body. Studies suggest the effectiveness of Manuka honey in preventing infection of catheter exit sites have given positive results.

In addition to rapidly clearing infection, Manuka honey has been demonstrated in clinical usage to have several other therapeutic actions that are of great benefit. It very rapidly causes pus and dead tissue to lift off messy wounds, so surgical debridement or the use of enzymes (which are generally too expensive to use) are not necessary to get a clean wound bed to allow healing to begin. It actively stimulates the healing process, so that rapid healing occurs and skin grafting is not necessary. It soothes inflammation and therefore decreases the exudation of serum from wounds, and decreases swelling and pain.

Manuka honey's anti-inflammatory action also hastens the healing process of wounds without the formation of a scar. This is because part of the inflammatory process is the stimulation of fibroblasts to produce scar tissue to repair the wound, and prolonged inflammation gives over-stimulation, so excessive amounts of scar tissue are produced.

One of the factors that has slowed the usage of Manuka honey in clinical practice has been the practical difficulty of handling a very sticky substance that, when it warms up to body temperature, becomes watery and runs off wounds. However, there are now products containing Manuka honey that are easy to apply to wounds. These are not only convenient to use but also increase the effectiveness of the Manuka honey on the wound. Because the water content of honey is strongly bound up with the sugar molecules, there is very little wetting of dressings applied to cover honey on a wound. Skin care products containing Manuka honey are showing good results when used on wounds, burns and dermatitis where the combination of the antibacterial activity with the moisturizing effect of Manuka honey on skin is beneficial.

Another use for Manuka honey is for the treatment of gastritis and peptic ulcers. Laboratory research has shown that the anti-inflammatory properties of Manuka honey are involved in its action, but its antibacterial action is also a factor, as the bacterium, Helicobacter pylori, is a major cause of gastritis and peptic ulcers. Laboratory testing of H. pylori has shown that its growth is halted by Manuka honey at concentrations as low as 5%, but not by any other type of honey. Manuka honey gives significant relief of stomach pain, whereas other types of honey do not. It has also been reported that Manuka honey reduces the duration of bacterial diarrhea.

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

Manuka Honey for the Treatment of Wounds

Doctors around the world are taking advantage of a unique type of honey that is indigenous to New Zealand called Manuka Honey because of its incomparable healing properties, particularly in the area of wound care.

Manuka Honey is derived from the nectar of the tea tree flower which grows wild throughout the pollution-free countryside of New Zealand. This amazing natural resource is gaining worldwide acceptance as a breakthrough wound dressing because of its exceptional ability to disinfect and heal.

There are hundreds of different types of honeys that are produced by bees around the world. Even though all types of honey contain some healing properties, mostly due to the presence of hydrogen peroxide, Manuka Honey is renowned for having the most medicinal compounds which sets it apart of the rest. Manuka Honey is known for having the following characteristics:

* antibacterial
* antimicrobial
* antiviral
* anti-parasitic
* antioxidant
* antiseptic
* anti-inflammatory
* anti-fungal

Because of these curative qualities, Manuka Honey is considered a viable treatment alternative to conventional medicines and has become a staple within the medical industry. Manuka Honey possesses all of the necessary qualities to be the perfect wound dressing. There are many components to wound care. Below are some key points that make Manuka Honey ideal for wound management:

1. Its antibacterial properties destroy harmful microorganisms that cause infection.
2. Its anti-inflammatory properties help to reduce pain.
3. It has the ability to repair damaged skin and regenerate new skin growth.
4. It creates a moist healing environment that allows new skin cells to grow flush with the surface of the wound, preventing deformity of the skin and scaring.
5. It eliminates malodor by destroying the bacteria that cause it.
6. It's effective in destroying antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria such as MRSA.
7. It's an all-natural substance that has been found to have no negative side effects.

One skin care manufacturer is now using Manuka Honey as a main ingredient in their products. Honeymark has developed a wound care product containing active Manuka Honey as a natural healing agent. Their First Aid Antiseptic Lotion has been used to treat serious conditions such as chronic wounds, skin ulcers, pressure sores, MRSA Staph infections and other hard-to-heal wounds where traditional forms of medicine have failed.

"We've taken the sticky mess out of applying Manuka Honey directly to the skin," says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International. "Our First Aid Antiseptic Lotion is a formulation of wound healing ingredients combined with all of the healing benefits of Manuka Honey."

Honeymark's First Aid Antiseptic Lotion with Manuka Honey can also be used for minor cuts, scrapes and burns. For more information or to purchase this product, call 1-866-427-7329 or visit www.HoneymarkProducts.com.

Manuka Honey Healing

Recent studies and scientific research indicates that the antimicrobial properties found in Active Manuka Honey play a major role in healing a wide variety of health conditions.

Medical grade honey produced in New Zealand known as 'Manuka Honey' is being used as an ingredient in health care products because of its extraordinary healing properties, especially its ability to miraculously heal wounds. Clinical studies have shown that Manuka Honey effectively addresses wound issues such as exuding wound fluid, tissue inflammation, pain, devitalized tissue and infection. Manuka Honey-based creams and lotions have been developed to make the application easier and not as messy or sticky as applying honey directly on the skin.

The differences between the various types of honey and their healing properties depend on the floral source that it is derived from. Not all kinds of honey should be used for medical purposes. It is generally accepted that Active Manuka Honey is the only type of honey that should be used therapeutically. Manuka Honey's healing properties are so effective that scientists and medical professionals are beginning to regard it as the best natural antibiotic in the world.

Honey has been used as a healing agent for thousands of years. In fact there has even been mention of honey being used for medicinal purposes in the Bible, Koran and Torah. Honey dressings were used for wound care all the way up until the first part of the 20th century. With the advent of antibiotics in the 1930s and 1940s, doctors were under the misconception that antibiotics were more effective that honey. However, with the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria (such as MRSA), medical professionals have been reconsidering the use of honey in modern medicine. Even consumers have been warming up to the idea of using honey as a medicine with all of the recent documentation available on the Internet stating Manuka Honey's effectiveness as an all-natural healer with no negative side effects.

Unfortunately, the therapeutic use of active Manuka Honey is grossly underutilized. As more reports of its astounding results become known, this is expected to change. Scientists caution that only medical grade active Manuka Honey should be used for healing wounds and other health conditions and not the standard honey that can be purchased in supermarkets as a food item. Active Manuka Honey is filtered, gamma-irradiated and produced under carefully controlled standards to ensure its potency.

Manuka Honey may be ahead of its time as many doctors have failed to recognize the evidence linked to its effectiveness. However, honey's transition from the food cabinet to the medicine cabinet is imminent. Manuka Honey's ability to combat bacterial "biofilms" is unprecedented. A biofilm is a bacterial community that exists within a self-produced extra-cellular polysaccharide matrix. Bio-films act as a barrier, protecting the bacteria from antimicrobial elements, such as antibiotics. "Manuka Honey prevents the bacteria from forming biofilms and proceeds to draw water out of the bacterial cells, making it impossible for the bacteria to survive," says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International, a manufacturer of health care products containing active Manuka Honey as a healing agent. "This is how Manuka Honey is able to destroy MRSA and heal Staph infections where antibiotics have failed." To date, there has been no evidence of any form of bacteria being able to develop a resistance to Manuka Honey.

There is no doubt that honey is being re-established as a valuable agent in modern wound care management. Healing properties of Manuka Honey are as follows:

• Provides a moist healing environment;
  
• Has a debriding action;
  
• Removes malodor;
  
• Has extremely powerful antibacterial and antimicrobial properties;
  
• Has an anti-inflammatory activity which helps reduce pain.
  

In addition to wound care, reports indicate that Manuka Honey is also effective in treating the following conditions:

• Eczema
  
• Ringworm
  
• Arthritis
  
• Acne
  
• Lice and Dandruff
  
• Psoriasis
  
• Muscle and Joint Pain
  
• Dermatitis and other dry skin conditions
  
• Skin Ulcers and Pressure Sores
  

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.

Using Manuka Honey to Heal Wounds Infected by MRSA

Scientists have discovered that Manuka Honey has the ability to destroy antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria because of its extraordinary antibacterial properties.


Honey is an ancient remedy that is gaining increased acceptance in the modern treatment of wounds. It has now been discovered that a particular type of honey called 'Manuka Honey' contains even more powerful antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that are effective in destroying a wide range of pathogens and has been shown to be equally effective against antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.

In laboratory studies, the effect of exposing MRSA to Manuka Honey was performed using electron microscopy. MRSA that was exposed to Manuka Honey showed noticeable differences to the MRSA that wasn't exposed to Manuka Honey. The notable difference was the presence of septa in cells inhibited by Manuka Honey.

In MRSA exposed to Manuka Honey, there was a increase in the numbers of bacterial cells with septain comparison to MRSA that was not exposed to Manuka Honey. It is believe that Manuka Honey interferes with the cell cycle of MRSA by affecting the separation of new cells after septum formation. Therefore, cells unable to complete division are disabled at that point in the cell cycle. MRSA is extremely difficult to treat because of its resistance to antibiotics. This research indicates that Manuka Honey is a viable solution to treating wounds infected with MRSA.

MRSA is a spherical bacterium that grows and divides into 2 similar cells every 30 minutes. It divides by forming a septum across the middle of the cell, which then splits in half to release two new cells. It has been found that 41% of untreated MRSA contained septa, whereas MRSA treated with Manuka Honey had higher proportions of septa. This occurred within one hour of exposing MRSA to Manuka Honey.

"MRSA cannot survive in the presence of Manuka Honey," says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International, which is a manufacturer of health care products containing Manuka Honey as a healing agent. "In fact, to date, there has been no bacteria that has been able to develop a resistance to Manuka Honey, making it an extremely effective wound healer." Honeymark has developed a First Aid Antiseptic Lotion with Active Manuka Honey that has been successful in treating Staph infections and MRSA where other products have failed.

For more information or to purchase this product, call 1-866-427-7329 or visit www.HoneymarkProducts.com.