The Therapeutic Power of Manuka

The Sun Daily, 9/24/10

Manuka honey is now without doubt the most popular honey in the world. The Manuka tree is a native plant of New Zealand so Manuka honey is not produced anywhere else in the world.

The Maoris were the first people to settle in New Zealand and used the Manuka plant for its medicinal value. They have since discovered its immense benefits to the human body.

For over 20 years, Dr Peter Molan from the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand, has been conducting scientific research into the healing properties of various types of New Zealand honey.

His research has revealed that all types of honey contain some degree of healing properties due to the presence of hydrogen peroxide which is effective against most strains of bacteria.

However, with Manuka honey, Molan discovered that there is an additional antibacterial component that is non-peroxide in nature.

The advantage of this non-peroxide entity is that the component is highly effective against even the most resistant bacteria.

It is also more resistant to heat and to breakdown by the catalase effect of body fluids than normal hydrogen peroxide activity.

Molan and his research team have termed this special factor, the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF), and thus such honey is known as UMF Manuka honey…