Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Ask Dr. H: Medicinal Honey Can Inhibit Bacteria

By Mitchell Hecht, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/27/2010
Question: What is your take on manuka honey?

Answer: Manuka is a type of honey from New Zealand made by bees that pollinate the flowers of the manuka bush.

Honey has naturally occurring antibacterial and antioxidant properties, and it's able to avoid bacterial resistance. Honey can inhibit bacterial growth and kill topically when applied directly to an infected area. Manuka honey has far greater antibacterial potency than other types of honey.

The practice of using honey to heal wounds goes back thousands of years. The renewed interest in medicinal honey has come about because of the growing problem of bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics.

The Waikato Honey Research Unit in New Zealand is actively researching manuka honey.
Honey from the grocery store is not medicinal grade and should not be used for wound care. Medihoney is the first FDA-approved honey-infused dressing approved for burns and wounds.

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