Top 5 Benefits of Manuka Honey on Skin
Have you heard of manuka honey yet? Manuka honey is highly regarded for it’s health and healing properties. As a natural antibiotic and antibacterial, people use manuka honey as a health supplement and as an ointment for wound treatment.
This article will discuss the benefits of manuka honey on skin, benefits of manuka honey on the face, if manuka honey is good for eczema, and how to apply manuka honey on wounds. Lastly, I will look at the best place to buy manuka honey.
What is Manuka Honey?
Manuka honey is made when honeybees forage on the manuka plant (Leptospermum scoparium) which is native to New Zealand and Australia. The shrub grows 7-16 feet tall, with small white and sometimes pink flowers.
Most manuka honey is produced in New Zealand. There, beekeepers move their hives to an area where manuka is growing and flowering. This usually happens in spring and early summer. Manuka grows pretty rampantly in New Zealand, so it is relatively easy for beekeepers to find a place to put their hives.
While being close to manuka greatly increases the chances of bees foraging only on manuka, it isn’t guaranteed. So how do beekeepers know if their honey is manuka honey?
The only way to determine if it is manuka honey is by sending a sample to a lab. All manuka honey exported must be independently tested by the Mānuka Honey Science Definition test as specified by the Ministry for Primary Industries.
The lab tests for a high level of dietary methylglyoxal (MG), which naturally occurs in high concentrations of manuka honey. Small amounts of MG can be found in all honey, but Manuka honey contains 100 times more MG than regular honey.
Top 5 Benefits of Manuka Honey on Skin
- Heal Acne – Manuka honey reduces redness and heals inflamed skin.
- Hydrates Skin – Apply manuka honey to your skin to hold in and retain moisture.
- Reduce Signs of Aging – Manuka honey promotes structural growth of collagen in skin cells.
- Repairs Skin – Use Manuka honey to promote skin regeneration and lessen scarring
- Exfoliates Skin – Manuka honey is great for unclogging pores and removing dead skin cells
One of the amazing things about manuka honey is that it kills bacteria. Lab tests have proven that manuka honey kills Heliobacter pylori (the bacteria that causes leaky gut syndrome), E Coli (the bacteria that causes food poisoning), Staphylococcys aureus (staph infection), and Streptococcus pyongenes (the bacteria that causes strep throat).
The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties provide many benefits of Manuka honey on skin. And the best part is that it is all natural and chemical free.
Is Manuka Honey Good for Eczema?
There are also benefits of Manuka honey on skin for eczema. If you’ve ever had eczema before, you know how frustrating it can be to deal with dry and painful skin. Not only is eczema uncomfortable, but it also leaves the skin susceptible to infection. After reading about the benefits of Manuka honey on skin, I had to wonder, Is Manuka honey good for eczema?
The answer is yes! Manuka honey can treat eczema in 3 ways. First, Manuka honey helps to keep skin moisturized. It effectively combats the dryness and flaking caused by eczema. Manuka honey also promotes wound healing, which is a big deal because eczema often leads to open sores and cracked or oozing skin. Another way Manuka honey is good for eczema is that it is antibacterial. Manuka honey fights bacteria such as staph, which commonly infects eczema sufferers.
Manuka honey keeps skin moisturized, promotes wound healing, and fights bacteria.
To reap the benefits of manuka honey on eczema, you can apply the honey topically on the affected area overnight. Depending on the area that could be a sticky mess, so using an Manuka honey skin cream may be a better option. Manuka honey creams contain other moisturizing ingredients such as coconut oil and aloe vera.
Honeyskin Organics Ultimate Face and Body Cream is organic, non-allergenic, and fragrance free. It’s all natural ingredients are safe to use on a baby, and are also effective on skin ailments such as eczema, acne, rosacea, and psoriasis.
The Manuka honey in Honeyskin’s face and body cream is sourced from New Zealand’s North Island. There, professional UMF beekeepers produce manuka honey. UMF stands for Unique Manuka Factor, a licensed grading system that ensures the authenticity of Manuka honey.
Benefits of Manuka Honey on Face
There are also many benefits of Manuka honey on the face. Manuka honey cleansers and face masks are great for clearing up acne, moisturising, and giving you healthy, glowing skin. You can make your own Manuka honey face mask by mixing the honey with other natural ingredients, like greek yogurt and essential oils, or you can apply the manuka honey directly to your face.
Apply high quality Manuka honey to the face and leave on for 20 minutes. Use a wash cloth and warm water to remove the honey. Repeat this twice a week for best results.
When using Manuka honey on the face it is best to use one that has a high UMF (Unique Manuka Factor).
The UMF Grading system is as followed:
- Low Grade: UMF5 to UMF9
- Medium Grade: UMF10 to UMF15
- Superior High Grade: UMF16+
KIVA Raw Manuka Honey is certified UMF 15+, so you know that it is a higher grade Manuka honey. Harvested in New Zealand, each batch of raw Manuka honey is independently tested, verified, and traceable. In addition, Kiva is committed to using sustainable methods of sourcing ingredients.
Benefits of Manuka Honey on Wounds
Manuka honey can also be used to treat wounds. In fact, in 2007 the USFDA approved Manuka honey as an option for wound treatment. Manuka honey has been shown to reduce pain in burns, enhance wound healing, and increase the regeneration of tissue.
This honey is good for wounds because it is antibacterial and provides a moist environment, as well as a protective barrier. It also creates an acidic wound environment, which reduces healing time.
How to Apply Manuka Honey on Wounds
Manuka honey should be placed on the wound topically using clean hands and sterile gauze. The wound should then be covered by an occlusive dressing. You can also buy dressings that already have honey on them. Replace the dressing regularly.
Best Place to Buy Manuka Honey
If you don’t live near a bee farm in New Zealand the next best place to buy Manuka honey is online. Manuka honey isn’t sold in most stores, but online you will have access to many different brands of Manuka honey.
Outside of New Zealand, the best place to buy Manuka honey is online.
When looking for Manuka honey to buy, check that the company has a UMF license, then check for the UMF rating. The higher the UMF rating, the higher the concentration of methylglyoxal.
Best Manuka Honey For Sale
Premium Manuka Honey – UMF 20
Details:
- Ultra premium grade raw Manuka honey certified UMF 20+
- Raw, Wild, Unpasteurized, Non-GMO, Halal, Kosher, and Certified Gluten-Free
- Independently tested and certified by the UMF Honey Association
- Traceable from hive to shelf
Medium Grade Manuka Honey – UMF 15
Details:
- 100% New Zealand Made – Honey is foraged, harvested, packaged, and tested in New Zealand
- Certified UMF 15+
- No additives, no antibiotics, non GMO, BPA free
Low Grade Manuka Honey – UMF 10
Details:
- Egmont gets the honey from hive to pot in minimal steps, removing any need for heating of the product
- Bee hives are located deep inside the best Manuka forests
- Every batch certified by independent food laboratories
Summary
Manuka honey is made when honeybees forage on the manuka plant in New Zealand. There are many benefits of Manuka honey on skin. It can be used to heal acne, hydrate and repair skin, and reduce signs of aging. Manuka honey is also good to use on eczema and promotes healing in wounds. The best place to buy Manuka honey is online.
