Why the healing power of Manuka honey is greater than you think

To say we are big fans of Manuka honey is putting it mildly. This liquid gold is extracted from bees that live in remote areas of New Zealand. And why is Manuka honey so special? We'll be happy to explain it to you in detail - including tips and tricks on how to get the best results from it.
 
The healing effects of Manuka honey
Let's start at the beginning: what is Manuka honey? Manuka (a term from the Maori) originated in eastern New Zealand, where the Manuka bush grows. Bees collect the nectar from the Manuka flowers, which produces the honey. This type of honey has been renamed Manuka honey and is 'monofloral', meaning the bees have only used nectar from the Manuka bush. It is not the type of honey you find in the supermarket. Supermarket honey is mostly clover honey and has a different colour and texture.

Back to Manuka: in the 1980s, the Peter Molan as a researcher at his Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato in New Zealand. During his research, he soon discovered Manuka honey's medicinal properties, including its antibacterial and fungicidal effects. And that's not all. In 2008, Professor Thomas Henle (Technische Universität Dresden) discovered that Manuka honey contains methylglyoxal (MGO) as its main antibacterial ingredient. This substance has a scientifically proven positive effect on your (skin) health. It fights harmful bacteria and therefore has a cleansing effect. And that's not all! Manuka honey also contains lactic acid, for example, which removes dead skin cells. Ideal for a radiant skin.



Raw Manuka honey
Good to know: Manuka honey is always raw, so it is never heated. The Manuka honey we sell is acquired by a cold extraction method to get the honey out of the honeycombs. It is lightly filtered to remove some stray wax or bee residue and that's it! The honey is raw, unpasteurised, unprocessed and therefore unheated. This way you can be sure that you are always right.

Use of Manuka honey
Now for the big question: how do you use Manuka honey? It is a wonder drug, so it can be used for anything. Well, almost anything. Here are a few ways we use it:

• Eating it just like that with a spoon – yes, we admit it. The sweet taste is intense and the thick honey melts on your tongue. Be warned, this is addictive ;-)
• After exercising – Manuka honey diluted with water is great for tackling dehydration. Don’t put it in boiling water because this will reduce the effectiveness of the active ingredients. 
• For breakfast – delicious in your (vegetarian) yoghurt, your smoothie or porridge for extra nutritional value. 
• As a facial mask – apply a thin layer of honey on your clean face and leave it to be absorbed for 30 minutes. Rinse (or lick) it off with water and your skin will glow as never before. A child can do the washing. ;)