Harnessing Manuka Honeys Healing Power.

Honey has been used since ancient times to treat multiple conditions. It wasn't until the late 19th century that researchers discovered that honey has natural antibacterial qualities. Manuka honey contains unique antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, stomach-healing, wound-repairing.

Manuka honey is produced in New Zealand by bees that pollinate the native manuka bush. Manuka honey comes from the crisp white flowers of the manuka bush, a native bush which grows in remote unspoilt areas of New Zealand.

 

Manuka honey is rich in a unique enzyme known as glucose oxidase that produces natural hydrogen peroxide, a proven antiseptic with its own unique antibacterial properties. All honey contains some level of glucose oxidase, but manuka varieties that are high in UMF are uniquely powerful at preventing and treating bacterial infections due to the synergistic interaction between this enzyme and UMF.

 

Until recently consumers had no way of knowing the level of quality or the authenticity of the Manuka Honey they were buying. So it has been important to establish a trusted quality standard.

The UMF Honey Association has achieved this by introducing the UMF quality trademark and rating system.

UMF stands for Unique Manuka Factor.

UMF is a quality trademark identifying natural unadulterated manuka honey that has the special and unique non-peroxide activity. 

The main traditional medical use for manuka honey is wounds, burns, scraps etc for our equine friends it can be used for mud rash; proud flesh (It has proven to be especially helpful at reducing the proud flesh), minor wounds etc once you are comfortable treating the issue your self and feel no medical intervention is needed.

 

 

This mud rash was treated with manuka honey and diet.

The beauty of using manuka honey on minor issues its sticks well to the area and it doesn’t sting I personally use manuka honey for all kinds of lumps, bumps, cuts, wounds etc.. I do not ever use it internally for my horses.

ps- if you can source local raw honey in your area it can be as good as manuka honey.

R.Kelly Equine Herbalist Keep it real

For further reading

http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/health/178wounds.shtml#axzz3AO5gbPUU

Sources- http://www.manukahoney.com/