Active Manuka Honey
5 tips to find the genuine product.
Together with the increasing popularity of complimentary and alternative
medicines, there has been growing awareness and publicity of the unique
healing properties of active manuka honey from New Zealand. It has been
found to greatly help people with digestive disorders, stomach ulcers,
wound healing, and leg ulcers.
There is plenty of anecdotal evidence and success stories on its usage.
Much of the actual research on the benefits of active manuka honey has
been done by the honey research unit at Waikato University in New Zealand.
In order to gain additional clinical evidence, there are currently trials
underway by University of Auckland on manuka honey's use for leg ulcers,
and in Wales, the University of Wales Institute Cardiff is doing research
on its effectiveness in helping fight MRSA.
However it is important that you have an understanding of what makes
active manuka honey special, and that you realise not all manuka honey
contains these properties. Last year in New Zealand, the home of manuka
honey, there was a case of a supplier 'passing off' standard non-active
manuka honey as containing the active properties. They were successfully
fined by the New Zealand Commerce Commission.
So what is it that makes active manuka honey special? All honey contains
a level of hydrogen peroxide, which provides a level of antibacterial
power from the actions of the enzyme glucose oxidase that is also found
in honey. But this can be adversely affected by other enzymes found in
wound fluids and body tissue. However, active manuka honey also contains
what is referred to as the 'unique manuka factor' (UMF). It is this that
creates the special properties, including the extra antibacterial and
antibiotic properties, that is found in UMF active manuka honey, as the
UMF is not affected by the other enzymes, and is much more stable and
active in a variety of conditions. The existence of the UMF in manuka
honey is found by testing for its level of antibacterial activity.
If you want ensure that the manuka honey you are buying, whether from
a high street store or online, is the proper UMF active manuka honey,
then there are the following guidelines as issued by the Active Manuka
Honey Association.
Genuine UMF Manuka Honey complies with all five of the following criteria:
1. It has the name UMF clearly stated on the front label.
2. It is packed into jars and labelled in New Zealand.
3. It is from a New Zealand company licensed to use the name UMF.
4. It has the UMF licensee's name on the front label.
5. It has a rating of UMF10 or more.
So whether you are purchasing manuka honey form your health food store
in the high street, or online, keep the above points in mind, and you
can make sure you are getting the proper active manuka honey that you
are expecting.
UMF Active Manuka Honey is available from many high street health stores.
Or for further information, links to university research, and online ordering,
visit http://www.worldofnz.co.uk
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