Manuka Honey Benefits: Is Manuka Honey Good For You?

So you enjoy the delicious flavour of Manuka Honey. And you know it’s good for you. But what exactly are the benefits of Manuka Honey?

✅ Soothes coughs naturally

✅ Boosts Immunity & helps fight infections

✅ Supports gut health & digestion

✅ Oral health

✅ Inflammation & healing

✅ Overall wellness booster

Honey is one of the best cough-busters around – and a much better bet than over-the-counter cough mixtures, according to Dr Tessa Lewis, GP and chair of the NICE antimicrobial prescribing guideline group [1].

It’s a great way to help clear a child’s cough so they can sleep at night, too - one paper found a spoonful of honey before bed was more effective than many medicines (although it should never be given to babies under the age of one because of the risk of botulism) [2].

Manuka Honey has been shown to have particularly potent anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory properties – so reach for a jar of this amazing natural medicine next time you have an annoying tickle in your throat.

We talked to Dr Hilary Jones about honey being recommended for coughs by Public Health England.

"Doctors and Healthcare Professionals have been urged to not over prescribe antibiotics for the more common ailments, partly because evidence shows over-the-counter or natural products can be just as good to manage symptoms."

"When it comes to coughs, the current advice is to try honey or over-the-counter medicines first before antibiotics."

The research is in its infancy but a promising study found Manuka Honey has antiviral effects, as well as being antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory [3].

This means it could potentially help treat and prevent colds and flu.

Next time you come down with a cold or flu, why not try a healing hot drink made from hot water with Manuka honey and lemon?

Our piece on winter wellness will give you ideas for using higher MGO-rated Manuka honey for those winter bugs.

Emerging research has linked creamed Manuka Honey with better gut health.

Firstly, it’s a prebiotic, which means it helps to promote the good gut bacteria that are so essential for keeping your digestive and immune systems ticking over efficiently [4]. But Manuka has also been shown to have extra gut-healing properties. It inhibits the growth of C.difficile, a bacteria that’s a major cause of food poisoning [5], and might have a role in tackling stomach ulcers [6].

There's also good news if you suffer with acid reflux. That’s because Manuka honey could help your symptoms, according to a study in the Journal of Food Science and Nutrition [7]. Manuka Doctor customers agree:

"Bought a jar of this honey as I had been recommended to try Manuka for gastric reflux. I had been living on Gaviscon for years yet after having this honey for a week all symptoms of reflux have gone and all foods I had previously struggled to eat are no longer a problem." Lorraine

Anecdotal evidence suggests Manuka honey can help with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), too.

More research is ongoing – watch this space!

While many of us are aware of the benefits of Manuka honey for coughs, immunity, gut health and overall wellness, the benefits for oral health are not as well known.

The premise is quite straightforward when you think about it. Manuka honey contains anti-bacterial properties thanks to having high levels of MGO.

… and if Manuka has the ability to kill bad bugs, then it will be well placed to help your oral health - where bugs and bacteria can be very prevalent in the mouth.

Manuka honey is even being used in a current trial for post-tonsillectomy pain, the first of its kind study in the UK which could show promising results. Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures
performed in the UK and as Manuka honey has shown to possess anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties with huge potential for wound repair, it could eventually be routinely recommended for post-tonsillectomy pain.

But how can you help improve your oral health? And what role does Manuka honey play?

Pharmacist Gemma Fromage is here to explain:

“Although the idea of consuming honey for good oral health may seem counterintuitive, unlike sweets and other refined sugars, manuka honey’s potent antibacterial effects make it unlikely to contribute to cavities or tooth decay"

"Indeed, studies in the Swiss Dental Journal and Oral Health have shown manuka honey, with its high antibacterial activity, both attacks and inhibits the growth of harmful oral bacteria like P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans associated with plaque formation, gum inflammation and gingivitis and tooth decay."

"One further study examined the effects of chewing or sucking on a manuka honey product three times a day on the reduction of plaque and gingivitis. The group who used the manuka honey showed a significant reduction in plaque and gingival bleeding, compared to those who chewed the sugar-free gum."

Topically, Manuka Honey has been shown to calm inflammation and irritation in eczema. And it’s known to help with other skin disorders, soothing inflammation and fighting infection [8, 9].

Dr Hilary Jones also highlighted the potential of Honey in clinical settings as highlighted in recent research.

"Recent research from the University of Manchester concluded that honey can also offer an alternative for healthcare professionals in hospital settings."

"Their review of more than 250 articles over 85 years - with oldest article from 1937- was published in the journal Pharmaceutics."

"In clinical settings, honey has been mainly used as a topical application on wounds for its antibacterial properties."

Manuka honey works on many levels in helping to reduce inflammation in the body. Its strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce swelling, support tissue repair, and promote healing. Whilst its potent antioxidant effect can also support the body’s natural immune response.

TV Expert Dr Hilary Jones sees anti-inflammatory issues first hand in his clinic and recommends Manuka Doctor Manuka honey:

“I believe in Manuka honey and have been a fan of its properties for many years. Honey is one of nature’s oldest natural remedies, with emerging science showing that it has many potential uses in the body. New Zealand Manuka honey is antibacterial and anti inflammatory. And it's natural, it's like natural medicine.”

A 2018 review of studies10 described honey as a medicine – and raw Manuka Honey is the superpowered version.

Antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and potentially antiviral, too, research over the next few years will probably reveal a raft of amazing new benefits.

So enjoy it! Spread it on toast, add it to hot drinks, stir it into yoghurt, fruit and porridge. Or, of course, take it neat on a spoon – just like any other medicine.

The benefits of Manuka Honey could also extend to other patient groups as highlighted by Dr Hilary Jones:

"Another recent study from Aston University Birmingham investigated whether Manuka honey could help treat patients with potentially serious lung infections."

"Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic condition affecting around 10,800 people and one in every 2,500 babies born in the UK, while bronchiectasis is a long-term condition where airways become widened, leading to a build-up of excess mucus."

"In the study, the researchers used samples of the bacteria Mycobacterium abscessus taken from 16 infected CF patients. They then tested the antibiotic amikacin, combined with Manuka honey, to discover what dosage was required to kill the bacteria."

"The results showed that using Manuka honey within treatment resulted in an eight-fold reduction in the dosage of antibiotic, according to the journal Microbiology."

Manuka Doctor sells honey in different strengths, including Everyday Wellness, Daily Boost, Extra Boost, Managing Illness and Intensive Support.