Manuka honey

In New Zealand bees which forage in areas where there is a high density of Manuka blossom produce a honey with a characteristic scent and different degrees of antiseptic qualities. Think of Heather Honey for example (though it has no antiseptic qualities). It is regular honey but with a slightly different flavour. Manuka honey is not used differently, you just spread it on your toast or take a spoonful for your sore throat.
The manuka honey with a high level of antiseptic properties is prohibitively expensive as little of it is produced. The type you buy here which is not too expensive is not going to be effective. Much of it is fake. Some of it is tested and the "Manuka factor" certified. Certification is often faked.
If you are receptive to the placebo effect and have loads of money to waste by all means go for it. Buy the highest rating you can find and hope it is genuine.
The only scientific evidence showing a benefit from Manuka honey is on wound dressings using the highest quality strain. The rest is marketing and hype.

We use it in wounds on hedgehogs. It works a treat and heals would well. One in particular has bad acid burns from weedkiller.

if you can't afford the real McCoy - try local unpasteurised honey with a bit of Tea tree oil in it. Tea tree is a close relative of manuka.
Excellent for healing wounds etc.
honey releases hydrogen peroxide in contact with wounds, the tea tree/manuka has been used for millenia for its antiseptic properties.

I have bought it but rarely. Friend recommended Sainsbury 10 strength.

Notanan re peroxide

No I haven't tried it. But on the subject of colds, I was advised by my friend to use Vick's First Defence to stave off colds. You just put it around your nasal area. I use public transport a lot where people are always coughing and sneezing and I swear it works well. In the last few years I haven't suffered anywhere near as badly with colds as I used to. Well worth a try costing around £5 which lasts for ages.

I agree Imm6. It was recommended to me by a consultant who uses in his clinics if someone comes in coughing , and sneezing. It works really well.

A cold is a virus and can't be staved off by honey or any other spread!

You only think it’s working cos you’ve paid so much for it!!

Nothing to do with the price. I like it. I eat it. I haven't had a single cold. End of. I can positively identify its effect on my hips however. I take things as I find them. Same with people.

Local honey is better so find out who your local beekeeper is, although don't ask for organic as I was told there is no such thing (unless it comes from far off places) - makes sense really as our fields in our farms sometimes are quite small and even if there are hives on an organic farm - bees can fly some distance to gather the pollen to neighbouring non organ farms.

I suffer from leg ulcers..and it helps the healing....doesn’t suit everyone...but iv found it excellent....in the 90’s when I had my first leg ulcer I bought it from Holland and Barrett and put it on neat...it was 50+..and very expensive....now I use Manuka honey dressing...lot cheaper and they work for me.....been ulcer free now for two years!

When my husband had a nasty gash on his leg with a large gap of missing skin the hospital gave us a tube of medical manuka honey to dress the wound. It did seem to help and it healed beautifully.

UMF stands for Unique Manuka Factor and is a measure of the strength of the antiseptic quality of the honey. This is frequently faked as can be proved by the fact that there is much more "Manuka Honey" sold than is produced.

Manuka must be from the special area in New Zealand and is very expensive. 20 years ago I learned if it and bought for ny husband who had surgery for cancer. At that time I remember it costing £9.00 for a small jar. It is supposed to have exceptional healing qualities. I liken it to the days of natural healing using eg maggots, leeches when all else fails.

I've used Manuka honey in the past when I've had a filthy cough and tried everything else. Its worth getting the most expensive you can afford, and the strongest strength. Just make sure (not sure how you do this!) that it is the genuine thing. Its worked for me anyway. I just have the odd spoonful when I remember, or put it thickly on toast .Its supposed ot have antebacterial properties if you get the genuine article.

I want to reitterate that although honey can be powerfully sucessful on wounds at certain stages (certain types of infected stages), if used on the wrong type of wound, or at the wrong stage of healing, it can do more damage than good.

Only use it on wounds on presctiption! It is readily available on NHS formularies so ask if your practitioner thinks it is needed, but if they dont think the wound is at the stage where honey is appropriate, DO NOT USE IT

And never use it in place of a barrier cream. It does the opposite of a barrier cream.

OP in relation to your specific issues

1. No I cant see how taking extra sugar orally can help with poylmyalgia and thyroid issue. I have only ever heard of low sugar diets recommended for those issues

2. Gum infection: personally I would try it for that yes. Although if you also have thrush maybe not. I think Candida likes sugar?

& dont take essential oils orally. Especially if you are on other meds

Have used it no different to local honey great for hay fever but should be sourced local to where you live

Never try treating wounds with honey unless it is prescribed by a doctor. I read an account of trials using manuka honey in wound dressings.
It was medical grade honey which is not the same as you can buy in shops.
It did seem to help healing in some cases BUT it the patient was diabetic there was an increased risk of gangrene.
Manuka honey is still honey and so is almost completely sugar.

Manuka tastes like smoke.

Normal honey, ckear runny or set works just as well as Manuka. Coughs n sore throat are a virus and no honey at whatever price will make it go sooner.
Best just to use 10oz tumbler of freshly boiled water + 1 thick or 2 thin slices of lemon + 3 teaspoons of any honey. Drink 4-5 per day. It will only sooth not cure.
Manuka is said to be better at healing sores etc on the skin as it has more of the qualities needed for that purpose.

ckear clear

15 teaspoons of honey in one day is A LOT of sugar!!!

The point of using manuka is that the higher peroxide levels treat the throat infection without you having to injest tonnes of it.