Most people think of honey as merely a food item. However, honey is gaining its
well-deserved notoriety as a medicinal ingredient because of its natural
antibacterial properties. There are four main characteristics of honey that are
responsible for its ability to kill bacteria: Osmolarity, acidity, hydrogen
peroxide and floral nectar.
Honey is a saturated solution of sugar that is high in osmolarity. By osmosis, honey has the ability to draw
moisture out of bacterial cells, making it impossible for them to survive. Therefore, honey destroys bacteria by dehydration.
In addition to honey's osmotic effect, its acidity plays an important role in
its antibacterial activity. Honey contains a number of natural acids, including organic and amino
acids. Honey has a pH between 3.2 and 4.5 which inhibits the
growth of bacteria. The optimum pH for growth of these species normally falls
between 7.2 and 7.4.
The hydrogen peroxide producing capacity of honey is another
reason for honey's antibacterial activity. Hydrogen peroxide kills bacteria on
contact and has been widely used for that very purpose. However, straight
hydrogen peroxide is unstable and rapidly loses its effectiveness when exposed
to air and light. It can also damage tissue when used in high concentrations.
However, honey produces low levels of hydrogen peroxide over a prolonged period
of time. This slow-release capability makes honey ideal for
treating infected wounds.
The variation of honey's antibacterial properties are predicated on the
floral source, more specifically, the nectar used by the honeybees that produce
the honey. Some types of honey contain more antibacterial properties than
others. It has been discovered that Manuka Honey from New Zealand has
the highest amount of antibacterial properties than any other type of honey.
Manuka Honey is produced by bees that gather nectar from the flowers that grow on
the Manuka tea tree which indigenous to New Zealand. It is believed that the floral components of Manuka Honey
enhance the other antimicrobial properties that are present, creating a
synergistic action that is optimal for therapeutic use.
In addition to Manuka Honey's antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, it
has been determined that it stimulates B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes to
multiply which boosts the body's immune system. Manuka Honey also contains
anti-inflammatory properties which can help reduce pain when used topically on
the skin. Manuka Honey is also rich in vitamins, antioxidants and amino
acids.
