Manuka Honey, A Natural Antibiotic

Do You Really Need Prescription Antibiotics?

This morning my kids were both coughing and sneezing. Ugh! So I pulled out my ‘get better fast’ arsenal and thought I would share this one with you – manuka honey.

The Power of Honey

Honey has been used since ancient times to treat many conditions. It wasn’t until late 19th century that it was realized that honey has natural antibacterial properties.

Everyone knows that honey is a natural cough soother and helps to ease a scratchy throat, but not all honey has the same healing power. Some honey is up to 100 times more potent than others.

Side Effects of Antibiotics

Now you may be asking yourself, why not just go to the doctor and get some antibiotics? That’s easy and here are my reasons why you should second guess that antibiotic prescription:

Antibiotics only clear bacterial infections and many times if you have a cold, cough, sore throat, etc. it’s a viral infection.
According to the Journal of American Medical Association, nearly one-third of the antibiotics prescribed aren’t appropriate for the conditions being treated (source).
In the U.S., there is currently a surge in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The more an antibiotic is used, the more bacteria develop antibiotic resistance, rendering the drug less effective.
The side effects of antibiotics include digestive problems (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains), fungal infections, fever, anaphylaxis, and kidney failure.

So what should you do instead?

Benefits of Manuka Honey

Manuka honey “contains antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, stomach-healing, wound-repairing, and overall health-promoting properties” which is why it is often referred to as a ‘superfood’.

It is produced by the bees that feed off of the honey of the manuka bush and native to New Zealand, what sets it apart from regular ol’ honey.

Another big difference – it contains a chemical compound called methylglyoxal, which is responsible for its anti-microbial benefits.

Not all manuka honey is the same, however, you must pay close attention to the UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) number on the bottle. The higher the UMF, the higher the methylglyoxal concentration. In order to be considered an active form of manuka, the UMF must be 10 or higher.

To stock up on your Manuka Honey with a UMF of 20+, click here to find on Amazon and BEE Well!

Leann Forst, MBA, CHC, CEOC — Holistic Health Practitioner

Leann is a Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner and Certified Essential Oils Coach. She holds a Master’s degree from Drake University and a Bachelor of Science from Upper Iowa University. Accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, Leann is an award winning author of 2 books “How to Get Your Kids to Beg for Veggies” and “100 Ways to Lose Weight”.

Born and raised as an Iowa farm girl, she moved to Texas in 1998 where she lives with her husband and 2 kids.

As a wife of a brain cancer survivor, Leann has a special interest in anti-cancer nutrition and detoxification. She works with individuals and groups, and speaks regularly at hospitals, schools and organizations. Leann’s goal is to teach people how to attain optimal health by getting to the root cause of chronic and inflammatory conditions, while using healing modalities such as essential oils. Click here to get Leann’s free report, “37 Cancer Facts You Should Know…But Probably Don’t”

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.

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Benefits of Manuka Honey