The Unique Manuka Factor (UMF)

Researchers have discovered that Manuka honey is a superior and effective treatment for wound infections. Studies have shown that all varieties of honey have some levels of antibacterial activity, primarily due to the presence of hydrogen peroxide. However, Manuka Honey has a much higher level of activity, up to 30 times greater than that of other types of honey. The studies have shown that Manuka Honey contains an additional antibacterial component found only in honey produced from the nectar that bees gather from the flowers that grow on the Manuka bush which is indigenous to New Zealand and some parts of Australia. This other antibacterial component has become know as the Unique Manuka Factor or UMF.

There are several components that explain the antibacterial activity found in Manuka Honey. The high sugar content of Manuka Honey creates an environment in which there are very few water molecules, making it difficult for microorganisms to grow. In addition, the low pH level of Manuka Honey inhibits the growth of pathogens. During the developmental stage, bees add enzymes to the nectar to form honey. One byproduct of this enzyme is hydrogen peroxide. When Manuka Honey is diluted by wound or other bodily fluids, the enzyme activity increases, creating a slow release antiseptic that is antibacterial but does not cause tissue damage like other forms of hydrogen peroxide. The Unique Manuka Factor is an antimicrobial component that is somewhat of a phenomenon, creating an environment impossible for bacteria and other microbes to survive.

The fact that other types of honey do not posses this extra UMF compound is what makes Manuka Honey different in terms of its ability to heal. The antibacterial properties in standard honey can be rapidly destroyed if exposed to certain conditions such as heat or light. However the UMF activity in Manuka Honey does not break down, resulting in the antibacterial activity remaining intact and unaffected. It is also important to know that not all Manuka Honey is considered to be active or have healing properties. It is believed that only Manuka Honey with a UMF rating of 10 or higher is suitable for medical use. The higher the UMF rating, the higher its antibacterial activity.

Manuka Honey's ability to heal is so powerful that it has even been found to be effective in treating antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria such as MRSA and VRE. These new developments are taking the medical industry by storm as a need for alternative solutions to these life-threatening, hard-to-kill bacteria threaten our schools, hospitals and communities.

"Wound dressings made with Manuka Honey are a viable alternative to traditional forms of medicine when treating Staph infections," says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International, a manufacturer of health care products containing Active UMF Manuka Honey as a healing agent. "Our First Aid Antiseptic Lotion has been effective in treating MRSA when other products, including antibiotics, have failed."