If your reading this, you’re probably wondering if manuka honey for eczema actually works. It’s understandable to want to try natural remedies when struggling with the harsh effects of eczema. I get it, you’re sick and tired of living with low confidence due to the unexpected flare-ups that hit you. Fortunately, you do have some options to ameliorate your eczema symptoms. One of them being manuka honey.
So, is manuka honey good for eczema? Studies claim it is. Manuka honey has powerful antibacterial properties, as well as antimicrobial capabilities. Since eczema, acne, and other similar conditions are caused by bacteria, this type of honey will give you full control over your skin, by alleviating infections.
What else should you know about manuka honey and how can it help against eczema? Unlike regular honey, manuka honey is the end product of bees. It’s produced by bees who gather nectar from manuka bushes only. Professionals would refer to this honey as monofloral honey, yet not all types of monofloral honey will help against eczema.
The health advantages of honey go further than just sweetening your tea in a natural manner. In fact, manuka honey is considered to be a superfood in terms of its beauty-related benefits.
Advantages Of Manuka Honey For The Body
Whether taken by mouth or applied topically on the skin, manuka honey is a natural healer used against a plethora of infections. Most commonly, it has been proven to improve skin and clear out unpleasant issues associated with it, such as eczema.
Here are some of the benefits associated with this superfood.
Immunity Strength
When taken on a regular basis like a treatment, manuka honey will boost the natural capabilities of various immune cells throughout the body. It helps healing wounds in no time – excellent for eczema, but it also prevents all kinds of infections.
Gut Health
Manuka honey has the capability to keep the SIBO under control – bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. Given its antibiotic features, it keeps the gut health at high standards, which is mandatory for those suffering from eczema due to incorrect digestion.
Dental Support
According to a study performed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, having manuka honey regularly will prevent all kinds of dental infections. For instance, plaque will be reduced by 35%, as well as bleeding gums. The treatment is even better for those suffering from gingivitis, yet the honey should be taken daily for over three weeks.
Skin Healing
Whether it comes to a burn, a scar caused by eczema or any other type of wound, sterilized raw honey can work wonders on it when applied topically. It works like a coating for wounds and seals them against harmful external factors, which will naturally reduce the healing time.
MRSA Prevention
MRSA is basically a bacterial infection that can easily face most types of antibiotics. Getting rid of it is extremely challenging from a medical point of view. On the other hand, skin infections are extremely common in those suffering from eczema, so MRSA is only one step away. Taking antibiotic manuka honey will aid in the treatment and comes as an excellent natural alternative with no side effects.
Other benefits of Manuka honey
Some of the above-mentioned benefits of manuka honey are related to its capability to fight infections and skin related problems. However, the monofloral honey does much than that:
- A deeper and more restful sleep at night
- Dense in B vitamins, amino acids, and minerals
- Rich in non-peroxide properties
Medicinal Values Of Manuka Honey
Generally speaking, honey is the produce of bees. They get nectar from all kinds of flowers (hence the different types of honey) to produce it, then they store it in different departments throughout the hive. The honey is basically their food and meant to help them survive the winter.
As mentioned before, manuka honey is one of the numerous types of honey. Just like the name clearly suggests it, bees producing it grab the nectar from manuka bushes. Since it comes from one type of flower only, the final product is known as a monofloral honey.
Manuka honey has multiple medicinal values and most of them relate to its antibacterial properties that come from a component known as methylglyoxal. Such properties are defined by the UMF – Unique Manuka Factor. This factor is what truly defines the medicinal properties of this honey.
When buying manuka honey for eczema, make sure you double-check the UMF. You can find it in all kinds of strengths, yet the lowest ones are mostly useful to sweeten your tea and nothing else. If the UMF is rated at 4 or less, the respective honey has no medicinal capabilities.
On the other hand, a factor between 5 and 9 will provide a few general advantages. It’s great for health and maintenance, but it will not necessarily help you in the treatment of skin conditions and other similar problems. Manuka honey can be part of your therapy when the UMF is between 10 and 15. At this point, it has a relatively good antibacterial value and it will help with mild infections.
If your eczema is too powerful and nothing seems to work against it, look for manuka honey with the UMF of 16 or higher. This level is mostly recommended for those who have tried medicinal treatments and failed. This kind of honey is greatly therapeutic and will provide exceptional results within weeks only.
While most people are not aware of this system, it is actually regulated. You can be 100% sure that you get what you actually need – no room for scams and tricks. The criteria to establish the UMF are extremely rigid and based on multiple testing ideas.
How To Take Manuka Honey By Mouth?
Taking manuka honey orally does not necessarily involve cooking or mixing it with other ingredients. Instead, you might as well get a teaspoon of honey before going to sleep. If you opt for a high UMF rating, keep in mind that it has a high concentration of enzymes, which might cause mild side effects.
If you want to treat a temporary infection, you need to find manuka honey with a high UMF factor. Start with a quarter of a teaspoon on a daily basis and give it a week to determine any potential side effects. If everything is alright, you can increase the dosage by a quarter of a teaspoon every week. Do not exceed a couple of teaspoons a day. They should be taken hours apart and never one after another.
On the other hand, if you want to take honey for ongoing maintenance and its numerous benefits, stick to a lower UMF level – 10 or less. You can add it to tea or various recipes as a substitution for sugar. Stick to not more than a tablespoon per serving.
How To Apply Manuka Honey Topically?
When applied topically, manuka honey is most commonly recommended for skin-related infections. According to a different study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, applying manuka honey on your skin will keep harmful bacteria under control, reduce irritations, and inflammatory infections. At the same time, it’ll rush the natural healing process.
While applying it is simple, those with extremely sensitive skin may experience mild irritations. For this reason, it’s recommended to start with a small dose. Plus, the honey should be diluted or used in a cream, rather than applied as-is.
Manuka Honey Eczema Mask Recipe
You don’t necessarily have to buy a mask from the store, yet they usually come with more ingredients and even more benefits. If you want to make your own, it’s only a matter of minutes. So, what do you need?
- 1 tablespoon of beeswax
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of manuka honey
Melt the beeswax into a pan at low heat. Take the pan off, away from heat, add the other ingredients and mix for a few minutes. Place it into a sterilized glass jar and give it time to cool. It starts setting once cold. The jar should be stored in the refrigerator.
When applying it, stick to a thin layer and let it dry, then rinse it with warm water and pat dry. Wash your hands prior to the application to prevent unnecessary bacteria from reaching your skin.
Manuka Honey Eczema Cream Recipe
Whether it comes to creams, lotions, or masks, applying manuka honey topically allows you to use slightly higher doses than if you take it orally. For this recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
- 1/3 cup of manuka honey
- A tablespoon of tea tree oil
- 1 tablespoon of neem oil
- A tablespoon of sea buckthorn seed oil
- 1 cup of shea butter
Making a cream with manuka honey for eczema sufferers is very easy and will only take a few minutes. Place all the oils and the butter into a bowl and melt the mix. When everything is combined, remove from heat. Add the honey and keep stirring until thoroughly combined.
You can leave it at room temperature to cool down for 60 to 90 minutes, then store it in the refrigerator for another 60 minutes. Take it out and whip it until you obtain a creamy result. Drop everything in a jar and keep it in the fridge for one more hour. You can then store it at room temperature.
Precautions In Taking Manuka Honey For Eczema
Pretty much like any other type of food or skin related products out there, honey can cause unwanted reactions for people with sensitive skin. The same rule applies to manuka honey. It’s also worth noting that eczema can worsen if you have a higher sugar intake than normal. Different people experience different symptoms because of sugar. If you face such issues, manuka honey should be avoided.
Keep an eye on the potential side effects and react accordingly. If you barely notice anything (ignore the placebo effect), you can slightly increase the dose. Otherwise, you should stop using the honey and discuss other options with a specialist.
Furthermore, manuka honey for eczema MUST be avoided if you:
- Are sensitive to sugar
- Are allergic to bees
- Suffer from any type of diabetes
- Undergo chemotherapy
Final Words
As a short final conclusion, whether it comes to eczema or other skin related problems, manuka honey has been proven to work wonders and provide safe alternatives to modern medical therapies. According to WebMD, keeping MRSA infections under control and rushing the natural healing process of the skin will also help in the attempt to keep these issues away.
Using manuka honey for eczema depends on how severe the problem is. Choose the dose accordingly, make your own products or buy organic alternatives. While you can find hundreds of products advertised to be rich in manuka honey, not all of them come with the right concentration for what you might need.
There are plenty of conclusive tests regarding the therapeutic effects of manuka honey and many of them are still ongoing. Results are encouraging so far due to the high antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. For all these reasons, this type of monofloral honey has been commonly placed in the superfood category.
Related Questions
How do you use manuka honey for a rash?
Ideally, you should apply manuka honey topically to deal with a rash. You can make your own cream or lotion, but you can also purchase one from a local big box store or online retailer. For its therapeutic effects to be beneficial, you need the UMF rating at 10 or higher. Apply it in a thin layer once or twice a day. The rash should be successfully healed within a week or two.
Does manuka honey help seborrhea?
Specific types of raw honey – especially manuka honey – can assist in the treatment of seborrheic infections, be it dermatitis or dandruff. It can be applied topically or taken orally. Just like for other infections, it might be a better idea to mix it with other healthy and natural ingredients, only to prevent some of its potential side effects.
