Treating MRSA with Manuka Honey

Honey has been used for treating infections for many of years. Recent studies have shown that Active Manuka Honey is the most potent. Honeybees make Manuka Honey by using the nectar of the flowers that grow on the Manuka bush, indigenous to New Zealand. Scientists have discovered that this particular type of honey contains extraordinary antibacterial properties. Even though all types of honey contain hydrogen peroxide, Manuka Honey contains additional antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that are unaffected by heat, light or when diluted. This is why Manuka Honey is being used for medical purposes over other types of honey.

Manuka Honey is now being used to treat burns, insect bites and stings, bed sores, wounds, acne, poison ivy , diabetic wounds, scratches, cuts, abrasions, and hard-to-heal wounds. However, one of the most notable uses of Manuka Honey is the topical application in preventing and treating antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus ) and VRE (vancomycin-enterococci). Some people have reason to believe that MRSA could end up casing more deaths than AIDS in the future. This type of Staph infection used to be mostly contracted in hospitals. However, MRSA is now spreading through out our communities, infecting people at schools, gyms, restaurants, hotels, swimming pools, prisons, etc.

These types of infections used to be treatable with antibiotics. However, forms of bacteria have immerged showing a resistance to antibiotics. The Staph bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) can be found anywhere. It is estimated that approximately 20% to 25% of the population has Staph located on the surface of their skin. However, only about 1% of the population will be infected through wounds or breaks in the skin. Manuka Honey is now being used as an ingredient in wound care dressings in order to treat these infections and destroy the super-bugs associated with MRSA.