Known for its powerful antibacterial properties, Manuka honey is sometimes referred to as a “natural antibiotic”. But is this accurate?
To understand this, it's important to understand what an antibiotic is and to distinguish between antibiotic and antibacterial properties.
What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics are powerful medicines used to treat a wide range of infections or diseases caused by bacteria. When used properly, antibiotics can save lives.
An antibiotic either stops bacteria from multiplying or destroys them completely.
Typically, your immune system will destroy the bacteria before they can cause any symptoms or multiply. However, in some cases, the number of bacteria is too much for the immune system to handle. In these cases, an antibiotic can be useful.
Antibacterial versus antibiotic
Antibacterial refers to any substance that inhibits the growth or kills bacteria but doesn’t necessarily work inside the body to treat infections. Antibacterial agents include natural substances like honey or essential oils, as well as synthetic compounds, and are commonly used in disinfectants, soaps, topical treatment, and some natural remedies.
Antibiotics are typically derived from microorganisms. However, they can also be semi-synthetic or synthetic. These substances kill or inhibit bacteria and are used as prescription-based medicines designed to fight bacterial infections inside the body.
Antibiotics are a type of antibacterial, but not all antibacterials are antibiotics—an important distinction when considering whether Manuka honey can truly be called a “natural antibiotic.”
What makes Manuka honey a natural antibiotic?
Manuka honey is considered a natural antibiotic because of the strong antibacterial activities it presents. This is due to the high levels of methylglyoxal (MGO)— a chemical compound—present in the honey, which gives it strong antimicrobial effects. The higher the concentration of MGO, the better is the antibacterial potency, which is reflected by the Unique Manuka Factor Rating (UMF).
In most honey, the antibiotic quality is because of the presence of hydrogen peroxide. However, this substance can be quite unstable and is affected by light and temperature.
The MGO in Manuka honey remains stable and can withstand any dilution when mixed with blood, serum or wound tissues, making it a powerful agent against bacteria, even antibiotic-resistant bacteria like methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA).
Unlike synthetic antibiotics, which often target specific bacterial mechanisms, Manuka honey works in multiple ways:
Disrupting biofilm formation: Manuka prevents the formation of biofilm (community of bacteria) and even destroys biofilm that has already been formed. MGO in Manuka damages bacteria, making it difficult for the bacteria to attach to cell surfaces and form biofilm. This helps the body fight infections.
Osmotic effect: The sugars present in Manuka honey draw out moisture from damaged tissues, which reduces swelling and encourages healing. The sugar in honey further draws water out of bacterial cells, dehydrating them and inhibiting their growth.
Lowers pH: Manuka honey has naturally low pH levels (between 3.2 and 4.5), which makes it difficult for bacteria to survive and grow. The inhospitable environment inhibits bacterial enzyme activity, slowing their metabolism and reproduction.
With these strong antibacterial properties, Manuka honey is effective for wound healing, sore throat relief, treating skin conditions, and fighting bacterial infections, which is why Manuka is often referred to as a “natural antibiotic”.
At Nature’s Gold, we pride ourselves in producing premium quality Manuka honey products. You can buy Manuka honey products online for shipment throughout Australia and worldwide. Place your order today!
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