Honey has been thought to be a remedy for cuts and grazes for many years. So-called “ medical grade “ ( sterilised ) honey has antibacterial ( bug-killing ) and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used as dressings for various wounds and ulcers. It has osmotic properties and may help control the smell of infected wounds . Dressings should not be used on patients with sensitivity to honey, bee stings or bee products ! Most of the “ medical grade “ honey is manuka, and much cheaper for the NHS than so-called manuka honey on sale to the public. I don’t know how frequently it is used nowadays.


What celebrities like Katherine Jenkins and Novak Djokovic may not know is that honey containing high hydrogen peroxide levels is more effective, and manuka honey even more effective because it also has non-peroxide antibacterial activity.


The UMF ( Unique Manuka Factor ) is the NPA ( Non Peroxide Activity ) given as a number. NPA may better be described as “ Not Perhaps Authentic “ ! To add to the confusion, “ anti bacterial activity “ ( peroxide activity ) may also be quoted as a number.


“ Genuine “ manuka honey is produced by bees whose hives are placed near wild manuka bushes, growing mostly on New Zealand’s North Island. Even then, other plants grow with manuka and bees may forage on them too.


“ Ordinary “ honey tastes good, but there is no clinical evidence that it ( or so-called manuka honey ) has health benefits when eaten, as opposed to applied locally on wounds / ulcers.

The sting in the tail ? No point in paying high prices for “ manuka “ honey which has no health benefits when eaten, especially if neither the bees nor the public know it’s genuine .