Most people don’t know the health benefits of Manuka honey for treating MRSA on the skin. It may even seem too good to be true, due to the severity of MRSA, and the fact that it’s an infection that’s difficult to treat because of its resistance to antibiotics. Who would guess that an inexpensive substance could treat a potentially deadly infection?! Manuka honey is easy to find, simple to use, and the majority of people have no problems tolerating it.
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What Is MRSA?
MRSA, or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a group of gram-positive bacteria that are genetically different from the typical strains of the more-common Staphylococcus aureus. Infections caused by the MRSA bacterium are difficult to treat because they often do not respond to antibiotic treatment. For this reason, MRSA is referred to as a super bug.
An MRSA infection can occur in various parts of the body, including the lungs, the urinary tract, the bloodstream, and the skin, including surgical wounds that can become infected with MRSA. This is a dangerous scenario because the infection can then get into the bloodstream.
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This type of staph infection is spread through contact with an infected person or objects that have MRSA on them. It is most common in settings like hospitals and nursing homes. Those with weakened immunity are at the highest risk for contracting MRSA, so the best way to protect yourself is by supporting your immune system.
Be aware of the symptoms of MRSA and other staph infections on the skin. Any area that is red, swollen, warm to the touch, and painful should be suspect. Pus-filled sores and bumps, accompanied by a fever, can also be infected with MRSA. Remember, this type of bacteria is contagious, so taking precautionary measures is paramount to keeping those around you safe.
Raw Manuka Honey
Manuka honey is produced from the nectar of the Manuka tree, and comes from New Zealand and Australia. It is sold and used as an alternative medicine, particularly for skin maladies, due to its healing properties. In fact, Manuka honey has been used for centuries, but its antibiotic and anti-microbial properties were not discovered until the late 19th century.
Honey is also an anti-inflammatory, reducing both pain and inflammation. A substance called mellitin is responsible for this anti-inflammatory effect, and is the main component of bee venom. The bees themselves produce mellitin, which is a polypeptide, consisting of 26 amino acids. It reduces swelling.
Hydrogen peroxide, and a compound called methylglyoxal (MG) are the active components in honey, that give it its antibiotic and antibacterial properties.
Manuka honey kills germs by decreasing the surface pH of wounds, while also protecting the area from bacteria. These are the mechanisms behind its effectiveness in treating MRSA.
Quality Matters
The quality of honey matters. Processed honey should never be used to treat a skin infection, honey should always be used in its raw, unpasteurized form. Honey that has been pasteurized is devoid of the beneficial properties inherent in Manuka honey, such as bee pollen, vitamins, enzymes, flavonoids, and phytonutrients. Processed honey that is sold in supermarkets is essentially a dead product.
Look for a potency of UMF 10 or higher. “UMK” stands for “Unique Manuka Factor,” and is based on a rating scale to determine the potency of Manuka honey. If honey is to be used medicinally, a UMK of 10 or higher is recommended.
Fortunately, high-quality honey is easy to find. You can buy Manuka Honey online. Here’s a good brand. It has a UMK of 15+, is non-GMO, and comes in a BPA-free jar. Manuka honey is pricier than honey you’d find at your neighborhood market, but if you’re going to be using it to treat a skin infection, you want to make sure it has a high UMK.
Manuka Honey Wound Care
Keep in mind that raw honey is NOT safe for babies. Follow these instructions to treat a skin infection on an adult.
- Thoroughly clean and sterilize the wound with hydrogen peroxide.
- Fully saturate a gauze pad with honey. These pads were designed to use with Manuka honey.
- Gently place honey onto the wound before covering with the pad.
- Honey is messy so cover the pad with a waterproof dressing.
- Make sure the dressing is secure by using tape or another adhesive.
- This entire process can be repeated three times daily.
The Health Benefits Of Manuka Honey
Manuka honey can be used for other conditions as well:
- A natural cough suppressant
- Anti-fungal
- Anti-viral
- Balances blood sugar
- Decreases LDL cholesterol
- Aids digestion and soothes ulcers
- Stabilizes blood pressure
How To Protect Yourself From Infection
Supporting your immune system is the best way to protect yourself from MRSA and other staph infections. Yeast and mineral deficiencies create the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. Antibiotic and steroid-use, along with poor-quality food are a set up for infections to take hold and create havoc.
Sugar, gluten, and pasteurized dairy products all create yeast in the body, leading to intestinal permeability, inflammation, and autoimmunity, resulting in a cascade of negative effects. Eliminating or minimizing these foods will greatly decrease your chances of contracting a dangerous infection, and the stronger your body is, the faster your immune system will fight off the infection if you do become infected. Inferior food, along with poor lifestyle choices weaken the immune system, allowing microorganisms to thrive.
Biofilms
Bacteria sequester themselves in a fortress-type substance called biofilms. Biofilms are not to be taken lightly, as they are responsible for MRSA’s ability to both survive and resist antibiotics as they help the bacteria to hide and evade treatment. These mucus-type barriers prevent antibiotics from reaching and destroying the infectious bacteria, so it’s vital if you must take an antibiotic, to first disrupt the biofilm.
Typically, harsh chemical chelators, such as EDTA, are used to dissolve them. Fortunately, there are natural products that can break down biofilms without draining essential minerals from the body.
Magnesium is a natural chelator, which we should all be supplement with any way, because it has been farmed out of soils, depleting our food supply of magnesium. Cistus tea breaks down biofilms as well. I buy it in this tin and it lasts forever. You can use the dry herb three times before discarding, and it tastes good so you can enjoy it instead of having to gag it down.
Buy Manuka Honey Here
GMO foods, EMFs, and environmental toxins also play a part in immune-system dysfunction. And of course, appropriate exercise and sleep are necessary components for the body to function optimally. The bottom line is to live as healthy a lifestyle as possible in order to protect yourself from infections.
Wow I knew that honey was good for you such as allergies and such but never thought of using it for a skin infection. Where does a person get it? I’ve never heard of this kind before. If a person didn’t have it on hand and an infection cropped up…how quickly could you get it delivered.
Susan,
You can buy Manuka honey on Amazon or at health food stores so you would be able to get it quickly if you needed to. Just make sure it’s high-quality. Thanks for reading!
I’ve heard of Manuka honey but it has been a mystery to me. Thank you giving such great details and for giving such helpful information. I had a coworker have a serious run in with MRSA. Basically he had the infection and doctors had mis-diagnosed it and pumped him full of powerful antibiotics. He almost died and it took him almost a year to recover.
This sounds like an all natural thing to have around…I’ll be sure to try some thanks!
Oh my goodness! I’m sorry to hear that about your friend. MRSA can be frightening!
Your article hits close to home as my sister had a scare with MRSA about a year ago when she had to have a surgery to remove a brain tumor. It was frightening and none of us knew what to do. Thankfully one of my nieces is a nurse and she checked out what was going on. They were treating her like she had MRSA, maybe as a precaution, but my niece got to the bottom of it. They had a wrong documentation on her chart!
It is good to know that there is a natural remedy that can help should it ever become necessary for real. She gets infections easily since her chemo.
As a person who struggles with type 2 diabetes, I was also pleasantly surprised to see that this honey also can help balance blood sugar and reduce LDL cholesterol! I am so amazed at all of the things in nature that help us to live healthy while we struggle with all these diseases that could be cured or at least lessened!
The next time anyone in my family has a skin infection I am using Manuka honey to help heal it (as long as they are willing to let me try!)!
Thank you for your review of Manuka honey!
Karin,
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I’m sorry to hear about what you sister had to go through. I can’t imagine how frightening that was. Yes, Manuka honey is good to help balance blood sugar and reduce LDL cholesterol. We’re lucky to have natural remedies that don’t come with the side effects of prescription drugs.
Hi Holly!
Wow MRSA scares me, I have a low immune system and I try my best to keep healthy by exercising everyday and consuming vitamins but I still get prone to diseases and it’s stressful. Can’t wait to try out the Manuka Honey! I know taking it raw is way better with more nutrients inside and that it’s good for treatments but is it healthy if I were to consume it raw?
MRSA can be scary. Good for you for leading a healthy lifestyle. That’s your best protection! Yes, raw honey is safe to use consume raw, in fact, it is used to boost the immune system and treat GI symptoms.