The Facts — and Myths — of Manuka Honey

Cure-all for many conditions, or totally bunk? The answer depends on how it’s used.

Oh honey, will that bee vomit cure all my ailments? Photo by Mariana Ibanez.

Every time I turn around, there’s a new “natural superfood” that has supposedly existed for hundreds of years, but is only now being recognized as an amazing cure-all for every disease that ever afflicts the human body. Aren’t we going to run out of new “ancient superfoods” to e̶x̶p̶l̶o̶i̶t̶ promote?

This week, it’s Manuka honey!

• What is it?
• Does it work on certain diseases or conditions?
• Is it totally a bunch of bullshit for other diseases?

Let’s find out!

Honey from a specific tree

First, let’s talk about what honey in general, and Manuka honey in particular, actually is.

Honey is a mixture of a few different ingredients, treated and processed. The two main ingredients of honey are:

1. Nectar, a sugary liquid produced by flowering plants
2. Bee saliva, which — just like our own saliva — contains a mix of enzymes that break down various components of what we eat.

Bees collect nectar from flowers, and then pass it back and forth, mouth to mouth…