There are lots of things you can do to help prevent colds and flus, including keeping your body warm, taking Vitamin C, and eating your fruits and veg to keep yourself in overall good health. But when that cough or cold seems to make its way into life anyhow, turn to Nature to help you nip it in the bud.  A growing body of research strives to understand how Manuka honey works to kill bacteria, viruses, and support overall wellness. 

 Scientific Research on Properties and Benefits of Manuka  

Manuka honey, produced from the Leptospermum species of plants, is a health, healing, and wellness staple for consumers around the world. The scientific interest and consumer attraction is rooted in the unique properties of Manuka honey that set it apart from all other honeys the world over.  

Manuka honey was first recognized for its antibacterial properties, and these properties have been the most extensively researched. (1) Part superfood, part medicine, Manuka honey has been embraced by mainstream medicine for topical use for tissue regeneration and as a wound care treatment (2). It is also extensively used for the healing of cuts, skin ailments, burns, and infected wounds. Research studies have been carried out to explore Manuka honey’s antibacterial properties as a treatment for cystic fibrosis (3), clostridium difficile (4), and gastrointestinal diseases (5).  

Overall, honey’s properties have the potential to be an immunomodulatory agent – a substance that stimulates or suppresses the immune system to help the body fight viral infections or diseases. Honey’s antioxidant property inhibits oxidative stress and results in stopping harm to the vital cellular components (lipids, amino acids/protein, and DNA)(6), which promotes and activates white blood cells to fight against viral loads or diseases. Research has also been carried out looking at the antiviral properties of Manuka honey. A research team in 2014 published results of their work on the effect of Manuka honey on a variety of strains of influenza A and influenza B viruses (7). 

 Manuka and Covid-19 

A study was published in 2020 regarding the effectivity of using honey, specifically manuka honey, to fight against Covid-19 virus. Patients infected with COVID-19, that have died, have shown low lymphocyte counts. Lymphocytes are white blood cells that help protect the body from infection. In this recent study, it was found that COVID-19, in the human body, produces high counts of pro-inflammatory cytokines – cell signalling proteins that imbalance and inflame the immune system. Honey stimulates anti-inflammatory cytokines, which counteract pro-inflammatory cytokines, suggesting that honey has an influence in boosting the immune system as a supportive treatment for patients infected with COVID-19, and also for preventative measures for healthy individuals.(8) 

Why Berringa Manuka Honey This Cold & Flu Season: 

Manuka honey is expensive, and you want to make sure you are buying one that is going to give you the wellness and healing benefit you are after. You should only look at brands that are labelled with the actual MGO content and/or the correlated UMF value. MGO (or MG) stands for methylglyoxal, which is the naturally occurring organic compound found in true Manuka honey, and MG is the primary marker for its wellness and healing properties. MG is measured in mg/kg, and you should look for values of at least 220 MGO (correlates to 10+ UMF).  

At Berringa, we offer 5 MGO options to choose from, each available in 250g and 500g sizes,— 

• a mild strength everyday manuka (120+ MGO),  

• a medium strength manuka (220+ MGO),  
• a high strength manuka (400+ MGO), 
• a very high strength manuka (550+ MGO), and 
• an ultra-high strength manuka (900+ MGO). 

We pride ourselves on the authenticity, quality and integrity of every product bearing the Berringa label. That’s why we independently test all of our manuka honey by a NATA certified and accredited laboratory, ensuring what you read on the label matches what’s in the jar. Our honey is raw, minimally processed, unpasteurized, unadulterated, and produced in small batches. We source all of our honey exclusively from Australian beekeeping families along the East Coast that are known to produce some of the highest quality Manuka honey in Australia. 

Ways to Use Manuka Honey during Cold & Flu Season: 

Manuka honey has many antioxidant, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties that can help support treatment and relieve underlying symptoms for colds and coughs. It also helps to soothe a sore or scratchy throat naturally and it can boost the immune system when you are feeling under the weather. Since Berringa’s manuka honey is so delicious it is easy to fit into your health and wellness regimen so you can get well in no time. Here are some ways to take your manuka honey:  

1. Take 1-2 teaspoons per day right out of the jar for daily immune support. You can also add it to sweeten plain yogurt, or other foods.  
2. At the onset of symptoms, take 2-3 teaspoons per day out of the jar. Use a 500+ MG Manuka or higher if you have it. 
3. To soothe a sore throat, let a teaspoon of Manuka honey coat your throat as you swallow. 
4. For dry cough, honey is a powerful all-natural cough elixir eaten right from a spoon. 
5. For sinuses, dilute 1 teaspoon in a saline solution (distilled water) and rinse out your sinuses using a nasal irrigation device (e.g., Nasaline syringe, etc). 
6. Add a teaspoonful to a glass of warm water. Consume this mixture every morning to help soothe throat irritation caused by cold symptoms. 
7. Try Manuka honey, ginger, and lemon drink. Combine 3 tbsps of Manuka honey with a squeeze of lemon juice, grate an inch of fresh ginger, add warm water, and let it stand for 20 minutes. Mix well and enjoy the healthy goodness of Manuka honey. 

As always, if you have any questions about Manuka honey, you can reach out to us by clicking here.