genuine manuka honey from nz

Deciphering manuka honey: UMF15+, MGO400, 24+ Bio Active, KFactor16, TA. And LOTS OF FRAUDS.

Manuka honey is one of the most researched honeys in the world. It has different markers and grades, all at expensive prices. And lots and lots of fraud.

Due to different policies, genuine producers have graded manuka honey using different letters and numbers.
I have already covered them in the article I want to buy manuka honey. What is UMF 16+, MGO 400+, Active?

Here are some updates and clarifications:

A (Active) or TA (Total Activity) or BioActive

A or TA or BioActive based brands measure the hydrogen peroxide activity.
The associated numbers refer to naturally occurring peroxide activity levels, which are levels found in all types of honey (whether manuka, acacia, clover etc). They are also known to be unstable (decrease) with time, heat and light. A ‘TA’ honey cannot be compared to a genuine UMF® certified jar.
It is simply a way of somehow grading the honey, to make it more valuable in consumers’ eyes.
They are usually much cheaper.

ACTIVE is more used in USA and Canada. Food and Drug Administration or the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, do not support the medical claims covered by the Unique Manuka Factor Association in New Zealand, and do not approve using their grades. The producers that use ACTIVE grade, followed by a number, also take into consideration some other factors that define a honey’s quality: live enzymes, pollen count, chemical/residue analysis, antioxidant levels, the raw status or unpasteurization process, and various other phytochemical factors found in Manuka honey. In North America, Wedderspoon is considered a very good and reliable manuka honey producer.

MGO™ (methylglyoxal)

– A trademark of Manuka Health New Zealand, referring strictly to the amount of MGO (aka MG) found in it. Scientific evidence has confirmed methylglyoxal as one of the key compounds naturally occurring in New Zealand manuka honey. logo mgo manuka honeySome scientists considered MGO the main factor of all the antibacterial properties of honey. In 2016, Manuka Health celebrated 10 years since Thomas Henle and his team discovered the huge amounts of MGO in manuka honey and attributed its antibacterial properties to it. Compared to other honeys, which can contain MGO from 0 to 5 mg/kg, manuka honey has 100 to even 800 mg/kg.
(more here: The celebration of manuka honey. Is MGO700 better than MGO300? Is manuka honey toxic?)
– It’s a quality system introduced in 2007
– It ranges from MGO™30 to MGO™550 (30mg/kg to 550mg/kg)

MGO™30 (containing 30mg/kg) – table grade
MGO™100 (containing 100mg/kg) – table grade
MGO™250 (containing 250mg/kg) – table grade
MGO™400 (containing 400mg/kg) – antibacterial grade, suited for skin therapy.
MGO™550 (containing 550mg/kg) – high antibacterial grade, suited for skin therapy.

! What you buy is not necessary what you have.
Not because of the producers, who are very strict and trustful, but because MGO quantity changes in time. What is written on the label is the amount of MGO found in honey at the time of testing and packing. According to Analytica Laboratories the content of MGO (MG) changes a lot in time, going from an initial 196 mg/kg to even 765 mg/kg after 8 months of storage at 27ºC.
Why does the MGO content increase? Because another component of manuka honey, DHA turns to MGO in time. Below there is a forecast of a sample of manuka honey, tested by Analytica Laboratories. MG stands for methylglyoxal, NPA stands for non-peroxide activity, HMF is Hydroxymethylfurfural, which is produced from the breakdown of sugar and is used as an indicator of heat treatment and aging. Read more about all these indicators here.

mgo in manuka honey changes in time

KFACTOR™  (Key factors)

It’s a trademark of the Wedderspoon company. They have created KFactor™, a holistic multi-stage authentication system named for the key factors inherent in manuka honey, defining properties used to authenticate manuka honey.
This grade DOES NOT stand for its therapeutic value, but for its authenticity as genuine monofloral manuka honey.
KFactor12 – guarantees that there are 65% manuka pollen grains in all the pollen grains from the honey:
KFactor16 – guarantees that there are 75% manuka pollen grains in all the pollen grains from the honey:
KFactor22 – guarantees that there are 90% manuka pollen grains in all the pollen grains from the honey.

Wedderspoon is funding research using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) imaging. This highly sensitive technology will not only measure known components, but also seek to identify additional components present only in Manuka honey. It is the synergy of live enzymes, high pollen count, DHA, methylglyoxal, and other key factors, they hope to identify by the unique NMR technology.

logo UMFHAUMF™ (Unique Manuka Factor)

– A trademark in New Zealand, which insures purity and quality.
– It’s a grading system that measures three unique signature compounds: Leptosperin, DHA, MGO (which are all important key markers)
– It is the only international quality standard, with multiple laboratories around the world able to verify test results. It also offers an independent, internationally recognised verification program. The UK’s own Food and Environmental Research Agency (FERA) can verify UMF® labels.
– The numbers that follow UMF refer to the percentage of phenol in water. For example, UMF12 equals a 12% solution of phenol in water.
– The numbers range from 10 to 25 (for therapeutic value) The higher the rating, the more potent the honey.

UMF 5+ → shows lower levels of antibacterial activity, yet this manuka honey makes an excellent nutritional supplement.
UMF10+ → Low to medium level antibacterial activity, suitable for helping to maintain good health.
UMF15+ → High antibacterial activity
UMF20+ → Very high antibacterial properties.

how to take manuka honey

The UMF® mark is a registered trademark, invented to grade the honey but also to protect the consumer that is getting a manuka honey that does actually contain the healing properties it is famous for.

Here is a list of all UMF licensed brands.

Other simple numbers:

Other manuka honey jars display only numbers on their front label. No other letter. Practically, they do not represent anything, we don’t know if that honey comes from manuka or not, it has no mark of any trustworthy test done. Do not buy them.

bad news for manuka honey lovers

How should we check a jar of manuka honey to see if it’s genuine?

1. If you want to be 100% sure you purchased genuine UMF® Manuka Honey, check the label for all following specifications:
– UMF® trademark on the front label (ranging from UMF5+ to UMF20+)
– New Zealand producer’s name
– producer’s UMFHA license number
– batch number
– UMFHA also recommends that manuka honey should be packed into jars and labelled in New Zealand.

Manuka honey should also be packed in New Zealand. And it should be written on the label as well!

In February 2017, the Queen’s official grocer, pulled manuka honey from UK shelves.

Why? He was concerned that some pots might not contain what the label claimed. The Sunday Times revealed three British stores were selling honey that failed basic manuka standards.

Manuka honey should be packed in New Zealand. When manuka is exported overseas in bulk, it can be diluted with other, cheaper honeys. Why? Well, that’s simple: to maximise profits.

Other companies based in New Zealand also produce genuine manuka honey, though they are not members of the UMFHA.
2. Wedderspoon guarantees genuine manuka honey, though this doesn’t say much about its antibacterial properties.

3. Manuka Health offers genuine manuka honey, we can easily recognize it from the MGO™ marker on the label.

Case study:

Haddrells of Cambridge, http://haddrells.co.nz/, a private company, wholly owned by Richard and Moira Haddrell. Based in Cambridge, New Zealand, produce and export honey, bee pollen and propolis. It is UMFHA licensed no. 1027

Their distributors:
– Lifeplan Products Limited in the UK  → ‘GOLDENHILLS MANUKA HONEY’ (http://www.haddrells.co.nz/product-goldenhills.html)
– Jna-net Japan in Japan
– Back to nature in Hong Kong → ‘Manuka honey’ (http://www.manukahoney.hk/)
– Thoroughbred Remedies Ireland Ltd in Ireland → ‘Manuka honey'(https://www.triequestrian.ie/)
– Natures Farm in Singapore/ Malaysia → ‘Haddrell’s of Cambridge Manuka Honey’ (http://www.naturesfarm.com/)
– Costco Wholesale Korea Ltd in Korea

Frauds?
Here comes the case of Trader Joe’s. The jar has no clear pictures, no producer mentioned, no batch number, only a license number, which is 1027, belonging to Haddrells of Cambridge.
The name of the distributor cannot be found among the other distributors listed on the producer’s page, and neither is the number of this product.
Now, would you buy this manuka honey?

On Amazon we can find jars of manuka honey made by Haddrells, sold by all these distributors. BUT, the jars don’t have clear pictures from all sides, their labels don’t specify where was the honey bottled, which is the batch number and the UMF license number.
In this point, we can immediately assume that the sellers have made similar jars, similar labels and filled them with something else. Since we lack all this information, I do not recommend buying this honey, though the producers may be fair and correct.

does manuka honey kill h pylory

Frauds

• In October 2011 FERA tested 5 brands of manuka honey sold in the UK. Only one showed non-peroxide activity, specific to only manuka honey. Of the other 23 manuka honeys, 11 also failed the non-peroxide tests. What does this mean? They were not manuka honey.

• In 2012 UMFHA tested 73 samples from Britain, China and Singapore. 41 of them had no non-peroxide activity. Other tests made in Hong Kong found that of 55 manuka honey samples, 14 had been adulterated with syrup.

• On 25 August 2013 the Sunday Times reported examples of 3 products sold in the UK, that had a number on the jar, but no measure of the special non-peroxide or UMF activity was given. Preliminary scientific tests showed ‘undetectable’ levels.
From the brands tested:
x Pure Gold (different grades) → no NPA detected (was it manuka honey?)
x Manuka Doctor (different grades)→ no NPA (non-peroxide activity) detected
√ Comvita 10+ → NPA 19
√ Rowse 10+ → NPA 11

In 2013 statistics showed that:
– the typical annual New Zealand harvest is of 1,700 tons of manuka honey
– the annual consumption in the UK is of 1,800 tons of manuka honey
– the global consumption is estimated at 10,000 tons of manuka honey! How about that!

manuka honey grades deciphered

**********************************

References:

http://www.newzealandhoneyshop.co.uk/blog/manuka-honey-sunday-times.html

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/73006740/Detector-to-identify-fake-Manuka-honey-launched

wedderspoon.com/manuka-honey-science/kfactor

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/73006740/Detector-to-identify-fake-Manuka-honey-launched

http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2017/02/kiwi-manuka-honey-pulled-from-uk-shelves.html

Laura Bujor

Laura Bujor is the author and founder of HealthyWithHoney.com. She built this website as a personal journey to discover the power of honey and share it with the world. She learned directly from beekeepers and took a course in apitherapy. From a hobby, honey and apitherapy turned into a professional career. You can find her on LinkedIn, Facebook, Pinterest and X.

View all posts by Laura Bujor →

69 thoughts on “Deciphering manuka honey: UMF15+, MGO400, 24+ Bio Active, KFactor16, TA. And LOTS OF FRAUDS.

  1. I recently was told I have lung cancer, not sure how far it’s progressed, will black seed oil & honey cure this?

    THANK YOU for your reply!!

    Suzanne

    1. Suzanne, if only things were that simple…
      I’m sorry to hear about your diagnostic. Black seeds and honey can help, a lot, but not cure.
      Anyways, whatever path you decided to take, allopathic or naturopath, please also listen to Joe Dispenza’s work. He’s teaching us that humans can ultimately heal themselves of everything.
      All the best!
      Laura

  2. Hy, i am new to manuka honey. I just purchased manuka honey from manuka doctor, the 540 MGO. Do you think they changed over time? I read above that in 2013 the test that was made on their honey did not show any non peroxide component. Do they sell or not real genuine manuka honey… please if you could answer to me i would be very grateful

    1. Hi Rox,
      I hope they did change, but it’s also important where you bought it from. The good news is that you can verify it. See here: https://www.manukadoctor.co.uk/pages/honey Enter your batch number and see if it’s real.
      And for the future be very careful. After olive oil, honey is the world second counterfeit natural product. (so they say!)
      I hope you have the real thing. 🙂
      Laura

  3. Hello,

    Along w/ manuka honey, what foods especially breakfast are helpful in eradicating h pylori?

    1. Hi John, and Happy New Year!
      Sorry for answering rather late, blame the holidays!…
      To eradicate H Pylori, good effects were seen combining honey and black seeds powder (a really powerful antiviral and antibacterial. It kills HIV. and it is also used for cancer therapy) Here is a recent study on ncbi.

      And I used read about good results with mastic gum. Here is a study. But you can search for others as well.
      Good luck in finding the best remedy for you.
      And if you have time, please come back here and tell us the results. Lots of people are suffering from the same condition.
      Laura

  4. Hello,

    I’ve heard that authentic manuka honey from Australia or New Zealand if taken on a consistent basis can eradicate cancer cells. Is that true or false?

    Thanks.

    1. False, of course. Manuka honey is a great healthy product, but not a panacea. If only things were that easy! Cancer cells grow inside our body all the time and a healthy organism is able to fight and destroy them. When the imbalance is too big and the other factors that led to this state do not change (psychological, energetic, chemical environment etc) the body needs help in fighting the bad cells. Honey in general and manuka honey in particular are good choices for preventing the overgrow of cancer cells. You can read about studies that proved this here: Is honey a natural treatment to cancer? Other honeys good in fighting cancer are gelam honey and tualang honey.
      All the best! Laura

        1. You’re kidding, right? Let’s see: the food is compromised by toxic chemicals, the air is polluted, the water is treated or full of plastic, the radiations hit us from everywhere (and 5G will be catastrophic), synthetic drugs heal one thing and destroy other 5 in the process – only some of the external things that aggress our physical body. On the other hand, our speeding and demanding lifestyles keep us in a stressful existence that sucks all the energy from ourselves.
          Giving all these, the only reasonable thing to do to “prevent the overgrow of cancer cells” is to forget about it. Find peace of mind, leave happy and as stress-free as you can, find joy, love and gratitude. Understand that you can be each person that you meet, and make peace with everybody. That’s what’s important.
          In the end if we die in a car crash or by cancer, is just the same. If we need to go, we’ll go. What matters is to enjoy the time we live and stop worrying.
          Laura

  5. Hello,

    I was given 2 separate rounds of antibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor to eradicate the bacteria h pylori. Unfortunately, it didnt kill the bacteria. Thus, the gastroenterologist suggested that I may have the “genetic predisposition” of h pylori meaning no matter what i do or take, I cannot eradicate the bacteria. To me, it is ridiculous because none of my family have had any history of any serious stomach issues. Is that true or false?

    1. Hi Nicolas,
      Please read the comment of Louis on this page, he suffered from the same condition and cured taking some supplements and following a strict diet.
      As for the bacterium, it is known that there are healthy people caring this bacterium, without having any disease. Just like in the case of S. aureus. Your main concern should be to maintain a healthy state of the body, even if you host H Pylori. And this also depends on your diet and lifestyle. I know that we often do not want to change anything, just take a pill that should solve a problem and that should be it. But a disease is an unbalance, a accumulation caused by many factors.
      And no, I don’t believe it is genetic, I believe in the 2% genetic inheritance only. The rest is done by our subconscious that learns from the environment. Not your case either.
      I’m a Bruce Lipton believer. 🙂
      Laura

  6. Hello, I am dealing with H Pylori. Manuka honey from NZ did not work for me. So, I am going to try Bio Active honey from Australia. But I am not sure whether MGO 510 or MGO 820 is appropriate for my condition. Please advise.

    1. Hi Paul,
      The antibacterial power of manuka honey comes mainly from its MGO content. So, I would go for the higher one. And if I may, you can also take mastic gum with it.

  7. Hello,

    Does Vitamin C play a role in eradicating h pylori? If so, how many mg does it take to do so? and for how long?

    Please inform. Thanks.

    1. Hi Michael,
      Vitamin C is probably the most important vitamin needed by our body and it has to take from food/supplements because it cannot produce it by it sown. Our immune system needs it the most, so in order to help your body fight H pylori you should give it vit c. The form that is best assimilated in the body is the liposomal form. Here is an example available on Amazon, but any other brand is good as long as its vit c is liposomal.
      Not for long time. After your results are negative and you feel good, stop it and replace it with fruits and vegetables.
      All the best!
      Laura

  8. Hello,

    What are the proper steps in utilizing manuka honey topically for skin rashes?

    1. Hi John,
      There is nothing out of the ordinary, simply apply it on the affected area. In the studies patients were asked to apply it over night for 7 nights in order to evaluate the results. The time of healing depends of the how bad the skin problem is.
      It is also recommended to use sterilized manuka honey (it is done using gamma radiation (which does not affect the health properties of honey) and they have created special products for an easier use. Please see: Medihoney (where you can also read about the steps to be taken) or the other posts in the manuka honey category.
      All the best! Laura

  9. Hello Louis,

    What brand did you use for the L glutamine and mastic gum?

    Also, first thing in the morning, I would have to take mastic gum first, wait 45 mins then consume manuka honey, wait 20 mins-30 mins then eat breakfast?

  10. Hello, I was diagnosed with H Pylori. I have been using Happy Valley Manuka Honey UMF 15 for almost 2 weeks. How long do I have to use it in order to eradicate the bacteria? Ive been taking it 3 times every day 30 mins before meals and right before bed. Another question, in terms of diet, I have stopped eating red meat, consuming alcohol & fatty/greasy food. Anything else I should avoid for the time being? Last question, A manuka honey brand that comes from Australia and says MGO 820 And Bio Active, does the honey have antibacterial properties? Much appreciated.

    1. Hi Jean,

      I would say 3 weeks are just fine, take 1 week off and then repeat the test. You are taking it correctly. The diet is fine, try to also avoid sugars and soda. Manuka honey coming from Australia which says it has MGO820 would be the equivalent of UMF15+ to 20+. Yes, with powerful antibacterial properties.
      Please keep in mind that each organism is different and reacts differently. Clinical tries did not show 100% success rate in eradicating the bacteria, it’s good to keep our objectivity up. Yet, nature was always on our site. Father of manuka honey, Peter Molan, was taking manuka honey for his ulcer for a reason!
      All the best!
      Laura

      1. Hi Jean,

        I suffered from H-pylori infection for almost 2 years only using Antibiotics. After much experimenting I found what worked and killed the virus within 3 weeks.

        1. UMF 10-15 grade Manuka honey. Take it on a empty stomach but consume it with something like a wholewheat cracker even fruit which allows it to remain for longer in the stomach.

        2. 1st thing in the morning on a empty stomach ( 45 min before breakfast or any honey ) take Mastic Gum along with a buffered Vitamin C powder. This attacks the bacteria directly. Followed by Manuka honey with a cracker or small piece of fruit. Then breakfast.

        3. Add to your diet the following through intervals in the day.

        – Zinc
        – Iron
        – L Glutamine ( will help heal your stomach lining )
        – Cabbage juice
        – Garlic tablets
        – Vitamin B12 & B complex injections

        H – Pylori gets a grip on your stomach in the absence of Vitamin B12 and Iron in your system. The Mastic Gum and Manuka honey kills it. The rest weakens and irritates the bacteria.

        I had a very serious H pylori infection and this cocktail after much searching and experimenting is what killed it off.

        Avoid sugar, alcohol, white bread, dairy product, red meat.

        Eat Blue berries, almonds, high fibre diet, lots of vegetables especially Broccoli.

        Regards

        1. Hi Louis,
          Thank you for your comment, it is pure gold! I heard about mastic gum as being really good for killing H pylori. With your permission I would like to add your story to an article here about treating ulcer using manuka honey. Ulcer is mostly caused by H. pylori, it will perfectly fit and you may help a lot of people.
          One question: did you take manuka honey only once per day? Because it’s a lot less than recommended.
          Thanks again
          Laura

  11. Hi laura,

    I know it sounds strange but have you seen anyone with Brucellosis benefited from Manuka honey?
    IVe been dealing with the disease for over 4 years and it only affected my eyes (uveitis)… It does respond to antbiotic but after i get off the meds i can last for 8 month max… Im told it never goes away and become more resistant to antibiotics each time . im just devastated and trying to look for anything that would help me in this!

    1. Hi Vahid,
      Complicated situation. Scientists agree that the main compound that gives manuka honey its antibacterial power is MGO (methylglyoxal). And there are various studies proving this on very-hard-to-heal wounds, for a wide range of bacteria. But on skin wounds. Internally, things are more complicated. Here is what they say: “Investigations on the bearings of methylglyoxal pathway in microbial infections of host cells are rare and limited.”
      MGO is an extremely cytotoxic physiological metabolite, present in our body, and present in bacterial infections, too. There are not enough studies to tell us what happens if we add some more MGO in our bacterial infected body.
      But, there are some studies that show MGO alone acts differently than MGO within honey. And that manuka honey enhanced the power of antibiotics if taken together (remember to do this next time you take antibiotics).
      So, from the science perspective we don’t have much.
      People taking manuka honey report good results. But of course, placebo can interfere. All I can say is that one of my readers told me a story about her 80 yo mother, with MRSA, who took 4 series of antibiotics with no result. She decided to give her mother manuka honey. She took only one teaspoon per day, for 8 months and the results came back negative. It worked.
      Of course Brucella is a completely different bacterium, but honey has a very large antibacterial action.
      One teaspoon per day is not much, I think the body can handle the extra amount of MGO you ingest with it.
      Follow your instinct!
      Laura

  12. Hello Laura,

    Most manuka honey with umf are thick. Are they raw? Please guide. Thanks.

    1. Hi Janet,
      Yes, it is. It was not heated for filtration reasons, or pasteurized to last longer in the liquid form on the shelf. The only process that is applied to medical grade manuka honey is gamma-radiation – but this is a process that does not influences its medical value or nutritional components in any way.
      Yet this is done for medical grade honey only. The other manuka honey, UMF certified, is raw.
      Laura

  13. Hi Laura,
    I stumbled upon this site when researching manuka “oil” . Somewhere on the internet I saw a mixture of manuka oil and di water placed in a aerosol container for the treatment of sinus infections, which I have suffered from for years.
    After years and years of AB’s, cultures etc. I decided that there had to be an alternative. I read about Manuka honey, bio films and several other “recent” sinus related findings.
    I just received manuka oil made by INN& CO, but can not seem to find the article with amounts of oil to di water – would you have a suggestion…?
    Thanks,
    Dave

    1. Hi Dave,
      I think you are referring to a aerosols nebulizer, but from what I know, the substances (oils included) are mixed with saline not with distilled water. Unfortunately I cannot help you with a specific dose, I know more about the use of manuka honey in spray forms for sinusitis.
      I know essential oils are mostly used in aroma diffusers, with good results, but also as aerosols. Anyway I googled a little on your subject and found this interesting story of a woman and her experience with aerosols with essential oils. It’s worth reading I would say, it can give you an idea. http://www.cfnaturalhealth.com/blog/inhaling-essential-oils.
      I’m sorry I cannot help with more.
      Laura

  14. Dear Laura ,
    A couple of years ago I have treated my MRSA infection by the platinum Manuka Honey. In Toronto , Canada here is no more of this product unfortunately . I think I`m again infected with MRSA so I just could get the gold Manuka Honey , which I assume is genuine since it`s from the same store . Do you think it`s still effective?
    Also I would really appreciate if you could please suggest websites or companies who might sell the platinum and could deliver to Toronto , or equally good other type of genuine manuka honey.
    I thank you for your help in advanced !
    Robert

    1. Hi Robert,
      Yes, it is still effective, viruses and bacteria develop resistance to synthetic drugs only, not to natural products.
      From what I see they called platinum a manuka honey with MGO550+ produced by Manuka Health, which is not called platinum any more. But I think the producer still sells manuka 550+. Anyway, all the producers listed above in this article are trustful. From my research the most appreciated brand is Comvita. See here my article about it: What is the best manuka honey? From what brand?
      All the best! Laura

  15. I forgot to hit the email notification button, please send me a notification when you respond. Thanks.

  16. I have Lyme Disease and am being treated on antibiotics both oral and IV for the past 5 months, with only moderate improvement. I am wondering if adding Manuka honey can help boost my immune response. I weigh 148lbs, so would I need to take 3 tablespoons a day to see results? Also, what brand and strength would you recommend?

    1. Hi Ruth,
      First of all, taking honey (manuka honey included) with antibiotics will increase their potency. See the article on this.
      Secondly, manuka honey is much appreciated for its high antimicrobial power, so it is good for fighting the bacterium that causes Lyme disease as well. In fact I did read in a forum that someone said manuka honey was very helpful in Lyme’s. Any type of honey helps with the immune system, but not as much as the other products of the hive do. And I mean propolis, bee pollen and royal jelly. I would very much advice you to try some of these.
      And yes, manuka honey UMF15 or UMF20 (this is highly antimicrobial) 3 tablespoons per day is good. Take it on an empty stomach, yet with a piece of bread or some water. Not alone.
      All the best!
      Laura

    2. Ruth, Def add your quality mamuka honey to help your health. But also look into higher mg doses of perscription iodine. It will prevent virus and disease from replicating in the cells.

  17. Hi Laura,
    Many thanks for your great effort to help people for free.
    Just a simple question,what is the difference between Active Manuka Doctor and Manuka MGO?

    1. Hi Dridi,

      Active Manuka
      The grade ACTIVE is more used in USA and Canada. These countries, through Food and Drug Administration or the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, do not support the medical claims covered by Unique Manuka Factor Association in New Zealand. Therefore not legally approved for foods and honeys.
      So the best way to express manuka honey’s quality is by using the grade A or Active, or Active Manuka. It expresses the existence of antibacterial activity, either peroxide activity or non-peroxide activity or even both of them.
      The producers that use ACTIVE grade, followed by a number, take also into consideration some other factors that define a honey’s quality: live enzymes, pollen count, chemical/residue analysis, antioxidant levels, the raw status or unpasteurisation process and various other phytochemical factors found in Manuka honey.
      Manuka MGO
      Things are simpler here. MGO followed by a number is a trademark of Manuka Health New Zealand and represents the quantity of metoglyoxal (MGO)- which is a substance responsible for most of the antimicrobial power of manuka honey (but not entirely responsible)- found in that jar.

      You can find other details here: I want to buy manuka honey. What is UMF 16+, MGO 400+, Active?
      Laura

  18. Is it safe for someone with type 2 diabetes to use mauna honey in their tea.

  19. Hi Laura,

    Hope you are well.

    I have a sore throat for a long time. I just know the benefits of honey recently; I want to buy Manuka honey to cure the sore throat. However, there are many brands with different UMF. I wonder which one is suitable for me and how to use the honey in an appropriate way to cure the sore throat. Could you please give me some advice?

    One more question about the difference between comvita UMF15+ MANUKA HONEY and Kiva UMF15+ MANUKA HONEY. Their quality is the same or not as both are UMF 15+ but their prices are extremely different?

    Thank you very much.
    Cheers

    1. Hi Dat,

      Dilute it 50%-50% and gargle with it. Do it 4-5 times per day, for a couple of minutes. Don’t swallow it after that. Some therapists say it has to be till the throat starts to hurt. Well, I think we should keep it easier.
      You can also eat 3 tablespoons per day.
      UNF15+ is a standard of quality and it means that not matter the brand the honey should be the same. The difference in price can be given by many factors, I explained some of them in my post 2017 brings bad news for manuka honey lovers!
      And here is a detailed description of the best brand of manuka honey – as graded by consumers.
      Good luck with your throat. 🙂
      Laura

  20. UPDATED
    Hi Laura – hoping you can help. Short version …
    Birthday cake – used 250ml of Capilano Manuka Honey (5+ 83). Not registered, no batch #.
    XXXXXXX my bad – there was a batch number (date and time) on the bottle. I no longer have it though.
    Not pasteurised, not labelled organic, not labelled ‘raw’ as it goes through ‘filtration process’
    http://www.capilanohoney.com/au-en/faq

    About 2/3 baked in cake (cooked at 150C) and 1/3 in double boiler icing (raw eggs, honey, salt).
    Eaten over three days. Family hasn’t been the same since. Major fatigue, brain fog, continuing after 2 weeks.
    Highly sensitive to all food and environmental triggers (previously managed)
    Even medications for ADHD (dexamphetamine) not working properly.
    Have considered candida overgrowth and die off. Have methylation issues – connection there?
    Don’t know whether to see the doctor, the naturopath, or what?

    Any ideas at all?? Any thoughts would be very highly appreciated.

    1. Hi Carla,
      I don’t understand, why would you use manuka honey in a cake? If you want to replace sugar with honey you can always use a regular raw polyfloral honey. Besides being more expensive, manuka honey contains a higher quantity of MGO, which also increases with heat. Although I doubt the effects of too much MGO in the body can be seen in such a short time.
      The symptoms can be more associated with a toxin that could have been present in it, or in your other ingredients. It is possible for manuka honey to be toxic, you know, see here A new dispute on manuka honey market: Is it toxic or not?. In fact, all honey may contain toxins of some sort. Our raw honey can poison us!. I don’t want to scare you, only to be completely objective and fair.

      Now, if you have stopped eating it the symptoms should disappear sooner or later. But I always think it is very good to see a doctor and a naturopath. This is the best solution: both of them, as they see things from different perspective. And besides, you are taking medication from both parts.
      All the best!
      Laura

      PS. If you discover the cause and turns out it was manuka, please let us know. It may help other people in the future.

  21. Hi laura,
    I have uti infection for 4 months now oral antibiotics is not working on me. Im on iv antibiotics because my infection(ESBL)is out of control. I read manuka honey is very good. How much quantity should i take it everyday. Thank you

    1. Hi Ashley, yes, by all means, take manuka honey in such a serious case. It will kill bacteria and also increase the power of the antibiotics (proven fact).
      I guess the usual therapeutic dose of 1.2 g honey/kg body weight daily. A tablespoon has 21 grams. Effects are seen after 2-3 weeks. (It takes a while, natural medicine acts differently than synthetic ones).
      You can even combine the honey with black seeds powder.
      All the best!
      Laura

  22. Hi Laura,

    I have moderate to severe psoriasis for last 8 years, the condition started from scalp and has extended to almost 15% of my body areas. I have been using topical steroids but seems like it is not helping anymore. I am quite aware that is an autoimmune disorder, which requires internal therapy in addition to external therapy. While I was researching I came across benefits of Manuka honey, and especially this article.
    I would highly appreciate, if you can recommend right concentration of UMF in manuka honey for my situation, and if I can also combine black-seeds. Would it be more effective topically or orally?

    Thank you

    1. Hi Zo,

      Manuka honey is antibacterial. If your disease is triggered by bacteria, than it is a good idea to take manuka UMF15+ or 20+ for a period of time. Maybe a month, not more, and then take lots of supplements with probiotics (here are some very good ones: Optimum Probiotics: Deep Immune System Support – With Patented Probiotic Booster – Effective in Small Doses Within Hours – Nutritional Supplement)and eat certain foods to modify the microbiome (fermented food, for example).
      Bacteria in the gut trigger inflammation outside the gut.
      You can also take black seeds (nigella sativa). Internally.
      To clear the skin you can also use manuka honey topically on affected zones.
      And please read this article, too: The truth about psoriasis natural treatments: honey, propolis, bee venom or other natural products.

      Laura

  23. Hello Laura,
    My daddy has prostate cancer and it has now left the prostate,but Ive been doin so much research and came acros propolis honey/sour honey 70%.Peoples reveiws were very positive and out of this world as to how great it is.The only on negative thing I read was the resin can turn your teeth brown but this man said he had prostate cancer stage for and when he started taking it he noticed the cancer cells started attacking themselves and diying off to the point of recovering completely from the cancer.So many great reveiws I bought 2 bottles but it wont be here til monday 5/1/17.What do you think or know of this honey?South african bees honey w very high ratings.Its worth a try to me if it can save my pops.

    1. Hello Brenda,
      I’m glad you’ve discovered propolis. Though it is best taken as tincture or extract. And I usually recommend raw honey, not sour honey, but it’s ok to take it for a start and see the effects.
      Propolis has absolutely amazing powers and there are so many studies and clinical trials that proved exactly that.
      Please read this articles: Propolis can prevent and treat LEUKEMIA and CANCER, Propolis protects liver, has anti-radiation effect, boosts immunity and has anti-inflamatory activity. and so many other articles about this here: Propolis category

      As for the teeth, it does that if you chew propolis, it sticks to your teeth, but it goes away after a wash.
      All the best to your dad.
      Laura

  24. Would you consider Wedderspoon a trustworthy product because it is not listed as a UMF licensed producer?

    Thank you,

    Tony

    1. Hi Tony,
      Wedderspoon is a trustful brand in the US, which guaranties genuine manuka honey and doesn’t say much about its antibacterial properties. Food and Drug Administration do not support the medical claims covered by UMF Association in New Zealand, and do not approve using their grades. So Wedderspoon gives us no grade related to its antimicrobial power, but to its concentration of pollen in honey (which shows its authenticity as a monofloral manuka honey).
      It is logical that a KFactor12 grade, containing 65% manuka pollen grains found in all the pollen grains within that honey, is not better that a KFactor22, which guarantees 90% manuka pollen grains.
      But that’s all. The fact that we have genuine 90% manuka honey in the jar we’ve bought, doesn’t mean it has a high antimicrobial value.
      There is 100% manuka honey with UMF5 and 100% manuka honey with UMF25+. Which is exactly the purpose of the UMF Association: to tell more about the therapeutic value of this honey. And this is why I recommend honey from a UMF certified brand.

      But if you have Wedderspoon honey, stay assured that they sell genuine manuka honey from New Zealand. And as I said, in North America, Wedderspoon is considered a very good and reliable manuka honey producer.
      Laura

  25. Still a little confused on which one to buy. Want it for cuts, burns, medical. What brand and which active number to buy., 20+ or higher. Ty

    1. It depends on the gravity of the wound. Start from UMF15+. For a highly infected wound you need a higher UMF.
      Another alternative, easier to use, is Activon. It’s in a tube, so its easier to apply. Or in special dressings. It’s even cheaper than manuka honey. Or, Revamil. As a rule, any type of medical grade honey works perfectly.
      Laura

  26. Hello,
    I would like to know what brand/strength honey to use for Pylori or food poisoning, my husband has had sudden digestive issues , doctors kind of wrote it off as unknown, and want to put him on meds, id rather try this and see if it helps. thanks for any help

    1. Hi Gayle,

      Any producer that is UMF licensed is good. There are some more popular, like Comvita, but I think they are all ok.
      Yes, it is recommended to try natural products before chemical drugs, yet it is good to be objective all the way. Please read this article: Is Manuka Honey safe to eat?and see about the differences of lab results compared to those from clinical trials.
      On the other hand, there can be people who have the bacteria, without having the disease. So, if your lifestyle improves, it doesn’t matter if the tests say you are still having the bacteria.
      And manuka honey can do the job! Peter Molan, who was like the father of manuka honey was treating himself with manuka honey for his ulcer.

      Laura

  27. Hello everyone.
    Please read about us and our manuka honey from Australia.
    Our product is certified by Intertek Germany: every batch is controlled.
    Only this way you can be sure you are eating a real concentration of MGO.

  28. Is it possible that any of the ingestable for human type
    MANUKA Honey could help with any of these two medical issues. 1. COLITIS. Or. 2.A Rare bladder disease called Interstistial Cysitis there is no cure for this and is very painful.
    Thank you for any help or guidance in advance you can give us.
    Blessings
    Mr. Charles Calvin Hall

    1. Hello,
      From what I’ve read manuka honey is recommended for the digestive system. I know colitis was mentioned, but I haven’t read anything about your other condition. Anyways, if there isn’t a synthetic medicine recommended, you can surely try natural products. At least they don’t have such bad side-effects. So, I think you can try manuka honey, first with small quantities and see what happens.
      Also, there are other natural products, like the black seeds – with the reputation of curing everything…. Nigella Sativa, the black seeds, can cure every disease. Come on…
      Worth reading. 🙂
      Laura

      PS. I hope I’m not crossing the common sense line here, but I would also like to advice you to meditate a little on your capacity of letting things out, of letting them go away, good or bad, as part of a normal cycle of life. What goes in, must go out. Let everything go out from your soul, and your body will follow the pattern and eliminate the waste materials, painlessly. Meditate on the fluidity of water going from springs to rivers, oceans and then steams…
      Our soul and body are connected. But life has a way of altering our perfect soul, and this is later on seen on our body. If we are conscious of this, we can reverse it. With some help from our planet, of course. 🙂
      Laura

    2. I have colitis. I am healing with Anthony William’s protocols. He talks about how to heal from many diseases that are “incurable”. I am on no meds and am getting better. Listen to him for free on soundcloud. His book is called medical medium. There is no one putting out the information on healing that he is. If you want answers and relief look no further.

  29. Hi Laura
    I would like to buy manuka honey for two reasons:

    1) to feed my pet 1/4 tsp before his first meal simply as a health support and beacuse of all its amazing antibacterial properties.

    2) to use it on my skin to treat acne

    What is a reliable brand of manuka honey? I didnt understand from your article if manuka health is one of them. Also, what would be the ideal safe UMF or MGO to give to a dog? Is MGO 550 too high? Thanks!!!

    1. Hi Manuela,

      Manuka Health is one of the most trustful brands. A table grade is between 100 and 400 MGO. I would use this type for ingestion, human or animal.
      For skin therapy 400 – 850 MGO (20 – 35 UMF) is recommended.
      You can also try kanuka honey for acne, the producers have special tested products made from this type of honey, a cousin of manuka. People say it does wonders on any type of complexion.
      Laura

      PS.
      There are special products for pets, with manuka honey and a bit of bee venom, especially recommended for joint problems. If you are interested, see details of Joint Relief for Pets – Bee Venom Honey for Animals 250g” target=”_blank”>manuka honey with bee venom for pets. It can be found as liquid honey or as tables.
      Be sure your pet is not allergic to bee venom first.

  30. Hi great article i’m so confused with all this numbers ..mgo..umf …
    anyway a friend of mine brought me a manuka honey by heathly care australia
    20+mgo umf 5+ i dont know if it’s a fake one or not but before i consuming it , i would like to know the daily quantity to eat for a adult ?
    thanks a lot for your time

  31. Hi Laura!

    Im a cancer patient looking for alternative treatments..Ive been taking black seed oil and read that it should be taken with Manuka honey for best results. I want to order some but don’t quite know which brand to go with in my case. Can you recommend one for me??

    Thank you for your time and awesome articles!!! 🙂

    1. Hi Evan,
      Black seeds are a very good choice. While I was researching them I haven’t found this, that they work better with manuka honey. They work with any type of honey, or alone. If you don’t take black seeds as capsules (recommended) and want to mix your oil with honey, any raw honey is just as good.
      Manuka honey is a very good honey, but as antimicrobial, not necessary as anticancerogenic and antimutagenic. And its high quantity of MGO may even not recommend it at all. See here why. I would consider more honeys with higher antioxidant properties, like dark honeys (tualang, heather) or some researched honeys like Gelam and Nenas monofloral honeys, which “inhibit proliferation of HT 29 colon cancer cells by inducing DNA damage and apoptosis.” (to quote the study)

      Honey activates the immune system and honey ingestion may be advantageous with respect to cancer and metastasis prevention. Please read this too: Is honey a natural treatment to cancer?
      So, if I have to recommend one type of honey to be taken is gelam honey. Unfortunatelly it is very hard to find. But I would make this recommendation based on the researched already made, we just don’t know how all the other honeys act, because we don’t have studies yet.

      But as I said, apitherapists recommend dark honeys. Only make sure they are RAW. And as fresh as possible.
      Have you seen this page: Do black seeds really cure HIV? Some case reports may help!
      Also read all the other posts on cancer therapy on this site.

      hugs, Laura

  32. Great article! Very usefull! I wanted to buy some manuka honey but I like to inform myself first and your article just did that. Thank you for your work! …I had so many questions about the issue..I’ll bookmark this 🙂
    Thank you!

    1. Thank you, Loredana. I try to make my articles as informative as possible. The way I like to find them myself.
      thank you for reading them.
      Laura

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.