Manuka honey

Re: Manuka honey

Wren — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 16:49:48 GMT

[quote user="Aisling McGrath"]

This might be an aside, but I'm interested to hear people's thoughts and experiences. We have been treated a wound infection in a dog, and Manuka honey has been part of that treatment (Kruuse Manuka G, for veterinary use only), and the insurer has recently come back to us with payment, but refused to pay for the Manuka, as it is a "herbal remedy". Anyone else had an insurer pay or not pay for Manuka??? Thanks!

[/quote]

I regularly use the Kruuse honey-infused wound dressings on horses (so much easier than trying to get the bl**dy stuff out of the tube) and have never had an insurance company query it.

Re: Manuka honey

Hannah Wynne Richards — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 09:21:58 GMT

Aisling. Check if they'll pay for digitalis (foxglove) penicillin(bread mould) or opioids (poppy seeds) All herbal.

Wynne

Re: Manuka honey

Braden Collins — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 02:28:22 GMT

I imagine Manuka has been given a lot of interest as Manuka is a tea tree - and of course tea tree oil has been considered a disinfectant for a long time .

Re: Manuka honey

Aisling McGrath — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 13:47:18 GMT

Re: Manuka honey

Anthony Todd — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 13:30:14 GMT

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]So, you and Gillian have invented the amazing STEROID POTATO!!![/quote]

and they've made me fat....

Re: Manuka honey

Mark Hedberg — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 09:23:15 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Todd"]

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

Dont be daft. Only Mostyn potatoes, grown within sight of my back door, have miraculous wound healing properties!

[/quote]

http://www.webmd.com/men/news/20021016/potato-powder-stops-bleeding [and loads more].

Good heavens, I'm starting to quote references, even in support of GM; yipee all those steroids I'm taking are making me younger as well!

[/quote]

So, you and Gillian have invented the amazing STEROID POTATO!!!

Re: Manuka honey

Stefano Zago — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 19:24:56 GMT

The beneficial role of honey is attributed to its antimicrobial property with regards to its high osmolarity, acidity and content of hydrogen peroxide.

Manuka honey has been quite extensively researched because of its added non-peroxide antimicrobial components (Unique Manuka Factor-UMF) and therefore would make it superior.

There is a nice recent study in the Vet J where they’ve compared 28 types of honey (medical grade, supermarket, bee keepers) against common equine wound bacteria. All products were cultured and bacteria or fungi were isolated from 18 products and therefore excluded. All 10 remaining products were able to inhibit bacterial growth at different MICs. Interestingly the Scottish heather honey proved superior to Manuka honey!

And Gerry there is an interesting paper where intravenous administration of Manuka honey inhibits tumour growth and improves survival when used in combination with chemotherapy in a melanoma mouse model. Literally food for thoughts!

Stefano

Re: Manuka honey

Anthony Todd — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 18:16:06 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

Dont be daft. Only Mostyn potatoes, grown within sight of my back door, have miraculous wound healing properties!

[/quote]

http://www.webmd.com/men/news/20021016/potato-powder-stops-bleeding [and loads more].

Good heavens, I'm starting to quote references, even in support of GM; yipee all those steroids I'm taking are making me younger as well!

Re: Manuka honey

Gillian Mostyn — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 16:09:46 GMT

Dont be daft. Only Mostyn potatoes, grown within sight of my back door, have miraculous wound healing properties!

Re: Manuka honey

Virginia Campbell — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 14:41:45 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Todd"]I seem to remember starch [potato slices] having similar properties and it was also used as a wound dressing I think.[/quote]

I sense a marketing opportunity coming on. Of course, only Comber potatoes (with their PGI status) will work, preferably grown within sight of Scrabo tower :-)

Re: Manuka honey

Richard Carter — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 23:15:40 GMT

Anyone remember acroflavine-glycerine for wounds? most amazing colour - think that was the main active ingredient - it had to work based on what colour it made the dog, the dressings, you, the car and anything else it touched

Seem to remember it was also supposed to work due to pH, osmolarity and providing a moist covering

Re: Manuka honey

Tim Charlesworth — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 21:25:59 GMT

Can't remember the exact figures but I vaguely remember hearing that worldwide consumption of "Manuka" honey was (insert very big number - approx 180,000 tonnes p.a.?) whereas total NZ exports were (insert much much smaller number - approx 20,000 tonnes p.a.)...

Re: Manuka honey

John Flynn — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 20:23:31 GMT

Anyone else using marmite?

I've heard great things about Gentleman's Relish, but could never get the lid off myself...

Re: Manuka honey

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 18:45:14 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]n my opinion all honey tastes disgusting, [/quote]What? It is the nectar of the Gods. Yummy.

Re: Manuka honey

Bob Russell — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 17:05:27 GMT

I would be somewhat reluctant to use a non-sterilised/sterile dressing on a wound anyway just on principle! That said I would probably grab the nearest jar of honey if I was paying the bill!

In my opinion all honey tastes disgusting, manuka or not!

Re: Manuka honey

No Name — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 16:11:12 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Todd"]

As I come from NZ and manuka was an excellent firewood [it's main original use] found on undeveloped scrubland I can point you all to this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%81nuka_honey

... as usual pretty comprehensive but not too enthusiastic....

It's a very attractive scrubby tree with pink flowers but the chance of a bee only alighting on Manuka flowers is, I would say, pretty remote.

If they put GPS trackers on NZ honey bees; most of them would show lupin, gorse, or ragwort I'd wager!

I thought the benefit of honey was something to do with osmotic pressure [whatever that is] and would therefore have little to do with the nectar from which honey comes, except that the more liquid the honey the less osmotic pressure so the less medical benefit??

I seem to remember starch [potato slices] having similar properties and it was also used as a wound dressing I think.

[/quote]

Manuka honey has definitely cropped up in our lectures every so often for its antibacterial properties. Interesting how they've found a use for manuka honey because in reality it tastes awful (in my opinion) !!

If my lectures are anything to go by, apparently, the antimicrobial properties of honey are due to:

Low water activity (0.5 - 0.6)
Low pH: 3.4-5.5
Glucose oxidase system (forms hydrogen peroxide)
Low protein content (high carbon to nitrogen ratio)
Low redox potential (high content of reducing sugars)
Viscosity (opposes convection currents and limits dissolved oxygen)
Antioxidants (pinocembrin, pinobanksin, chrysin, galagin)
Other chemical agents (lysozyme, phenolic acids, terpenes, benzyl alcohol etc.)

.... but I assume a lot of honeys will have the same properties, so what is so special about manuka?? May be it is just more marketed and studied.

The reps will tell you that you need the gamma sterilised stuff as supermarket manuka may contain botulism but I've spoken to some vets who have used supermarket runny honey and owners who have used the non-sterile stuff as well without any problems, but of course that is only an anecdote.

I've seen manuka in a tube prescribed to a dog once for use on it's spay incision.... and as much as I find the taste revolting, the dog didn't and would happily lick it off when the owner was not watching! The said owner was using one of those post-op doggy t-shirts as opposed to an e-collar which is why the dog's tongue could reach to its wounds (why pay £20 for a t-shirt when it doesn't stop the dog licking I don't know...). Because it is so tasty I don't think honey is going to be the best option for some pets!

Re: Manuka honey

Mark Hedberg — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 15:40:07 GMT

Well, after you've been stung by a bee, other lesser pain seems to hurt less in comparison! :)

Re: Manuka honey

Hannah Wynne Richards — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 15:17:28 GMT

Being stung by bees is supposed to improve arthritis. I don't know if that's true, or merely an old wives tale.

Wynne

Re: Manuka honey

Anthony Todd — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 14:58:59 GMT

As I come from NZ and manuka was an excellent firewood [it's main original use] found on undeveloped scrubland I can point you all to this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%81nuka_honey

... as usual pretty comprehensive but not too enthusiastic....

It's a very attractive scrubby tree with pink flowers but the chance of a bee only alighting on Manuka flowers is, I would say, pretty remote.

If they put GPS trackers on NZ honey bees; most of them would show lupin, gorse, or ragwort I'd wager!

I seem to remember starch [potato slices] having similar properties and it was also used as a wound dressing I think.

Re: Manuka honey

Alan Tevendale — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 14:56:07 GMT

Some of the wound management courses I've been on were certainly in favour of Manuka compared to normal versions but personally I think there is little difference. I would agree that there is the possible benifit of using a sterilised product but some of the soft tissue bods I've spoken to state that as long as you flush the wound on a daily basis the presence of spores makes little difference.

Re: Manuka honey

Gerry Polton — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 14:43:12 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]If you get stung when you go home, thinkof it as vaccination against arthritis[/quote]

You will definitely have to explain that one to me. It's not the flaming pollen again is it?

Gerry

Re: Manuka honey

Hannah Wynne Richards — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 14:39:42 GMT

If you get stung when you go home, thinkof it as vaccination against arthritis.

Wynne

Re: Manuka honey

Gerry Polton — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 14:28:28 GMT

Wow! I can see how that would work.

My parents have a small honey industry (twelve hives and a lot of enthusiasm). Amusingly, there was a time when my mother's mother used to help them sell their produce locally. She was alarmed to learn that it wasn't quite the panacea she thought when I felt obliged to tell her that diabetes ought to be removed from her list of ailments for which she was evidently prescribing it!

Gerry

Re: Manuka honey

Mark Hedberg — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 14:26:23 GMT

Co-op squeezy honey believer here - won't have that Asda stuff!

Seriously though; i understood anecdotally that it kept the wound moist, with sugar giving cells nutrients, and that honey's antiseptic properties were beneficial. I have no evidence to back this one up, but it did seem to help.

Re: Manuka honey

Glenn Hodgson — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 14:24:31 GMT

Seems to work well when I have used it In the past