UMF = unique manuka factor

Is the higher the UMF Factor the better?

NO, not necessarily!
It seems like most websites promote the idea, that "the higher the UMF Factor, the better". We, at Manuka Honey USA have found this not be to true for the following reasons:

External Applications for Active Manuka Honey include: first degree burn, second degree burn, third degree burn, infectious wounds, ulcers, sores, decubitus sores, pressure sores, diabetic leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, amputation stump wounds, old war wounds that are still not healing, scars, surgical scars after hip replacement, cosmetic surgery scars after a tummy tuck, face lift or liposuction.  For external wounds use an Active Manuka Honey with a UMF Factor of 10+, 12+, 14+, 16+, maximum strength UMF 18+, but no higher that 18+.

Active Manuka Honey's with a rare UMF Factor of 20, 25 or maybe even higher, is too strong and may cause adverse reactions such as a strong and persistent burning and / or stinging sensation both internally as well as on external wounds.

We always carry Active Manuka Honey with in the range between UMF 16-18. By listening to our Customer's feedback since 1994, we know, that a UMF Factor between 16-18 is the most therapeutic range for both internal as well as external applications of Active Manuka Honey.

Manuka Honey USA does NOT mix and match other honey into the Active Manuka Honey such as clover honey, kamahi, tawari, rewa rewa or any other New Zealand honey, in order to achieve a "perfect UMF number" such as UMF 10 / 15 / 20 etc. We take what comes naturally from nature, have the Active Manuka Honey tested and certified by NZLabs for it's natural antibacterial strenth.

When the manuka honey has a UMF Factor within the 16-18 range, we have it packed, labeled and shipped to the US. We ship all products world-wide.

Are there adverse reactions when using active manuka honey?

When applying active manuka honey to a wound, you can, occasionally experience a burning / stinging sensation. If that sensation does not ease up after 10-15 minutes of applying active manuka honey to a wound, you need to remove the active manuka honey, wash the wound with a saline solution and apply either an active manuka honey with a lesser UMF Factor or Regular Manuka Honey. Regular Manuka Honey can still be effective to heal your wound and should not burn and sting when applied, or only for a very short time.

We do NOT recommend using Active Manuka Honey with UMF Factor of 20+, 25+ or even higher, for above mentioned practical reasons. We believe, after listening to our Customer's Feedback since 1994, regarding Wound Healing, that when it comes to the UMF Factor, it is not necessarily true: "the higher the UMF Factor, the better".

What is UMF?

UMF stands for "Unique Manuka Factor". UMF is a trade name. When honey is diluted, a special enzyme the bees have added produces hydrogen peroxide, a well known antibiotic. Manuka Honey has been found to have an antibacterial activity in addition to hydrogen peroxide. No one has so far discovered the substance involved, so it is called UMF = unique manuka factor.

What does the UMF Number mean?

The UMF number is a standard way of describing the anti-bacterial strength of active manuka honey. The honey is put in a plate with a bacterial culture, and the area is measured where the bacterial growth is stopped. This area is compared to a similar area produced by a solution of phenol and water. The number refers to the percentage of phenol in the water. So active manuka honey is honey that has the same anti-bacterial strength as 10% phenol.

Why does the UMF Factor change from batch to batch?

Manuka Honey USA is the first and original Manuka Honey Company in the US, and has been importing this rare, medicinal and highly researched manuka honey from New Zealand since 1994. Manuka Honey USA does NOT mix and match other honey's into the active manuka honey such as Kanuka Honey, Tawari Honey, Rewa Rewa Honey, Clover Honey, Regular Manuka Honey or Multifloral Honey  to 'create' a perfect UMF Rating of 10, 15, 20, 25 etc.

UMF Ratings of 20 and 25 are TOO POTENT for most uses and may cause adverse reactions, depending on it's application! Therefore, Manuka Honey USA stays within the Safe Range, offering active manuka honey with a UMF Factor ranging between 16-18. We also offer the most affordable price on the market today. We carry the full-size 500 g jar of Active Manuka Honey, compared to most others selling half the size 250g for the same amount of money or an in-between size of 375g. When comparing prices, make sure you also compare the size of the jar. For best pricing and discounts for active manuka honey go to our Secure Online Shopping Cart at: http://www.manukahoneyusa.com/SecureShopping.htm

Our beekeepers take what comes naturally from nature. Therefore each batch of Active Manuka Honey that Manuka Honey USA imports, will have a UMF Factor ranging between UMF 16-18.

Please Note: When importing an all natural product, it is completely normal, that not only the UMF Factor will slightly change with every batch, but also the color, texture, firmness and the taste of honey can be different. These natural changes from batch to batch do not qualify for a refund. This is why we educate our customers, to let you know in advance that these slight variations are completely normal.

The most interesting part of our website are the CUSTOMER TESTIMONIES. Real people telling their stories on how they use our products and how it has helped them. We are also looking forward to your testimony, when possible with photos, illustrating a wound healing processes. When you take good clear, sharp, close-up photos with a ruler beside the wound, taking photos every 2-3 days of a wound in it's healing process when applying active manuka honey, we will reward your testimony after adding it to our testimony page with just your initials, city and state or country.

What is so special about Active Manuka Honey?

Active Manuka Honey has a very powerful antibacterial activity. It can naturally destroy staphaureus bacteria even when it is diluted to only 1.8% honey concentration in water. It has also been shown to destroy antibiotic-resistant staphaureus MRSA or Golden Staph, also called "Super Bug" at 10% honey concentration.

What is the difference between Regular Manuka Honey and Active Manuka Honey?

Regular Manuka Honey and Active Manuka Honey, are both collected from the flower of the Manuka bush (leptospermum scoparium) in New Zealand, and are sold in the US by Manuka Honey USA. Regular Manuka Honey is less concentrated than Active Manuka Honey. Regular Manuka Honey is used for sore throats, colds, canker sores, fever blisters, acne and pimples. Regular Manuka Honey also tastes great on toast with peanut butter! Active Manuka Honey is collected in an area where  Manuka bushes are highly concentrated, and therefore produces a more concentrated honey. Dr. Molan from the Waikato University of New Zealand has been researching Manuka Honey for over two decades and has classified various strengths of Manuka Honey.

UMF stands for 'Unique Manuka Factor' - the factor responsible for destroying staphaureus, streptococcus and h. pylori (helicobacter pylori), the bacteria believed to be the cause of stomach ulcers. Therefore the statement has been made that Active Manuka Honey may be the solution for millions of stomach ulcer sufferers worldwide. Active Manuka Honey is also used externally for cuts, scratches and as a wound dressing for open bed sores, diabetic foot ulcerations, ulcers and burns! (first degree burns, second degree burns and third degree burns). Active Manuka Honey has been used very successfully by doctors and nurses in New Zealand for 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree burns, typically making skin grafting unnecessary.

Has Manuka Honey been researched?

The non-peroxide (UMF activity) in Manuka Honey has been described by Molan and Russell (1998) and Allen (1991). Non-peroxide antibacterial activity in honey is important for wound care uses, since the factor is not reduced by catalyses activity in tissues or blood (Cooper 1999).

Manuka Honey has been shown in laboratory studies to have antibacterial activity against the 7 most common species of bacteria found in wounds. 58 strains of Staphylococcus Aureus isolated from infected wounds showed complete inhibition at concentrations of 2-3% UMF Manuka Honey. The effect was caused by factors in addition to the sugar in the honey (Cooper 1999). Methicillin-resistant S. Auereus (MRSA) strains have also been tested against UMF activity, with complete inhibition shown at 10% honey concentration (Molan 1996).

UMF Manuka Honey also inhibits the growth of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) at about half the concentration of clover honey with hydrogen peroxide activity (Allen 2000). Honey, including Manuka Honey, has shown the prevent the growth of Pseudomonas spp. found on the surface of a wound even if the honey was diluted 10 fold by exudation from the tissue (Cooper and Molan 1996).

In addition to the antimicrobial activity present in honey, honey enhances wound healing by a variety of other means. (Molan 1998/1999, Subrahmanyam 1991). These include

a) providing a moist, but sterile environment for tissue re-growth which
    enhances tissue formation and reduces tissue deformity,
b) eliminating tissue damage caused by the use of standard antibiotics,
c) the osmotic effect pulling up serum from the body into the wound,
d) the osmotic effect absorbing pus in the wound,
e) providing glucose used by white blood cells to create the 'respiratory
    burst' needed to destroy bacteria,
f) providing a pliable barrier between wound and dressing, which protects
   new re-growth tissue from being torn away when the dressing is changed

g) providing acidification of the wound, which has been shown to stimulate healing, by creating an anti-inflammatory effect through the reduction in the number of inflammatory cells in wound tissue (honey has antioxidant properties) providing wound bacteria with nutrients instead of amino acids, thus encouraging the bacteria to produce lactic acid instead of ammonia (the chemical associated with odor in skin ulcers).

Molan (1998) has carried out comprehensive review of case studies, animal studies and randomized clinical trials, where honey was used to treat wounds, burns and skin ulcers. Dunford (2000) has presented case studies describing the use of UMF Manuka Honey in the treatment of wound and chronically infected lesions, including a case where massive skin lesions and necrosis resulting from meningococcal septicemia not responding to conventional treatment, healed completely within 10 weeks of the start of Manuka Honey treatment (Dunford 2000). (Information supplied by Comvita, New Zealand) 

Manuka Honey Research Reports -  Dr. Peter Molan - CLICK HERE

How can I purchase Manuka Honey Products?

To purchase Manuka Products, go to our Secure Online Shopping Cart at:
http://www.manukahoneyusa.com/SecureShopping.htm
Or, call our Toll-Free Order Hotline 1-800 395 2196 during Regular Business Hours:
MO-FR 9:00-5:00pm ET (Eastern Time)

How long has Manuka Honey USA been in business?

MANUKA HONEY USA is the First and Original Manuka Honey Company in the US. We have been serving our world-wide Clientele since 1994. We import our honey directly from our New Zealand Bee Keepers and ship it throughout the United States, Canada and the rest of the world. For more information about the company, go to: About Us

For more information about the many uses of our Manuka Product Line, visit our Extended Information Data Base featuring 9 more in-depth websites at:

http://www.manukahoneyusa.com/Extended-Info-Data-Base.htm
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