6 Ways to Integrate Manuka Honey Into Your Wellness Routine

Historical records of wellness uses for honey date back to the earliest civilizations, showing that honey has been used both as a vehicle for other ingredients and for its therapeutic benefits for centuries. What they prized then is what we prize now: honey’s incredible antimicrobial properties.

Honey’s antimicrobial nature is even more potent in the wellness community’s golden child, manuka honey. This particular honey, which is native to New Zealand, features higher amounts of the active antimicrobial compound, methylglyoxal (MG), which protects against bacteria and boosts production of cells that can repair tissue damaged by infection, as well as the omega-3 fatty acid, DHA. Sweet, right?

All this means that manuka honey can be used as a salve to treat wounds, cuts, acute burns and even bed sores. Put it on a wound and the liquid gets drawn up into the honey, sucking out impurities and protecting the body against infection. Medical grade manuka can also restore the natural pH levels of the skin and remove dead tissues. Hello, skincare! 

HERE ARE A FEW WAYS YOU CAN
INTEGRATE MANUKA HONEY INTO YOUR
WELLNESS AND SKINCARE ROUTINE:

1. Wash your face.

To use, simply wash your face the same way you would with a normal cleanser. Just wet your face, slather on a dollop of honey, gently massage and rinse throughly with lukewarm water. This is a great method for sensitive skin!

2. Soothe a cough.

Swallow two spoonfuls of honey mixed with milk to soothe a cough or sore throat. It will take out bacteria on the way down, so you get healthy more quickly! Plus, it tastes delicious.

3. Make a face mask.

Mix a heaping tablespoon of manuka honey with some lemon juice and cinnamon. This mixture helps clear pores and will make your skin brighter and glowy.

4. Heal skin lesions.

If you have a rash, cut, boil or burn, now’s a great time to break out the honey. Apply like you would an antibiotic ointment, once or twice a day, and watch the wound disappear.

5. Cure dandruff.

One study suggests that applying honey to the scalp for a couple of hours every other day for four weeks helped improve scaling and itching from dandruff. Yay!

6. Improve your sleep.

Having trouble sleeping? Try taking a teaspoon of manuka honey with about 1/2 teaspoon of salt. This helps manage elevated cortisol levels at nighttime. It sounds silly, but it works!