Dig out the honey

UK hospital importing NZ manuka honey for cancer patients
08 July 2006
By KENT ATKINSON

A British hospital is importing manuka honey in bulk from New Zealand to use on mouth and throat cancer patients after surgery. Doctors at Christie Hospital in Didsbury, Manchester, said they hoped it would reduce the patients' chances of contracting MRSA and help lessen inflammation.

MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a strain of golden staph which has developed antibiotic resistance, first to penicillin since 1947, and later to methicillin and related anti-staphylococcal drugs. Popularly termed a 'superbug' it was first discovered in Britain in 1961 and is now widespread.

A New Zealand biochemist, Peter Molan, of Hamilton, has spent two decades researching the capability of some manuka honey strains to battle a range of bacteria, including E. coli, salmonella and helicobacter, as well as actively promote wound healing, even in antibiotic-resistant infections such as MRSA.

Nectar from some manuka - a leptospermum species also found in Australia - produces a valuable 'active' honey. The anti-bacterial properties of ordinary honey - due to hydrogen peroxide produced by a glucose enzyme - have been known to traditional healers for centuries but other 'bio-active' compounds in some strains of manuka honey are found only in New Zealand and Australia.

While the effects of the glucose enzyme are broken down by heat, light and other enzymes, the additional healing component of manuka honey does not break down in the same conditions and it can be used to treat some wounds and ulcers.

On average, 120 tonnes of 'active' manuka honey is sold each year, and it sells for up to 10 times the normal retail value of ordinary honey, but its bio-active content can vary widely. The honey has been used on special honey-coated dressings at the Manchester Royal Infirmary since May. Now 60 patients at the hospital are taking part in a study to see if the honey can prevent infections resistant to antibiotics.

Dr Nick Slevin, the specialist leading the programme said: 'Manuka honey has special anti-inflammatory and anti-infection properties and is believed to reduce the likelihood of MRSA infection'.

The honey costs up to ?12 ($NZ36.32) for a jar, but the hospital has imported 400kg in bulk to help keep costs down.

I love manuka honey - such a wonderful, aromatic flavour. I'd love to keep bees, and get my own manuka honey. Maybe that's how we could justify a lifestyle block!

I use tea tree oil on nasty cuts and such, but we eat the honey too fast to keep it in the medicine chest. I should try it on digestive disorders.