Manuka Honey: From Maori Medicine To Modern Skin Care
Author: Robert Scheer
Source: articledashboard.com
In the year 1769, when Captain James Cook first explored New Zealand, he was made aware of the Manuka plant. Because of its similarity to tea bushes with which he was already familiar, and because a medicinal tea was brewed from the Manuka bush leaves, he referred to it as the tea tree, a name which has remained to this day, although the scientific nomenclature is Leptospermum scoparium.
Since earliest times in New Zealand, the Maori people have used the Manuka plant as part of their traditional medicine. Various parts of the plant are used to treat burns, wounds, skin disorders, colds, fevers and digestive ailments.
Now, the Manu Nutraceuticals Company, based in Christchurch, New Zealand, have created a line of products for natural skin care and protection that are formulated with Manuka honey and tea tree essential oil, in combination with other natural extracts. The range of skin care products includes creams, oils and soaps that are being used to treat such conditions as acne, rosacea, candida, cracked and dry skin, diaper rash, eczema, cold sores scabies, ringworm and psoriasis. They also report that their products have been successful in the treatment of arthritis, diarrhea, and other aches and pains.
Clinical trials, begun in the 1980s, have shown that a particular type of honey made from the flowers of the Manuka plant, is successful in treating serious bacterial infections, even against bacteria that are resistant to other antibacterial agents.
Researchers in the field of aromatherapy have looked into Manuka oil and determined that it has useful antibacterial, antifungal, anti-allergenic and anti-inflammatory properties that make it helpful in relieving ailments associated with skin inflammations, mucous membranes and rheumatic disorders. The skin tolerates Manuka oil very well and it assists in the treatment of itching, skin and scalp irritations, as well as reportedly being helpful against stress, anxiety and nervousness.
The range of skin care products available from Manu Nutraceuticals include a hypoallergenic cream that does not contain any fragrances, color, acid or artificial preservatives and people who have sensitive skin have reported that it is superior to other moisturizing creams they have tried. A collagen cream that uses herbal collagen from the Papaya plant also contains Manuka honey, and is used to prevent the onset of wrinkles, dryness and other visible signs of aging.
Because skin care products, when applied to the skin, are absorbed into the body, people who are concerned about the harmful side effects of harsh chemicals have found that the use of natural products containing only wholesome ingredients with no artificial scents and colors, can result in a healthier and happier life.