Hype or healing: unveiling the truth behind manuka honey?

Abstract

Aim of the study was to find out the effectiveness of Manuka honey (MH) in various applications to treat drug resistant ENT infections as an adjuvant therapy. The antibacterial properties and antioxidant properties of MH is attributed to the presence of high concentration of methylglyoxal (MGO) and flavonoid, phenolic compounds respectively. Unique manuka factor (UMF) rating is a scale used to determine the antibacterial potency of MH which directly correlates to the MGO and phenolic components in MH. Various cases of nasal crusting in post operative period with multidrug resistant bacterial cultures were included in the study. Each case was started on thorough nasal douching as well as manuka honey topical application. Regular and meticulous follow up was done for each case via endoscopic examination and medical record was kept of any potential side effects. Perichondritis of pinna was included in the study with potentially unique application the above-mentioned condition. MH is a natural antibiotic with low toxicity profile, allowing for prolonged use when necessary. Moreover, the development of bacterial resistance to honey has yet to be reported, making it an attractive alternative or adjunctive therapy, particularly in cases where antimicrobial resistance is a concern. While Manuka honey's antimicrobial properties have been observed in various studies, translating this knowledge into clinical practice requires rigorous investigation to ensure its effectiveness, safety, and proper integration with conventional antibiotic therapies.