It’s a season of Love with The Love Camp coming soon, and that means it’s a season of SELF-CARE in brilliant ways!!! I’ve got lots of natural beauty to share that is also energetically uplifting and transformational this season, including a Natural K-Beauty Skincare routine (I’m still perfecting it!) and my foray into FACE YOGA! My “Before” pictures are being taken now and in a month or two I’ll have “After” results for you. Fingers crossed!
So, in all my experimenting, the ideas that drive me are finding routines, tools, supplements and habits that are simple, multi-purpose and truly transformational. Preferable that they are inexpensive, too!
While Manuka Honey is not cheap, a very little goes a long way. I have been taking a teaspoon a day to recover from what seemed like an endless cold, I’ve used it on my skin as a mask (BRILLIANT), I’ve put it on my eyelids when I had incredible allergies and it cured them… and so much more!
As I’ve been using Manuka honey for a few months now – nearly daily- and feeling fantastic (especially about it’s SKIN glowing effects used sparingly as a mask or cleanser!) it was time to share more!!!
Manuka honey is produced when bees pollinate the Manuka bush, which is native to New Zealand. The nectar of the manuka flower, (Leptospermum scoparium)is transformed into honey by bees, and this can only occur a few weeks out of the year, while the Manuka bush is flowering.
Compared to other honey, Manuka honey is more prized since it has more potent compounds and health enhancing abilities. Manuka honey has a higher methylglyoxal (MG) concentration, giving it antimicrobial effects well beyond standard raw honey.
The scale honey producers use to score the potency of Manuka honey is called the Unique Manuka Factor, or UMF. The rating indicates the concentration of methylglyoxal (MG), and to be considered therapeutic, the honey needs a rating of 10 UMF or above. This number also ensures the honey is pure and contains its other two unique compounds; Leptosperin and Dihydroxyacetone (DHA).
According to Dr. Axe, manuka honey is also rich with nutrients. Standard raw unfiltered honey is a good source of: amino acids, B vitamins, Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium and Zinc. Manuka honey’s nutritional content is 4 times greater than normal flower honeys.
Combats sore throats
Manuka honey has antiviral and antibacterial properties that reduce the inflammation of a sore throat. In the case of Strep Throat, Manuka honey has been found to fight off the bacteria (Streptococcus pyogenes), causing the infection. A study published in 2012 showed that manuka honey affected the biofilms of Streptococcus pyogenes by inhibiting the growth of the bacteria. The biofilms were incubated and adding Manuka honey to the films caused significant cell death and a dissociation of cells from the biofilm. This showed that Manuka honey has the potential to treat infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes.
Eases Digestion
Manuka honey has known antibiotic qualities that have been shown to be effective in reducing the bacteria Clostridium difficile, which is the bacteria associated with small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), low stomach acid and acid reflux.
Maintains Healthy Teeth and Gums
Studies on Manuka honey and oral healthcare have found it to be effective in minimizing the oral bacteria that causes plaque, gum inflammation and tooth decay, and with its high antibacterial compounds, it can stop the growth of the oral bacterium P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans. A study published in 2004 aimed to test the effectiveness of Manuka honey in treating people with gingivitis and periodontal disease. Subjects were instructed to chew or suck on “Manuka honey leather” three times a day, specifically after each meal for 21 days. The control group were asked to do the same thing, but with sugarless gum. Subjects’ plaque and gingival bleeding scores were taken before and after the 21 days, and results indicated highly significant reductions in plaque and bleeding sites for those participants who chewed the “Manuka honey leather.” While no significant changes were recorded in the control, sugarless gum, group.
Facilitates Wound Treatment
In 2007, manuka honey was approved by the US FDA as an option for wound treatment.
One study published in 2017 found that the glyoxal and MGO from Manuka honey can not only inhibit bacterial growth, but it facilitated wound healing and tissue regeneration.
Another two-week study tested the effects of applying Manuka honey to 40 subjects whose wounds were not healing. The results showed that 88% of the wounds began to heal, by becoming smaller.
Skin
Manuka Honey can do wonders for your skin as it naturally dense in antioxidants and nutrients – making it the perfect defense against free radicals that damage skin. It also has powerful antibacterial compounds and exfoliant properties that shed, repair and regenerate skin cells. It is a natural skin humectant – sealing water into your skin- keeping it hydrated and glowing.
Manuka Honey Skin Mask
1 teaspoon of Manuka honey
1 teaspoon of plain yogurt
Mix together and apply to clean skin. Leave it on your face for a minimum of 20 minutes up to an hour. Wash off with warm water and pat skin dry.
I don’t eat dairy products but I’m obsessed with probiotic/lactic acid masks. I do a probiotic mask (yogurt or added probiotics) almost every day!
I put it on after cleansing my skin right before I do a 15 minute visualization exercise while sprawled out on my bed, letting my mask of the day it do it’s magic!
Manuka Honey Exfoliating Mask
Equal parts Manuka honey, coconut oil and brown sugar .
Mix ingredients together in a small bowl. Work the mask into damp skin using circular motions. Leave on for 10 – 15 minutes and rinse off thoroughly with warm water.
Note: I’ve also used about 1/2 teaspoon as a mask for 30 minutes. Or, you can massage the honey on your face and use it as a cleanser!
Manuka Honey Cleanser
1 teaspoon of Manuka honey
Few drop of hot water
Mix together and massage your face with the mixture for 2 minutes. Wash off with warm water and pat skin dry.
By the way, you can use RAW honey for all of the beauty above, and most of the wellness recommendations, and still see sparkling results. The Manuka is more potent and medicinal, but raw honey is incredible nutritious and valuable as well! Especially: local raw honey to take daily to combat seasonal allergies. Total brilliance!
xoxoxo
Dana
P.S.: The Love Camp is coming (!!!) to transform life with so much more love! It’s the ultimate in Feng Shui to multiply your manifesting magic.
The FREE 3-Video series kicks things off right HERE!!! It’s packed with Feng Shui to help you create even more openness, magnetism and more LOVE in awesome, tangible ways!
This hour of Feng Shui videos for love starts soon and it’s only up for 21 days a year…so if you’re ready for a lighter, brighter, more love-filled life, you won’t want to miss it! xoxo!!!
