Honey-Fermented Goodies (Good for Me) UPDATE 3/21/24

UPDATE 3/21/24:

Of all the things I fermented, my favorites are the garlic and lemons. The garlic is something I nibble on every day (more than once a day). I use the honey from the garlic to spread over veggies and - get this - over vanilla ice cream. It tastes better than you'd expect! As for the pieces of garlic, I eat those with a fork. (I gave some to a neighbor and she said she'd have to add more honey because it was too strong for her 😳LOL. But she did like it a lot.)

I use the honey from the lemons to give some flavor to flat and sparking waters. I add pieces of lemons to my hot tea drinks.

My one failure? Sweet peppers. I found out after the fact that they have too much water in them. I guess I will have to dry them or something before fermenting them next time...

Now that y'all are through tittering about (or trying) my Onion Tea that I find to be so tasty, I have something else I'm trying. You all do know that I try these things in a quest to either 1. eat better 2. add something natural and good to my diet, and 3. replace bad habits. (Not to mention, I am really trying to boost my immunity.)

What is honey fermentation about?

So what is this new thing, you ask? Honey-fermented -garlic, and -onions, and -lemons, oh my!

I am not very good at describing the whole concept of fermenting honey. Not without making a fool of myself so the ChatGPT summary is as follows:

"Honey fermentation is the process by which honey undergoes fermentation, typically with the help of yeast and bacteria, to produce various alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. One of the most well-known fermented honey beverages is mead, which is often referred to as "honey wine." 

During fermentation, yeast converts the sugars in honey into alcohol and carbon dioxide. The specific type of yeast used, along with other factors such as temperature and fermentation time, can influence the flavor and characteristics of the final product. In addition to mead, honey fermentation can also produce beverages like honey beer and honey-based spirits.

Non-alcoholic honey fermentation involves the action of lactic acid bacteria, which can create fermented honey products like water kefir and honey vinegar. These products often have a tangy flavor profile and may offer potential health benefits due to the presence of probiotics and organic acids." (my highlights)

(Did anyone else think "Renaissance fairs" or about pirates at the mention of mead?)

Anyway. Though I can't get technical, I can kind of explain how I am using the fermentation method. Basically, I am introducing moisture (via lemons or garlic, etc.) into honey to cause a reaction. I am looking to preserve and/or use the results in my baking, cooking, and snacking. 

My choices for the process are things like garlic, lemons, ginger, and - later - maybe some berries. First, let me show what I found to be healthy about the things I chose:

Raw honey is, of course, popularly known for its many benefits. This is a ChatGPT summary of this article from the National Library of Medicine:

"The abstract discusses the manifold medicinal properties of honey, an ancient and highly esteemed natural product. It highlights honey's historical use in traditional medicine for various ailments, ranging from eye diseases to wound healing. Scientific research has elucidated honey's diverse bioactive compounds, including antioxidants, antimicrobials, anti-inflammatories, and anticancer agents. These properties endow honey with therapeutic potential in treating a spectrum of conditions, such as wounds, diabetes mellitus, respiratory ailments, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. The abstract concludes by advocating for the integration of honey into clinical practice based on substantial evidence supporting its efficacy as a natural therapeutic agent."

Healthline does a good job of laying out the benefits. They go through headings of Antioxidants, Nutrition, Antibacterial and antifungal, Heal wounds, Boost immunity, Digestion and gut health, Sore throat, and Brain benefits.

Garlic is also popular as a natural and healthy addition to the diet. (Personally, I love, love, love garlic! Thankfully, I am an introvert so...) Here are some benefits in more formal language and here is the layman version I found. Delish discusses honey-fermented garlic specifically.

Onions  are just plain tasty but, yeah, they have benefits (especially red onions). Like with garlic, I find most onions too "sharp"-tasting to eat raw or on their own. The honey fermentation mellows them out. Healthline outlines the benefits of onions but I always focus on the antioxidant factor.

Lemons are another antioxidant item and for the other benefits, let's stick with Healthline. The thing is, lemons are pretty easy to incorporate into a day-to-day diet. However, I just had to try the honey fermentation method. They look so pretty...

How will I use these?

The thing about all of these is that they make great snacks for me. When I pickled those fruits and veggies the other week, I loved having them around to nibble on between meals. Whenever I got a little peckish (as our Brit siblings say), I'd spoon out a few pickled onions, cucumbers, or sweet peppers to curb the cravings. (I have to admit, I do not love the picked pineapple and will not be dabbling with that again!)

The honey-fermented lemons will be something I also use in tea. I can't wait to try the same thing with ginger and lemon.

My 1st lemon slices (as a test)

I do plan to make lemon syrup to use in tea. Also, I am going to try making lemon sugar and vanilla sugar. With the warmer seasons on the way (and the good Lord willing I am here to enjoy them), I want to do lots of lemonades and other fruity drinks.

What I also love about this

Many of you know about the sarcoidosis I have. That and the medicines for it wear me out. Often, I am not feeling my best or am weighed down with fatigue. I have noticed that I find cooking, baking, and doing things like this fermentation soothing. It keeps me somewhat active and I swear it helps with my depression and anxiety.

Yeah, I have to add more honey

Don't forget that there are a lot of things we can do to make ourselves feel better. Drinking the onion tea does help with my cough. Hopefully, I'll keep snacking on the pickled veggies to curb the snacking. Who knows what the garlic and lemons will do. 

By the way, my plan is to keep losing weight. Now that the worst of that dang "flu-monia" has passed, I am trying to get more steps into my day. Also, Spring is on the way. I'd like to be up and more active by then. These past few months of being knocked on my butt and almost bedridden have taken a toll.

Disclaimers:

I always want to remind you all that I am not a medical pro in any way. I have no training in diet and/or nutrition. When you see me talking about what I am doing for myself, know that I am not recommending that you do the same. 

Whenever you see something online that sounds great or beneficial to your health, check it out with your own medical care team. Most bloggers (definitely myself), TikTokkers, YouTubers, and all the other "content creators" or "influencers" are probably winging it. Don't mimic anything or anyone without doing your due diligence. (Think of all the kids who've hurt themselves because they tried a TikTok challenge... SMH.)

Anything I link to is for information or example only. I am not compensated in any way for any products I mention.

Overall thoughts

If you do want to look into honey fermentation, there are lots of resources online. I loved watching videos so that I could see the finished product. I plan to check out some Pinterest boards for more recipes. I really want to try doing candied lemons, lemon syrup, herb-infused honey, and... if I can, something spicy honey-like for my heat-seeking family members.

While I am obviously dabbling in this fermentation thing for the kicks, there are very good reasons to learn how to preserve fruits and veggies. I saw an interesting video on Moroccan preserved lemons - this is done with salt. I've seen or read about other methods (and reasons) for preserving all sorts of items (including meats - known as "curing") using salt. That's interesting but not something I will be doing. I've read too many warnings about using that method. 

some honey with vanilla bean
for my tea

I didn't make much - 
vanilla beans are $$$$$

Preserving the lemons and garlic lets me get a longer shelf life from them. Also, I read somewhere (but not verified) that the honey-garlic product should last for a very, very long time due to the nature of, well honey and garlic... I do plan to monitor the shelf life of all the items I am working with.

Personal notes

Of course, my main use for all of these things is for my health. I'm trying to substitute homemade (food, snacks, beverages, etc.) for processed and/or store-bought goods. 

Years back, I started using medicinal honey (Manuka and Stingless Bee) in place of cold sore medicine. I also use them for minor scrapes and burns. Lately, I am taking them more seriously than ever - and I took them pretty seriously from the start!

Lately, I've been thinking about all of the things that we take to deal with colds, headaches, and various pains and minor illnesses. I think about all the alternative ways to deal with it all. A good diet used to be the main key but now our food sources are so iffy I don't know about that anymore. I figure the one thing I can do is cut out the things I know are not good for me and do better - and this is key - in moderation.

If eating a couple of pieces of garlic each day will help, I'll deal with the stank breath. I will substitute a sugared lemon slice for a piece of wrapped candy. I will our a little homemade lemon or vanilla syrup into my tea instead of buying something with questionable ingredients. I will take a gross-tasting shot of baking soda water in the morning instead of paying for alkaline water. I will look into taking a zinc supplement instead of buying lotions and potions to clear up any skin issues.

The thing is, we have gotten used to convenience. These days that usually means buying foods and beverages that are loaded with things we don't need (or cannot even identify). I like "real" sugar didn't hurt me as a kid because my mother limited my intake. I've never been able to use things like aspartame and the other stand-in sweeteners. I like carbonated drinks. I can add some homemade syrup (lemon, vanilla, etc.) to plain carbonated water instead of drinking a store-bought cola.

Basically, I'm just trying to do what's good (or at least better) for me instead of opting for quick fixes and convenience when it comes to my health and diet choices. We all have to take stock sometimes and make changes. Do what's best for you and always be your own advocate.

Peace

--Free

P.S.: I ran across some resources that I didn't use but found interesting. This is one. It is for people interested in "permaculture" aka sustainable living. There was information on so many subjects that I wanted to share the link. This is another resource I plan to check out. It's all about food preservation methods. Last, this is probably a good page to check for general education purposes. If you are going to do something new, always learn the details!

Speaking of Manuka Honey (There Are Alternatives)

NOTE: Forgive any disjointedness in this post. I had to have help finding and piecing together the information. My brain is worn OUT!

Yes, I did post very recently about the wonders of Manuka honey. It's some amazing stuff. However, I realize I haven't talked as much about alternatives to Manuka. It's not the only honey with superb and varied benefits. When I realized that there were other types of honey that claim to help with various health and beauty goals, I thought I would start looking into some of them. I'll probably have to look into alternatives since Manuka is so far out of my budget.

Medical Grade Honey Is a Thing

To start off, I have to admit that I heard about some alternatives to Manuka a while back. The thing about Manuka is the grading system. The MGO or UMF numbers make it easy to tell what "strength" of Manuka you are getting - or even whether it's authentic. What I did not know about is the term "medical (or medicinal) grade honey". Huh. Who among you did know?

The online Free Dictionary defines "medicinal-grade honey" MGH using Manuka as a standard and actually redirects to "Manuka Honey" for the definition:

Meliponini bee

"A medicinal grade honey applied topically to treat decubitus ulcers or prepare wound beds for skin grafts

Application When compared to standard hydrogel therapy, venous leg ulcers dressed with manuka honey have less slough, better healing and a lower incidence of infection." 

Now, when I try to look around online for more information, I mostly see a lot of scholarly articles that a) I wouldn't understand, and b) I won't pay to read in their entirety. I'm not that nosy.

What I did find when looking for more information on MGH, is that it's also referred to as "Active Leptospermum honey" (ALH). Leptospermum is basically "any of various shrubs or trees of the genus Leptospermum, of the myrtle family, native to Australia and adjacent areas and often cultivated as ornamentals in milder climates." Well, there you go. Leptospermum = Manuka.

So... Manuka is the most referenced of medical-grade honey but it's not the only honey that has medical applications. Right? Right. I think.

Oh boy. Can you see me peeking down this rabbit hole here?

Because I am genuinely interested in being healthier without having to add more artificial concoctions and lab-created prescriptions to my medicine cabinet, I kept going. My brain hurt so bad that at one point, I had to have a neighbor come over and help me. She's a former teacher and loves digging into stuff like this, thank goodness. Also, she never makes me feel self-conscious about my limitations, bless her. She told me that she misses digging into information like this and that it helps "exercise her little gray cells". (Did I mention that we are both fans of Hercule Poirot stories?)

So.

The Healing Part - MGO

Manuka bush

According to what Teach and I read in a couple of places, the healing part of Manuka comes from hydrogen peroxide (that makes sense) and methylglyoxal - or MGO. Scottish Heather Honey has the peroxide but not the MGO. Unlike MGO, the peroxide properties are not as stable against heat, light, and bodily fluids. So Manuka wins the battle there. Remember that Manuka is often labeled by the amount of UMF or MGO present.

MGO is what gives Manuka its particular antibacterial properties. Before that being discovered by some guy (sorry, we took great notes but lost the source page), cocoa and coffee were the only foods shown to have MGO in any significant amounts - and they have nowhere near the amount or level of MGO as in Manuka. 

So...Alternatives to Manuka?

1. Scottish Heather Honey - we see why it's not as powerful as Manuka.

2. Irish Honey - This one seems to be highly antioxidant (because of the "high phenolic content", but I don't see any mention of it having the MGO. Teach did find a source comparing Irish honey to Manuka. This is another source talking up Irish honey.

4.  Meliponini Bee Honey (aka: Stingless Bee Honey) - This is the one I am most excited about because of claims that it can help with eye problems and tooth and gum issues. I am going to do a separate post on this honey at a later time.

And now for a honey that might hold a candle against Manuka:

4. Tualang Honey - We saw more than one article or medical journal citing Tualang as being in some ways more effective than Manuka. WHAT? Yes, ma'am.

Let's Talk About Tualang Honey

This NCBI article we found went into a lot of detail comparing Manuka and Tualang honey. I'm taking Teach's word for it (she really got into reading all the scientific details!) and just say that Tualang can give Manuka a hard run for its money. The information we found was interesting and persuasive enough that I will be pricing Tualang before I spend any more on Manuka. Teach got really excited when looking at the different effects Tualang and Manuka had on certain types of wounds, etc. She told me it's definitely worth at least trying the Tualang and I do trust her judgment here. (And I have to give this other link because I lost track of which NCBI article Teach read...)

Another Honey to Consider

I found another type of honey to check into when I have time. Teach was gone when I found these so I'm not going to deal with it right now. It's called Kelulut honey and I saw somewhere (don't ask where) that it's close to Manuka as far as being medicinal. I did find one page to check out and it lists some information and benefits of Kelulut.

For now, I have a serious headache, no joke, and will have to do the separate posts on Tualang, Meliponini, and Kelulut honey later. Teach has offered to come back and help me again. Sick puppy, she loved doing all this research! LOL

Peace

--Free

Manuka Honey Is on Sale! (And It's Good Stuff)

**I am not a doctor or any other kind of medical, health, or nutritional specialist. Before using anything for health purposes, make sure to check with your healthcare providers, do your own research, and use every bit of your own common sense before following suggestions by anyone like me!**

I've posted about Manuka honey and Manuka oil before. Well, Manuka honey is on sale over at Steens.

Manuka honey lives up to - and beyond - every bit of the hype. I can personally attest to that. I have stopped cold sores in their tracks by applying a dab of Manuka to my lip the minute I feel the first warning itch. I have put Manuka on burns and cuts. I have used it in warm tea for a sore throat. It works.

Here's the thing, you have to be careful about from whom and where you buy Manuka. There are a lot of scam sellers with products rated differently (to make you think the honey is more effective than it may actually be) or mislabeled. This is why there is an actual grading system for Manuka and all kinds of rules about how products have to be labeled. There are licenses issued to manufacturers and exporters. True Manuka sellers take this stuff seriously.  Check this link for in-detail information.

The brand I trust most of all is Steens. After looking at lots of different brands and trying some, I decided that Steens is the best. In my opinion. I actually am hesitant to use other brands now.

Here is the thing: it's not cheap. If you do find cheaply priced Manuka, make sure you check that it's legit because it is most likely an imposter.

Buying a good quality Manuka is not like buying "regular" honey. You can get the lower UMF varieties at really affordable prices. Some people use those for daily dietary needs. The higher UMF though is for stronger medicinal needs. I am fortunate enough that the jar I have ($24.00/12oz/$2.24 per ounce) has lasted me since April 2018 and I still have some left to use. Also, my jar is labeled as "good" until 2022. Some people have money enough to use their Manuka on their skin and in their hair for beauty purposes. I only use it for medicinal purposes - mainly fatigue - and for a variety of other healing uses (cold sores, throat, psoriasis, burns, etc.) and I have about... well, I'm bad at estimating so let's take a look:

There's a good
5 or 6 tablespoons left.

So you can understand why I got so excited when I got an email this morning showing this:

50% off? 50??? Of the 25+ UMF honey? 

Oh. My. Joy. I actually felt lottery-winner-giddy for a moment. In my head, I was rearranging my budget and scratching things like butter and paper towels off my grocery list. I mean, I can go for a while without butter and hand-drying paper, right?  But then, I saw this part of the email:

Rolls Royce on sale. Must go now!

I'm sure everyone in a 5-mile radius could hear my heart dropping and my smile hitting the floor.

Okay, so I still can in no way afford the higher UMF Manuka, but...  I normally use the 10+ variety and it was also in the sale. At a price I could afford without dropping 10 things from my grocery budget.

Even better, I could actually afford to go a little higher and get the 15+ UMF for the first time ever - without having to break into Ft. Knox.

Listen, for about 5 minutes, I considered calling my siblings to ask if they wanted to chip in on a jar of the 25+ UMF. That might sound crazy to some of you, but I really considered this in-family Go Fund Me route. That's how much I believe in the natural healing properties of this honey.

If you think I am being dramatic, just know that I have used this honey in a tea during some of my worst fatigue. I didn't jump up out of bed or off the couch like Grandpa in Willy Wonka, but I did start feeling better sooner than when I don't use the honey. 

The fatigue relief was a good indicator that the honey works, but I got actual visible no-fooling proof. The first time I got a visible indicator of the healing power of Manuka was when... Okay, this is embarrassing but... From the time I was about 19 or 20, I started to get the occasional cold sore on my lip. I don't know where the heck I picked that nastiness up from but there it is. For years, I suffered from a big old, festering sore spot on my lip that would last about a week before it began to heal. Even the healing was nasty. I tried everything but Abreva was the only thing that worked. I had to catch the sore right when I felt the first tingle of an itch. If I slept through or missed the itch right away, the Abreva would help the sore heal faster but didn't stop it from forming. I'd get a nasty blister that would go away in a couple of days instead of going full-blown, wishing-for-a-pandemic-so-I-could-wear-a-mask nasty.

When I use the Manuka, it stops anything developing past the itch. If I miss the itch, I can dab some Manuka on the first little blister, and not only does it not get any worse, but it starts to heal right away. I have not had a visible cold sore since I started treating the initial signs with Manuka. I have not had a cold sore since using Manuka. Not one. I've caught a blister in the morning when I wake up, applied Manuka, and by the time the day is out, no more itch, no more blister - nothing. I now keep a couple of Manuka in my purse. That way I can use it on my mouth or have some on hand for tea if I am out and start getting worn out or get a throat ache.

plain for tea & cold sores

with shea for daily lip balm

I can absolutely promise you that I have not bought a tube of Abreva ever since I started using Manuka for cold sores. 

So, yeah, Manuka is not cheap but neither is a single tube of Abreva. Back when I started buying it - maybe 8 years ago, it was around $12-$15 a tube, depending on where I bought it. I just checked on Amazon for a price:

That $17.20 price is for a .07 ounce tube. Amazon calculates this out to be $286.51 per ounce. So, basically just about 300 dollars an ounce for something that can only be used in one way.

So, I wouldn't really mind asking my family for help getting a $140 jar of Manuka that would last me for a few years. I sure don't mind going without extra bread or butter for a couple of weeks so that I can buy the 25- or 30-dollar jar. After all, I used to buy Abreva that I could use only for one thing. 

Anyway, I really wanted to tell anyone interested in the sale and to yak once more about how amazing I think Manuka honey is. 

By the way, the oil is great for using on my psoriasis but I have to dilute it down a lot. It's very powerful - strong-scented and too much to use full-strength on the skin. It's also pricey and I paid around $15 for my last 10ml bottle. Of course, you only have to use the tiniest drop ever mixed with some carrier oil or grease to use on the skin - as a matter of fact, any more than the tiniest drop is too strong for my skin. But I have to choose between honey or oil and the honey is more versatile.

Peace

--Free

P.S.:

Because I rarely finish typing a post on the day I start one, I have already received the Manuka UMF 15+ so... Here it is.

7.9oz for $35 ($4.06 per ounce)

I want to point out that I noticed that the higher the UMF, the darker the honey. When I checked online, I learned that this is because there are more of certain compounds in the higher UMF-rated honey. Interesting, yes? 

Anyway. I ended up going to the Steens storefront on Amazon because the price was around $35 and no shipping with Prime. The sale is still on at the Steens site as of the time of this post, but I am not sure how long it will last. 

**REVIEW** Manuka, Manuka, Manuka

As promised, I am going to review a product that I have been talking about forever: Manuka - but not just the honey. Thanks to my "angel", I have a small bottle of the oil and a jar of the honey. So, let's get to it.

Steens UMF 10 (MGO 263) Raw Unpasteurized NZ Manuka Honey

I didn't get the EcoBee brand that I have talked about before because, as I told you, I have an angel purchaser. When someone else is footing the bill, I try hard to look for the best price as well as a quality item. I still want to try the EcoBee brand, but that's for another time. For now, I went with the Steens. The first reason is that they passed all the tests of being UMF-certified and licensed as an authentic Manuka brand. The next reason is that, after reading a ton of reviews and doing some other light research, I was impressed with the quality. Now, about the details:

The Taste

Not the usual off-the-shelf texture, sweetness, or color. The honey has a grainy-ness that you can see, but it's not very noticeable on the tongue. Its flavor is more molasses-sweet than table sugar-sweet (but doesn't taste like molasses). If I have to relate the taste to a sugar, it would be more a raw-sugar-sweetness. Though the product page talks about the "bee bread" being included, don't expect what you get with a brand like Really Raw where some of the comb and propolis is very visible when you open the jar. With the Steens Manuka, all that seems to be blended into the honey itself. The coloring is almost that of a very dark peanut butter:

This best captures the color of the honey

Also, I have to mention that this jar was clearly labeled with the UMF rating and country of origin. Even more important, it was sealed for safety in every way.

The Smell

I chose the least expensive jar of Steens. If you remember from my other posts, I talked about the much-lauded UMF rating system.This one is UMF 10+ and cost about $25 for 12 ounces (so around $2/ounce). The other choices on Amazon are UMF 15+ (approx $55)  and 20+ (approx $120). If I had chosen either of those, I would not have been able to choose other products to review for this period. Even my angel has a budget.

A good texture, even after refrigeration

Of course, I can't, for now, check the honey for certain benefits - such as faster healing of sores/wounds. What I could test immediately was for whether or not it would give me an energy boost. Not only did I try this, but I had my brother give it a test also. Result: he felt more energy than I did. I did feel a slight boost during the day that I took 2 teaspoons, but that could be psycho-whatchacallit. My brother has been on a new work schedule that is disrupting his sleep and he said he definitely got a boost the second time he tried 2 teaspoons - one in the morning and one at midday. So, okay.

It's going to probably take me a while of taking my daily teaspoon of this before I can say yay or nay about the benefits. Right now, I am trying to work the honey into my intermittent fasting routine. I like to add some to cucumber water and out it in the fridge overnight to chill. That way, I have a nice big helping of water for first thing in the morning. On the days when I fast - like I will be doing tomorrow - I make up at least 3 jars of the drink to have in between cups of (ugh) unsweetened lemon or mint tea.

In addition to the 10/15/20 UMF Manuka, there are other products at the Steens site.

One last thing about the quality and authenticity of the honey. There is a trace code on each jar that allows consumers to track and trace the origin of their particular jar of honey. If you want to see a test of this tracing feature, head over to here and try out the sample code. I was able to trace mine, but I couldn't zoom in on the map itself.

Inn&Co Manuka Oil, 100% Pure New Zealand East Cape

While Manuka honey has a UMF rating system, the essential oil has a different grading system.

This Inn & Co Manuka Oil I have is rated at  MβTK 25+ Certified.  MβTK stands for Manuka Oil ßeta triketones. I won't get deep into it because it will make my head hurt, but the triketones are important because - according to the NIH and other sources - of their antimicrobial activities.

Getting away from all the technical details and five-dollar words, I was mainly interested in the oil for these touted benefits (especially the ones I italicized):

• Proven to Kill Bacteria And Other Microbes – 30 TIMES MORE Effective Than Tea Tree Oil

• Laboratory Tested and Proven Effective Against 35+ Bacteria Harmful To Humans: Streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus (Staph), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), as well as Pathogenic Fungi.

• Anti-inflammatory – Treats Aching and Stiff Joints, Strained and Painful Muscles, Back Aches, and Arthritis Pain. Rubbing Just A Few Drops May Help Relieve and Alleviate the Symptoms.

• Cicatrisant /Cytophylatic– The Oil Helps Scars and After Marks on the Skin Fade Away Promoting New Cell Growth and Healing of Wounds

• Relaxant/ Aromatherapy – Has Remarkable Soothing and Relaxing Effects. Helps Fight Depression, Anxiety, Anger, Stress, Nervousness, and Disturbances As It Provides a Relaxed Feeling. 

I have actually been using the oil for almost a week so I can speak to the benefits I have enjoyed.

• Psoriasis on my feet is showing a lot of improvement. I've been using other balms and oils that soothed the skin and gave it a better appearance. This oil after just one treatment seems to be clearing up the problem areas. There is a lot less of the scaling and flaking. I've been using the amazing Pumpkin Seed oil as a carrier and adding just a small drop of the Manuka for each foot. 
• Again, using the tiniest drop or two in my humidifier, this oil does have a calming effect. I've started using it every night to help me sleep better. Side note about humidifiers: they will set off your smoke detector. I learned that at this morning around 4am...
• I added about a drop of this to about 3 tablespoons of my hair twist cream and it seems that I got more shine as a result. I've read that the oil is a dandruff remedy as well as a hair growth treatment.
• To test the oil as an underarm deodorant, I rubbed some manuka and coconut oil on my palms then rubbed under my pits. Works.
• To test this as an alternative to feminine hygiene spray, I dabbed a small bit of the manuka onto the sticky side of my panty liner. This makes me nervous though because who knows what kind of personal hell it would be to get this oil on your private parts. I have decided to get a fine-misting spray bottle to mix some 10 parts filtered water with 1 part manuka oil to spray my freshly laundered panties and let dry before wearing. If anyone else decides to use the oil as a personal hygiene deodorant, all I can say is, be careful and know the potential risks. LOL

I have added a little bit of the oil (about 5 full drops) to a 1-quart spray bottle and I use it to clean counters in the kitchen and bathroom and to spray the shower curtains with. 

The only halfway negative thing I can say about the oil is that the smell can be strong and has a medicinal tinge to it. I notice it most when using it in the humidifier. On the other hand, the smell dissipates quickly into the air and it also does not linger too long when applied to the skin. I don't find the smell "nasty" like with some highly beneficial oils (hello, Neem), but it isn't a perfume-like oil.

To Summarize

Do I think that these products live up to the hype? Yes. Surprisingly, it is the Manuka oil that I plan to purchase for myself in the future. I am getting a lot of use from this bottle - from use on my skin, hair, in the air, and for cleaning. The honey will last longer and I can see myself not having to replenish the stash for another couple of months.

When I think of the cost of these products, I have to look at the overall use and value. They are worth what they cost in health and mental well-being. The oil is my favorite.

To leave you with something to think about, while I was doing a bit of research on these two products, I discovered that there is still another type of honey to be looked into. It's called Kanuka honey. Kanuka, not Manuka. Seriously. I will have check that out much later. I already have to finish reviewing the products my angel has lined up for the next few weeks.

It might be a minute before I do get to the other reviews. I've been dealing with yet another health issue the past couple of weeks and am just now starting to bounce back. Hang tight though because I have some good stuff coming up - not to mention the May Giveaway...

Peace
--Free






DISCLOSURE The products reviewed in this post were paid for by an "angel" sponsor who is in no way affiliated with either product or brand or seller. My opinions are not influenced by the "angel".

**FOLLOW UP** Honey as a Healing Agent

It's not often that I get to come back and give details of dramatic results about products I've reviewed. It's an awesome feeling.

Back in April, I was posting about the different types of honey. My main interest was in the great taste and the natural healing powers of the different varieties. I've been using honey for a long time - adding it to my beverages and cereals, and just taking a little bit by the spoonful when I'm not feeling well. Honey is a great throat soother and, because of the sarcoidosis, I tend to cough. Sometimes, I cough so much that I get hoarse, and all my life I've been prone to laryngitis. Honey has become a regular part of my natural medicine cabinet.

In the past several weeks, I've broken out with a rash. It started like a minor dry-skin problem but it was isolated to small sections on both ankles and in minute patches on my palms and fingers. My hands healed rapidly and the rash never even really developed past the minor stage. I suspected I was suffering from a lack of iodine and, since I have some J. Crowe's, I took a few drops every day. The dry spots on my hands healed up, but my ankles got worse. I stopped taking the iodine and contacted my doctor. It's possible that my meds (chemo and an infusion treatment) may be the cause, so I have an appointment coming up to check on that. In the meantime, I tried using a hydro-cortisone cream. Moisture is not my problem, though, and the cream wasn't helping much.

I know that doctors must hate patients who go all renegade with their own healthcare and, because I trust my specialist more than he will ever know, I usually don't do anything without checking with him first. That rash was driving my nuts though! It is dry and ugly and it was starting to itch. Of course, you know me...

I woke up last night because the rash was feeling itchy. I went straight to my natural medicine shelf. I still don't have any of the whole manuka honey, but I do have an antioxidant honey blend that has some manuka in it. ----->>>>>>>>>>

















This is what the rash looked like yesterday (and this doesn't even show how scaly and dry it was!)

This is how I dressed it after applying a good dollop of honey with a Q tip:

This is what the rash looked like once I washed off the honey with a warm wet towel:

To be fair, the lighting and color from the camera seems better, but the difference really is this startling.  Best of all, the itch is gone. I am probably never going to be able to afford a decent amount of Manuka honey, but that might be all right. I'm hearing more and more about Scottish heather honey. Because the price is affordable ($17/12-oz jar), I've ordered some from Amazon using my saved up reward points. Another bonus: a high iron content in the heather honey.

For now, I'm just excited about how the honey blend I used has helped with this rash. I can't wait to tell my doctor. Well, I can kind of wait because I know he'll probably give me one of those looks!

You have to admit that this is pretty impressive. It proves to me what I've heard for years - from my mother and all those old ladies from my youth. Honey can be a natural healing agent.

Like I said, it's not often that I can come follow up with such dramatic results, but honey really, truly did do the trick for me. I still need to see what caused this, but I'm hoping that, until I see the doc, the honey continues soothing the itch and moisturizing the dry patches.

I'm not recommending that anyone substitute honey for medical care - I'm certainly not doing so. I just wanted to share my personal experience in this one instance. By the way, I did double check some references once more before I actually applied the honey to the rash on my foot. I found some sources that back up what my mama taught me about honey and healing:

• This, from a wound care journal, about using honey in dressing wounds, and
• an overview of honey uses from Web MD (yeah, yeah, yeah...).
• Some background about the use of honey in healing.
• Here is more objective (and scholarly) info on the subject from the NIH Library of Medicine.

Peace
--Free

**ApothaCare** For the Love of Honey: Manuka Mania

In the last post, I talked about my love of honey and the various favorites I have. This post, I have to talk about one that I would just love to try:



Manuka honey is a prized type among honey lovers. While I do think it's a very potent honey (as far as its healing benefits), I've learned about other honey types that may be just as good. I'll be talking about those later. For now, on to Manuka and why it's such a big deal.

By the way, there is a bit of Manuka honey in the Antioxidant blend that I mentioned in the previous post, I don't know how much is in the blend, or how "active" it is. And by "active" I mean- Well, just keep reading and it will start to make sense.

The first place I looked for some info on Manuka honey and other types was WebMD, and this is what they had to say in part:

Looks like peanut butter, huh?

"But not all honey is the same. The antibacterial quality of honey depends on the type of honey as well as when and how it's harvested. Some kinds of honey may be 100 times more potent than others." (source)

Basically, it goes on to say that where most honey types are known for being protecting against bacteria and infection, as well as being anti-inflammatory,  Manuka honey (MH) and some other types of honey have multiple components that are beneficial.

As I mentioned in last post, I learned that one of the key components in honey is hydrogen peroxide.

Since I do love honey so much, I really wanted to see if I could find some that I could afford (like maybe in a sample size), and I did find some. One Seller on Amazon lists a reasonably-priced jar of Manuka, but... something about the wording on the label made me hesitate.

When I doubt, read the reviews! I'm really thankful to the other people who take time to review products online (whether "in exchange" for a product or not). When I checked reviews for the brand of Manuka I was thinking of buying, I noticed one that stood out. It was very informative and detailed. I'm not kidding when I say this reviewer did an amazing job of listing some things to look for when buying Manuka honey. I sure hope he/she doesn't mind my copying his comments to share because I love their reviews on the site (my emphasis on certain points).

1. It says UMF, MGO, or OMA clearly on the front of the jar
2. It says “Active” on it
3. It is packed into jars and labelled in New Zealand
4. It’s from a New Zealand company that is licensed to use the name UMF (which is actually a trademarked name), OMA, or MGO
5. It has the UMF, OMA, or MGO licensee’s name on the front label
6. It has at least a rating of UMF or OMA 15+ or more, or if it is MGO, then at least 250+
Apparently 16 is the highest rating that is naturally found. While there are manuka honeys rated above 20, I've heard that some companies artificially reach this lofty rating for marketing purposes, so I’m sticking with 16 and probably wouldn't go lower than that.
0 – 10 is pretty much just normal honey, and while ratings 10 – 15 are less expensive and have some beneficial properties, they don’t have as much as we’d like. I figure that if I’m going to shell out for honey that’s pricier than normal, I may as well go ahead and get the real good stuff!

 Now that is a super helpful review. It sure saved me from possibly adding the wrong item to my Shopping Cart.


You should definitely check out the full article on WebMD if you've been interested in trying (or learning about) Manuka honey. It even explains something else I was wondering about: what's up with the different types of ratings I've been seeing while browsing for Manuka honey. Remember what that reviewer mentioned about the ratings? Well, here's some clarification on that:

• MG =  methylglyoxal  which is an  found in most types of honey, but usually only in small quantities.In manuka honey, MG comes from the conversion of another compound -- dihydroxyacetone -- that is found in high concentration in the nectar of manuka flowers.The higher the concentration of MG, the stronger the antibiotic effect. 
• UMF = "Unique Manuka Factor" . To be considered potent enough to be therapeutic, manuka honey needs a minimum rating of 10 UMF.  (my emphasis)
• "Active" = Honey at or above the 10 UMF level is marketed as "UMF Manuka Honey" or "Active Manuka Honey."

When I checked around. I went back to the best source to explain the grading system for Manuka honey. If you're super-vigilant (or just nosy like me), you can go in and search for one of the many, many papers and reports written by researchers.

Of course, I can look lots of places for the claims about the power of Manuka honey, like here, but I'm still educating myself. I've contacted the UMF org for more information since using their search system for licencees was tricky. I'll keep you posted.

Now that thing is, I was really wanting to try the Manuka honey. Until I saw those Manuka prices at local health food stores and online. Yikes. If that honey really is as healing as is claimed, I'd need it to heal my pocketbook after buying any of it. I saw prices from $49 to $112 for anywhere from 4 to 8 ounces. Whenever I found a jar that was more in my price range (I saw one jar for around $30), I noticed that the rating was low (in the 5+ range).

I will wait until I can find a decent jar of Manuka that doesn't require me to go without any other groceries for a month! Probably, I will go ahead and get the same brand pictured at the start of this post. For one thing, I was able to check that Y.S. is one of the suppliers that is actually licensed and legit. For another thing, the price was decent for the 15+ rated honey.

Next post, I will talk about some of the honeys that might be as potent as Manuka honey. Stay tuned.

Peace
--Free