Summer is in full swing in Chicago and with that, comes more opportunity to get out and explore the hidden gems of the city. One of our favorite things to do on weekends is roaming around local parks and farmer’s markets perusing what all of the vendors have to offer. Of course here at Sugar Fix, we love our fresh flowers and sweet treats, but recently a different kind of sweet caught our eye. Manuka Honey! After seeing the honey man with his cart full of goodies, we just had to see for ourselves what all the hype was about. Turns out, it’s so much more than just a sweet treat and its benefits are out of this world!
What is Manuka Honey?
Manuka Honey is a delicious, rare, and healing kind of honey that is only harvested in New Zealand and southeastern Australia where the Manuka tree is native. This is because they are the only countries that have enough of these incredible trees from which bees collect. It takes hundreds of acres of these trees for the honey to be produced as they only bloom for only six weeks per year! Once the trees begin to flower, and the busy bees get to work, beekeepers watch over them to assure that everything is going smoothly. Sometimes the beekeepers have to intervene to assist with relocating the bees and moving hives to make sure that all of the blooming trees are put to use. With such a small window for bees to gather the nectar of the Manuka flower, and all the hard work that goes into harvesting it, this special honey is highly sought after all over the world.
What are the benefits?
First used medicinally by the Maori people, the benefits that come from the Manuka tree are seemingly endless. If you waver on the side of wanting a natural medicine, look no further than Manuka Honey. Its antibacterial properties can be used to fight off infections, acne-causing bacteria, soothe sore throats, calm burns and SO much more but we want to talk about its oral benefits and how you can use it before and after your next appointment at Sugar Fix.
We love to use cutting-edge technology in our office and one of our favorite tools we use is the Pioneer Elite diode laser. This special laser works on targeting only the soft tissues in your mouth when we’re performing gum lifts, frenectomies, correcting tongue-tie, and so much more. With this incredible laser, you’ll have minimal bleeding, no need for uncomfortable stitches, and little to no discomfort after the procedure. Now, just because you’re not experiencing any discomfort doesn’t mean that the “injury” isn’t there. So how do you promote a clean environment for healing? We’re glad you asked!
Keeping up with good oral hygiene is of the utmost importance when healing after we used the Pioneer Elite diode laser, but our favorite way to speed up the process in tandem with good hygiene is…you guessed it, Manuka Honey! It’s an easy, natural, and tasty way to promote healing and eliminate any bacteria that may be wanting to creep into the area. Take a small amount of the incredible healing honey and apply it to the affected areas twice a day and you’ll be amazed at its soothing effect. It’s also been shown to help prevent periodontal issues through its continued use, so why not add it into your routine?
How do I know it’s Manuka?
While all honey may have some healing qualities, Manuka Honey is held to a much higher standard than other types of honey. It even has its own grading scale of 5 to 20 called UMF (unique manuka factor) to determine the antibacterial strength of the honey! The higher the number on this scale, the more beneficial it is. If the Manuka Honey scores a 10 or higher, it’s then considered medical grade. Fun fact: Manuka Honey was approved by the FDA in 2007 for medical use! Who would’ve known that something so sweet can be used for something other than drizzling over your acai bowl?
Where To Purchase
While Manuka Honey may come with a pricier tag than your standard honey, the benefits are beyond worth it! You can find Manuka Honey at The Vitamine Shoppe, Whole Foods, and even Amazon, but if you want to go the extra mile to support the beekeeping community call up the experts, your local honey supplier! They will be able to help you locate and import quality Manuka Honey and in turn, you get to support a local business as well as the people who help harvest it.
We can’t wait to see the benefits you’ve been getting by adding Manuka Honey into your oral hygiene routine! Here’s to happy, healthy, and healed gums!