Blog / manuka

Why your gut health needs a dose of liquid gold!

Study after study illustrates the potential of manuka honey to be one of your greatest allies in the fight against stomach concerns. Head over to Reddit and find hundreds of tales reporting that it has cleared or greatly reduced symptoms of issues like IBD and Crohn’s disease. But why is it so effective? Let’s begin with the basics.

What makes Manuka so special in the first place?

If you’re here, you likely know all about the unique component of manuka honey - MGO. Short for methylglyoxal, this is the magic ingredient that gives manuka honey its superpowers. You probably also know that MGO is a highly effective anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent. So let’s take a closer look.

Inflammation, Bacteria, and Your Gut

Manuka honey is a powerful source of antioxidants. Antioxidants reduce oxidants which cause inflammation. Almost every disease is caused or exacerbated by inflammation.

When you pair this with manuka honey’s antibacterial benefits, it starts to become clearer why it can be such a boon for your digestive health. Studies show manuka is highly effective against over 50 bacteria strains, many of which can be found in the gut. Additionally, manuka honey creates a prebiotic called fructo-oligosaccharides, which support your gut’s probiotic content.

So now that you know why manuka honey should be a part of your gut health routine, you need to know how to take it! We recommend one tablespoon per day, broken down into three teaspoons taken about 15 minutes before a meal or maximal gut support.

What MGO Strength is Right for You? Check out our handy chart below to see where to start!

Wishing you the best health of your life in 2024.

What is sustainable beekeeping? While the word “sustainability” means different things to different people we generally define it as meeting the needs of our current population without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same. 

Beekeeping or apiculture is the process of maintaining honeybees and hives. It is a centuries old tradition. A beekeeper collects honey and other products that the hive produces like Honey, Royal Jelly, Propolis and Pollen.  Bee population has been declining in recent years and the role of the beekeeper is very important when it comes to achieving sustainable development. By restoring healthier bee populations and using management care for bees in a way that respects their natural processes can improve the ecological agriculture which can help pollination. 

We asked Terry Bone, third generation beekeeper, to describe in further detail what sustainable beekeeping means, in practice. Here is what he said:

• Balancing bee health and welfare with a viable commercial operation. 

The aim is to protect and maintain healthy, capable and indigenous honeybees. This is about balancing the amount of honey or other bee products taken from hives to make the business viable vs. leaving enough honey for the bees to survive without excessive supplementary feeding of cane sugar and pollen substitutes. 

• Do not put anything into the hive which did not come from the bees.

This introduction of certain chemical substances like pollen substitute, stimulants, antibiotics etc., can cause the bees to display disorientation or unusual behavior.

• Do not take anything out of the hive which the bees cannot afford to lose.

Collecting honey and pollen doesn’t harm the bees, only a small amount is taken during the collection process. The honey and pollen that is not harvested goes to feed the colony.

• Keep bees local. Bees are best suited to their own unique conditions and environment. 

In NZ, bees are certainly moved to be near a pollen source like manuka or for pollination, but the distances are not large. Honeybees can thrive and adapt well in their natural habitat or domesticated environments.  

Hives are not moved by great distances. In NZ, hives are typically kept within regions. In some larger countries like the US, hives are transported across many states to pollinate crops like almonds. This is very tough on bees. 

• Leave enough honey for bees to feed through winter and minimize supplementary feeding of cane sugar.

There has to be enough honey in the hive to carry the colony through winter. If too much honey is taken the cane sugar can be a valuable management tool to supplement a shortage, but is not ideal. 

• Keeping intervention into hives at a minimum.

Bee hives require good management and natural intervention techniques to ensure the survival and production, enabling good bee colony health. 

• Not treating disease with antibiotics which can filter through to honey.

In NZ, the use of antibiotics is illegal. Beekeepers are required to burn any hives and equipment which become infected by disease like AFB (American Foulbrood). Beekeepers must take preventive measures through managing honey bee colonies to reduce the spread of disease.

Supporting the process of sustainable development through education and innovation can protect our ecosystem and preserve natural resources for future generations. In the long term, it can reduce the risk of natural hazards and the entire world benefits.  If you are interested in learning more about this, Terry recommends watching “Queen of the Sun” a film which explores mysterious colony collapse disorder and how beekeeping is practiced around the world.

PRI is supporting research and preservation efforts to provide “best practices” education for beekeepers and farmers that will help honey bees. A portion of  proceeds from PRI’s honey sales go to the cause led by the Glory Bee. The SAVE the BEE initiative is a partnership committed to protect honey bees by increasing public awareness of the role honeybees play in a healthy food supply. 

Resources: 

https://friendsoftheearth.uk/nature/why-do-we-need-bees

https://www.orkin.com/pests/stinging-pests/bees/honey-bees/habitat-of-a-honey-bee

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587718307906

https://www.sustain.ucla.edu/what-is-sustainability/

Sleep… so crucial for healing and health, but hard to get enough of! Insufficient sleep can decrease the immune system’s health, overall body, and muscle functionality. Honey is more than a sweetener! Honey can help you sleep and is one of the few sleep aids without side effects. 

Dr. Ron Fessenden has written about how honey can help with sleep. He recommends taking it before bedtime after your glycogen is depleted during wakefulness, which is associated with increased energy demand. 

Honey before bed has been shown to slowly release glycogen, which you need for essential body functions during sleep, reducing how often you wake up. 

With the increased stress levels in the last few years, sleeping problems are more common than before, but thankfully honey can be used as a health aid for sleepless nights.

Compared to melatonin, studies show it is an effective and affordable intervention to enhance sleep quality with no associated adverse effects. 

Like sugar, honey can cause a rise in insulin and release serotonin, a neurotransmitter known to improve mood, relieve stress, boost your energy levels, promote and help you fall asleep, and ensure you wake up well-rested. 

Here are three simple ways to take it:

1 - One - two teaspoons of delicious raw manuka honey straight up.

2 - The famous milk and honey tip. 

3 - Delicious hot chocolate with stress-reducing adaptogens. 

Manuka Honey is an excellent source of many health benefits as it not only contains a lot of antioxidants and vital nutrients but has greater antibacterial & anti-inflammatory properties than other honey. 

Of course, good sleep habits begin hours before you get to bed. Incorporating other simple practices into your routine alongside honey could improve the quality of your sleep even more! Here are some ideas:

-Use blue light-blocking glasses in the evening. Blue light, like that from your phone, laptop, and other devices, messes with your circadian rhythm. It signals your brain to wake up when it should be winding down.

-Aromatherapy. There are many herbs and oils associated with good sleep. One of our favorites is manuka oil!  

-Limit caffeine and alcohol intake in the afternoon & stop drinking at least 3-4 hours before bed. Caffeinated or alcoholic beverages also confuse your sleep cycle. Give your body enough time to process them first for more restful sleep.

Resources:

https://www.livinghoney.biz/the-honey-revolution.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4544655/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30390870/

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04207281

https://mytinylagunakitchen.com/recipe/adaptogenic-holiday-hot-chocolate-holiday-stress-reducing-tips/

You can almost hear the sound of sleigh bells ringing, right? Christmas time is full of surprises! And who exactly makes that happen? Moms. Not Santa! Your ever-supportive mom literally deserves it all. Whether your idea of the best presents are thoughtful and practical items she’ll fa-la-la-love and use all the time, or fun treats, we have you covered!

Don’t worry! Instead of getting the usual, there’s at least one thing here you’ll love to wrap up for your mom. The smallest and simplest gift can be a thoughtful way to show your love and appreciation during the holidays, you'll be sure to bring a smile to her face—and yours too! Indeed, the perfect gift does exist. 🎄

Those who have it, know how difficult psoriasis is to both manage and live with. As there is currently no cure for psoriasis, those who have been diagnosed with this autoimmune disease not only have to endure internal & external pain but also live with skin lesions that can make them feel self-conscious. If you are one of the over 7 million people in the U.S. affected by psoriasis and want to learn more about how manuka honey can help, along with other management tips, click here.

If you want to know more about what psoriasis is, read on!

Like many autoimmune diseases little is known about the cause of psoriasis however, enough is understood about our immune response to understand how & why it manifests the way it does. When you have psoriasis your T cells, which normally help your body protect against threatening foreign substances, are overactive. This overactivity causes them to attack not just disease-causing substances but also healthy skin cells. 

Everyone’s skin cells are constantly dying and regrowing, a process that would normally take about a month. For someone WITH psoriasis though, this takes only a few days causing painful, red, itchy, scaly patches of build-up on the skin. 

This cycle doesn’t tend to stop without some sort of treatment and can be more or less severe depending on many factors. These factors are different from person to person but can include stress, change in the weather, cuts, burns or scrapes, seasonal allergies, and dryer weather such as in dry desert climates or during winter.

While there are not many studies directly related to the use of Manuka Honey on psoriasis, it is thought to have great promise in treating psoriasis lesions. Unlike other honey, Manuka contains a unique component known as MGO; MGO has been shown to be a great aid in anti-inflammatory & antibacterial treatments. In addition to this, there is an overwhelming number of anecdotal reports on the effectiveness of Manuka Honey in reducing the severity of psoriasis outbreaks (by regular internal use) and the management of skin lesions/ external pain (when applied externally).

Given there are no known side effects from using Manuka oil or honey in conjunction with other treatments or on their own, why not give it a try and see if it can be beneficial to your symptoms? In fact, here is a special code just for you for 15% off any PRI Manuka Honey or Oil with the code SKINHELP.

Here are some great and easy ways to incorporate manuka products into your routine:

1. Add manuka oil and/or honey to your current moisturizer, body, or face wash. Adding to your shampoo and conditioner can also be a great help if you have scalp psoriasis 
2. Apply manuka oil and/or honey directly to your skin. (Note 100% Manuka oil needs to be diluted before external use. This can be done with any of your favorite carrier oils; simply add 10 drops of manuka oil to 2 Tablespoons of carrier oil.) We also have a pre-diluted 10% manuka oil (carried in almond oil) which is great for use right out of the bottle! If using Manuka honey, simply apply to the affected area and cover before bed!
3. Add manuka honey and/or oil + Epsom salts to your bath. The salts will help you shed dead skin, while the manuka will help kill bad bacteria & fungus while locking in moisture. You can also add ground-up oats for some extra love.
4. Help remove irritating dead skin and soothe inflammation with the most gentle exfoliating technique ever: honey tapping! Using only honey and your hands or a spoon honey tapping is a great way to exfoliate sensitive skin.
5. Take at least one tablespoon of manuka honey per day to help fight internal inflammation.

And, make sure to catch some sun! Ultraviolet B rays have also been shown to reduce the symptoms of psoriasis and  as little as 10 minutes in direct sun can be enough. 

Resources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7694078/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5562472/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/atopic-dermatitis-eczema/symptoms-causes/syc-20353273#:~:text=Atopic%20dermatitis%20(eczema)%20is%20a,irritating%20but%20it%27s%20not%20contagious

https://www.psoriasis.org/scalp/

Why does your face break out more during the holidays? 

It’s annoying, frustrating, and, well, a little bit our own faults - helloooo cookies! But here’s the thing - you should TOTALLY eat those cookies. There are many contributing factors as to why most people experience more inflammation and acne in the winter and, especially, during the winter holidays and most are external factors that can be naturally managed or even prevented entirely. 

One of the main reasons is simply that your skin produces more sebum in the dry winter weather. What is sebum you ask? Sebum is oil your skin glands produce and, while they help to keep your skin soft & supple they sometimes overproduce causing the cells to stick together and clog your pores.

Most sebum glands reside in the infamous “T-zone” aka your forehead, nose, and chin. The dryer it is, the more sebum your skin produces. 

Add to this the other factors that come along during the holidays such as:

• Increased stress
• Traveling to different climates 
• Eating far more sugary treats
• A less routine skincare regime
• Heavier make-up use 

Remember: Trying to overly restrict your diet can oftentimes lead to increased stress. Instead, go for balance, give yourself a little grace, and use manuka honey to help decrease the chance of breakouts and easily, naturally, treat any pimples that do arise. 

Here are a couple of ways you can help stop or reduce holiday breakouts before they start:

• Add 1/2 tsp of manuka honey to your face wash OR use the honey alone to wash
• Gently exfoliate 1-2x week using the honey tapping method to clear pores

If you do get any breakouts, help them disappear faster by:

• Spot treating the pimple. Simply dab a small amount of manuka (with clean hands) on the pimple and allow it to dry.
• Manuka honey face mask. Apply a thin layer of manuka to clean skin and allow to sit for 15-20 minutes. Simply rinse or use a damp soft cloth to remove.

There really is nothing like a hot toddy when you’re feeling under the weather and need to get in a good snooze. It’s not just an old wives tale either, recent studies show that the ingredients in a hot toddy mimic the effects of OTC products like NyQuil… Though, if we’re being truthful it’s actually NyQuil that mimics a hot toddy right?! So why not go natural? 

Our Hot Toddy is a riff on the classic with the addition of Sencha Naturals Green Tea + C for those extra antioxidants and vitamin C, PRI’s Manuka Honey & Propolis Cough Elixir for the extra cough soothing effects and some extra Manuka Honey to further support the immune system, help reduce bad bacteria and further soothe that sore throat.

If you are looking to help reduce your risk of getting sick in the first place, simply remove the cough elixir and enjoy one before bed. Keep in mind, whiskey is shown to be a great decongestant but stick with just one & make sure to keep fully hydrated!

• 1 Packet Sencha Naturals Green Tea + C 
• 1 Cup hot water
• 2 Tsp PRI Lemon Manuka Honey Cough Elixir
• 1 Tsp PRI Manuka Honey 15+
• Juice of half a lemon
• 1 Shot of whiskey 
• Cinnamon stick
• Lemon wedge for garnish

Instructions:

Pour one pack of Green Tea + C into a mug. Then pour in ½ cup of hot water. The mixture will foam up, so stir until the foam disappears and then pour in the remaining ½ cup of hot water. Stir until well combined. Next add in 2 tsp of the cough elixir and 1 tsp of manuka honey. Stir well again. Next, add in the juice of half a lemon and 1 shot of whiskey. Give it a good stir and then drop in a cinnamon stick and place a lemon wedge on the rim for garnish. Stir well before consuming and enjoy! 

Label-reading just got easier!

Listen, we don’t have hours to spend researching everything and we know you don’t either. So after months of deliberation, and gathering feedback from our loyal customers (that’s you!) we are excited to announce that we are moving to a quick and easy rating system that will help you understand your honey at-a-glance.

In June 2022, P.R.I. will be moving to a single-number MGO* on the label, and a QR code that you can scan (for those of you who crave all the juicy details about what’s in your jar.)

 "We believe making a purchase shouldn't require hours of research! To that end, the PRI team has long been in discussion to find the best way to label our Manuka Honey strengths in a clear and transparent manner. As the original importer of manuka honey to the U.S., we have used the standard rating systems originally used by all, to differentiate the strengths of Manuka. 

 However, over the years, our understanding of what makes manuka honey unique has expanded tremendously & testing and regulations have evolved along with that knowledge. MGO has now become a standard around the world for labeling the strengths of Manuka Honey. Our first step was to introduce the MGO level on our labels, putting this next to our original rating numbers. We hoped this would help customers in the transition and be able to easily compare our Manuka to that of the newer Manuka companies that have popped up over the last few years. Over the last 6 months, we have been gathering feedback from our customers and other experts in the field, and we decided to relaunch our Manuka range with just 1 number - MGO. Additionally, we are giving our customers a way to easily access test results for each batch of manuka honey we sell via a  QR code* right on the label. Simply scan the code with your phone for all the details about your honey!"

~ Kristy (CFO of P.R.I.)

Ranking the 16th most searched question about Manuka honey, in this blog post, we answer the question: “How to use Manuka honey for IBS?”.

First, let’s talk about what IBS is. Short for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, IBS is a disorder of the large intestine & affects nearly a quarter of Americans, causing symptoms ranging from bloating & abdominal pain to loose stools & undesired weight loss.

IBS can have many triggers, including: 

• Stress
• Food allergies
• Hormone imbalance
• Leaky gut
• Parasites
• Yeast overgrowth
• Antibiotics
• SIBO
• Poor thyroid function
• Poor hydration.  

Conventional medicine would say it is irreversible, but clinics specializing in treating the root causes of IBS have successfully reversed many cases. Those with IBS must manage their symptoms through various diet and lifestyle changes, so how can Manuka honey help?

Among many other things, Manuka honey can:

-Reduce inflammation in the digestive tract.

-Act as a prebiotic by stimulating the growth of good bacteria.

-Actively fight against disease-causing bacteria in the gut. 

All honey does contain fructose, which can be an IBS trigger for some. It's essential to ingest the honey raw as the raw enzymes make the sugars easier to digest. 

You can take up to 1-2 tablespoons per day but space it out and take a little before each meal so you can harness its prebiotic effects. If your IBS is severe and you find you tolerate the honey well,  try a high MGO Manuka such as a 500+ or even 1000+ MGO. These strengths are typically for external uses; however, certain severe internal conditions can also benefit.

Make Up Remover

Ingredients:

• ⅓ Cup Witch Hazel
• ⅓ Cup Rose Water
• 2 Drops PRI Manuka Oil
• 2 Tsp Coconut or Sweet Almond Oil

Directions:

1. Mix all of your ingredients together
2. Stir the mixture
3. Pour into bottle
4. Shake well

Manuka Honey Face Mask

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp PRI Manuka Honey 25+
• 1 Tsp Cinnamon
• 1 Tsp Turmeric

Directions:

1. Mix all of your ingredients together
2. Stir the mixture
3. Transfer to jar

Manuka Facial Oil

Ingredients:

• 1 Bottle PRI Manuka Oil in Sweet Almond Oil
• 5 Drops PRI Propolis Extract
• 5 Drops Essential Oil (Optional)

Directions:

1. Mix all of your ingredients together

These DIY gift ideas are so simple and easy to make, perfect for holidays or any gift giving occasions and can be customised with any special name, message, date or anything else important to you. Don’t forget that there’s so much more to self-care than bubble baths! When it comes to self-care products, natural really is the best!

Ditch the side effects for a dose of nature

Dreaming of hot chocolate, cozy fires & even cozier slippers…hopefully minus the sore throats, congestion, coughs and fevers that seem to also come along with the colder weather.

Unfortunately, the most common drug class for OTC cold & flu remedies including products such as Tamiflu contain questionable ingredients and around TEN common side effects ranging from nausea and vomiting to mood changes! 

Luckily for us all, nature already has the answer and more and more studies are being done to prove it. A recent study published in the Archives of Medical Research titled, “Anti-influenza Viral Effects of Honey In Vitro: Potent High Activity of Manuka Honey,” tested several different types of honey on the common H1N1 influenza strain. Researchers that conducted the study stated: “In conclusion, the results obtained showed that honey, in general, and particularly manuka honey, has potent inhibitory activity against influenza virus, demonstrating a possible medicinal value. Further investigations are required to identify the active antiviral components in Manuka honey and to determine its synergistic effects with known antiviral drugs.”

The study also showed that when manuka honey was added to the use of OTC medications, manuka significantly increased the antiviral effectiveness of both compounds. This might be necessary especially in extreme cases and is important to note. 

Manuka honey has been shown to increase the release of Cytokines, especially during an inflammatory response. Cytokines help white blood cells identify and eliminate damaged or infected tissues. 

If you are having a particularly sore throat or upper respiratory issues, physicians from Oxford University's Medical School and Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences analyzed existing evidence to see how honey affects the symptoms of URTIs. Concluding, in the article in the journal BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine "Honey was superior to usual care for the improvement of symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections,” also stating "Since the majority of URTIs are viral, antibiotic prescription is both ineffective and inappropriate. However, a lack of effective alternatives, as well as a desire to preserve the patient-doctor relationship, both contribute to antibiotic over prescription."*

It’s easy to incorporate manuka into your care routine. Fun fact about manuka is that when its heated, the MGO, or active component in manuka, is not killed so you can add it to your tea! If you prefer a cold treat when ill, check out our Throat Soothing Popsicles Recipe.

And, because being sick doesn’t always mean you get to lay in bed, we have all your on the go Manuka solutions such as our own alcohol-free cough elixirs, lozenges, throat soothing lollipops & honey sticks. 

** Please note, we are not medical professionals and you should not consider this medical advice. You know your body and when you need to seek medical attention, listen to that voice! And, in the meantime, eat Manuka, drink lots of water & get some rest ❤️

Resources: 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24880005/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6594701/

https://ebm.bmj.com/content/26/2/57

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/22/health/antibiotics-surgery-cancer-england-uk-intl/index.html

Manuka Oil has long been recognised and well-known for its Medicinal purposes like antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Many are most familiar with manuka oil's cousin, tea tree oil. Manuka oil has actually been shown to be up to 33x stronger against most bacteria than tea tree oil!  Long before there were honey bees in NZ to make manuka honey, the Maori peoples were using manuka oil, bark and leaves to treat a variety of issues from skin conditions to oral care. Our Manuka Oil—drawn from the leaf of the Manuka tree through a steam distillation process that keeps everything natural—using low temperature with no added chemicals, is packed with active compounds. Below are five amazing benefits of Manuka Oil:

• Natural Antiseptic - For centuries, Manuka Oil has been used to prevent disease-causing microorganisms. It is effective to inhibit the growth of microbes to reduce the possibility of infection.
• Cicatrisant - This means wound healing, when Manuka Oil is applied to the affected areas it promotes the growth of new cells and encourages the skin to form scar tissues and also can help fading scars.
• Skin, Hair & Nails - The soothing and hydration benefits of Manuka Oil can improve your skin’s appearance, reduce wrinkles and can help treat irritations, blemishes and acne. Massaging your scalp can help in increasing blood circulation which moisturizes, nourishes, promotes hair growth and strengthens the hair roots. You can apply a few drops to your nails and between your toes, the antifungal properties may be an effective treatment for nail fungus. 
• Relaxation - The aromatic substance of Manuka Oil helps relieve stress, boost your energy levels, helps provide enough restful sleep and it leaves a soothing effect on your body and mind. 
• Deodorant - Manuka Oil is an effective natural deodorant because of their antibacterial and antifungal properties which makes you feel clean and fresh! You can also add a few drops to your body wash.
• For Cleaning - Manuka Oil acts as a natural disinfectant, just add a few drops into your spray bottle together with water or your favorite cleaning solution.

Resources: 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7694078/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3677636/

https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/13/11/343/htm

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7414039/

https://pharmacy.mahidol.ac.th/journal/_files/2017-44-4_4.pdf

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.783832/full