Active Manuka Honey

[blue-and-green]

I read its good for Arthiritis, Joint Pain, Hayfever, etc. How true is this for hayfever? cause i phoned the supplying company for Manuka Honey and apparantly not good for hayfever but your local honey is. So, has any of you taken it before and incidentally found it works for hayfever too?

[dexterdoglancashire]

There is an article in todays Daily Express saying its good for lots of things.
Bernie aka Dexterdog

[Tyto Alba]

They say that honey made from the pollen you are allergic to is good for hayfever. So honey made on your own plot fits that category.

It makes sense in a way based on what is called 'oral tolerance' in immunology circles.

Your food contains lots of things that your body might not have seen before, but in general it doesn't provoke an immune reaction. Not all of these proteins and sugars are totally destroyed before they get into your bloodstream. Yet there appears to be some mechanism enabling you to tolerate them.

Well, the idea is that some of the immunogenic compounds from the pollen that makes you sneeze are contained in the honey, and that by eating them your system will tolerate them in future.

I haven't seen that much actual scientific evidence for this, but hmmmmmmm I LOVE honey.

[TonyF]

Some years ago a homoeopath recommended Manuka honey to me as part of my medical regime. I went into the whole thing extensively, did lots of online stuff, spoke to apiarists about it and realised that medically, it does nothing that local or other imported honeys dont do for you.

There was a report from one of the non-food industry bodies which said that it was a placebo effect, with Manuke being recommended by people who would have felt better taking any honey.

And for what it's worth, I also think it's grossly overpriced. Miel de fleurs or miel de acacia are superb.

[Tyto Alba]

[QUOTE=TonyF;92917]

There was a report from one of the non-food industry bodies which said that it was a placebo effect, with Manuke being recommended by people who would have felt better taking any honey.
QUOTE]


All homeopathy is placebo. That doesn't necessarily make it worthless though.

But the effect of honey could be a real biochemical phenomenon.

[unconcerned]

I've never been sure on the local honey thing. I have a jar in the cupboard, but my hayfever is caused by grass pollen. But I'm guessing bees make their honey from other pollens!? But as mentioned above - any excuse to eat honey!

[sanman]

As I'll shortly be a honey producer myself I'd say that UK honey is the bees knees. Support British honey producers and buy only honey produced in this country and the more local the better; cut down on those food miles

[unconcerned]

Definitely. Actually local honey (Shropshire) is difficult to get hold of! I think there has been a virus wiping out English bees in the last few years. The supermarkets are rubbish for English honey. Last time I looked there was 1 variety and when you looked at the label it was 50% EU honey - whatever that means!?

[pigletwillie]

A lot of the big name honey is blended and a large proportion comes from Australia believe it or not.

We always buy local honey when we can and even on days out we look out for some.

[JennieAtkinson]

I can even get local Shetland honey - not alot though. Comes from an small garden place on the other side of the Valley here. Quite a different taste. I assumed it was because of the heather, but I might be wrong.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Do you not fancy getting a few bees JA? Then you could have your own honey. Not my cup of tea though!
Bernie aka Dexterdog

[Peter]

Commercial, i.e. shop-bought, honey is pasturised, this heat treatment removes some of the flavours.
Buy from the producers door and taste the difference.

Personally, from early childhood I prefered the sliced off cappings, a good wodge as it dripped off the knife, a nice suck and chew, then a bit of fresh wax to discard. Dad's beeshed was a NICE place.

[JennieAtkinson]

Do you not fancy getting a few bees JA? Then you could have your own honey. Not my cup of tea though!
Bernie aka Dexterdog

I can just about tolerate them in the polytunnel as I know they are doing a grand job. Otherwise I leg it in the opposite direction!

[Peter]

Correction

Honey is NOT made from pollen, it is made from nectar.

Bee's do collect some pollen and it shows up when stored as (typically) and orange grainy "cement". Wild bee's go more for pollen, especially some Bumble bee's.
The bee's concentrate the nectar by drying it out, ending up with the concentrated syrup of honey.

[Tyto Alba]

Yes you are right of course Peter. I should have said pollen that is IN honey rather than honey that is made from pollen.

Melissopalynology is the study of pollen in honey. What a great word!

Some pollen falls into the nectar and ends up in the bees stomach, some gets into the nectar in the hive and windborne pollen also gets into the hive.

Pollen is the bee's major source of proteins, fatty substances, minerals, and vitamins and is essential for the growth of larvae and young adult bees....I think it's called bee bread when stored in the hive. This answers unconcerneds question about grass pollen too......bees do sometimes visit grasses simply to collect pollen and not nectar.

Either way get eating your local honey!