Dr. Getty Suggests Manuka Honey for Its Healing Properties
As any horse owner knows, horses get their share
of cuts and scrapes. If you’re inclined to reach for something natural,
consider honey. Honey has been used for centuries because of its antimicrobial
properties. In raw honey, the enzymes are still active and work well as a
topical first aid. Because of its high sugar content and low pH, honey kills
microbes by making the environment more acidic, while also drawing water out of
cells.
Manuka honey is especially effective. Collected from the Tea Tree manuka bush
native to New Zealand, manuka honey has a higher enzymatic activity, making it
more potent than other forms. When eaten, it helps alleviate seasonal allergies
that affect the skin and respiratory system. When applied to a wound, it has
been shown to speed healing: When researchers at the University of Sydney’s
Veterinary Science and Clinical Training Unit compared healing time of open leg
wounds over a 12-day treatment period, they found a significant improvement in
the honey-treated group in reduction in healing time, size of wound, and amount
of proud flesh produced.
Manuka honey can be applied in its natural state, but it is messy and attracts
flies; therefore, it requires bandaging. Commercial dealers offer a medicinal
gel form that also promotes healing while being easier to apply. Consider
including it in your horse’s medicine kit.
