Honey, Health, Healing & Wellbeing
Not all honeys were created equal.
Honey has been revered by all ancient civilisations where ever bees existed. This reverence stemmed from intelligent and observant human awareness of how amazing was everything about bees. From the complex social structure they exist into their importance in the food chain (for plant that requires pollination to reproduce and thus feed us). The next dimension to this list is the food and health/wellness/therapeutic/healing benefits that honey brings to us.
We know from multiple sources that honey was used as the healing and preserving medium since the dawn of civilisation. Indeed, our First Australians have a very long history and might well have been the longest continuous culture to practice a form of “beekeeping” on the Planet! It is also interesting to note that Australian flora has some of the most bioactive honeys both in number of species and the levels of antibacterial compounds of anywhere in the world.
Generic honey vs Bio Active honey
At its most basic, all honeys possess attributes that are of themselves therapeutic. Such as antibacterial via it being a super saturated solution (simple fruit sugars – same as the ones in our bloods that provide energy to your muscles), it’s acidity with a pH of 4.5 – 5.5 and it’s anti-inflammatory effect via it’s osmolarity (absorbs water). Some honey producers will overheat their honey to avoid the natural crystallization, but doing this the honey will lose all of these therapeutic attributes. Learn more about natural crystallization here.
The next level of bio-activity is brought on through the presence of unique plant flavonoids and phenolic compounds that certain plants produce and express through their nectar, that the bees collect and make into honey. These compounds supercharge the health benefits of these honey varieties. We refer to these characteristics as Antibacterial Activity Values (AAV’s). It is these AAV’s that we rate numerically as a measure of the level of bio activity that any specific honey possesses.
The bio activity of Leatherwood honey is due to the peroxide activity and phenolic compounds. Leatherwood bio activity is completely different from the bio activity of Manuka honey which attributed to the presents of Methylglyoxal (MGO). From the research it has been noted that MGO and hydrogen peroxide do not occur in honey together. MGO has been shown to inhibit the enzyme, glucose oxidase, which is responsible for the production of hydrogen peroxide.
In consideration of the two differing types of bioactivity and their relative health benefits we are of the opinion that Peroxide Activity offers a broader range of benefits than that represented by Non-Peroxide Activity.
Peroxide Activity (PA) and Non-Peroxide Activity (NPA)
Peroxide Activity (PA) – Activity produced by bees
PA is a more common bioactivity caused by presence of naturally occurring hydrogen peroxide in honey. Hydrogen peroxide is produced by bee enzymes called Glucose Oxidase (protein that helps ripen nectar, to convert into honey) which has antimicrobial and antifungal properties that help the bees protect their honey in the beehive.
Non-Peroxide Activity (NPA) – Activity produced by the plants nectar
NPA is the less common bioactivity caused by the presence of other bioactivity compounds in honey such as *DHA (Dihydroxyacetone) and MGO (Methylglyoxal). To protect themselves from bacterial infections, trees will produce many natural chemicals. When bee’s convert the nectar into honey these chemicals become more concentrated and activated.
*DHA is found in the Manuka flowers nectar and along with other components is then converted into MGO when the bees turn it into honey.
Total Activity (TA) – a measure of both PA and NPA
Our Leatherwood honey is tested for its TA and is effective for antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic purposes especially
Our Manuka honey is tested for its NPA and is effective for antibacterial purposes only.
Honey, the natural gift that keeps on giving!
