Manuka is a flowering tea tree native to New Zealand. The honey that is collected from these flowers has long been renowned for its remarkable beneficial properties.
Manuka honey contains special antibacterial properties including an enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide, which is a proven antiseptic. Manuka honey has higher levels of this enzyme thereby containing a greater level of antiseptic and antibacterial properties. It is extremely rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals and has the outstanding ability to nourish, soothe and heal sensitive skin.
Manuka honey also contains active antioxidants that neutralise free radicals which are responsible for skin cell damage. Manuka honey assists in the growth of new cell and tissue regeneration.
Wild Ferns Manuka Honey skincare products all contain Active AAH 650+ (Active Antibacterial Antioxidant Honey 650+), a uniquely tested manuka honey. The honey is trademarked and strictly controlled to ensure only the best manuka products contain it. It was developed following extensive research by Dr Geoffrey Savage, Associate Professor of Food Biochemistry at Lincoln University in Canterbury, New Zealand. Dr Savage is one of New Zealand's leading authorities on the health benefits of honey and antioxidants. He and his team found that active AAH 650+ manuka honey contained extremely high, naturally occurring levels of antibacterial activity and antioxidants — far more than any other honey varietals.
The method used to test the antibacterial activity of active AAH 650+ manuka honey is completely different to the more commonly recognised UMF honey. It is a scientifically-proven method of testing that measures the same thing as UMF (antibacterial activity in honey), but is completely reliable and gives consistent, repeatable results every time. This means that only jars of active AAH 650+ manuka honey are guaranteed to contain active honey, and that the honey contained is active to the level stated on the packaging (650+).
The scale of measuring the antibacterial activity in active AAH 650+ manuka honey is also different to that of UMF. The active AAH activity range is 470-650+. For UMF, the activity range is 8-25+. With both testing methods, the higher the number, the more antibacterial activity the honey contains and the better it is for natural healing. For active AAH manuka honey, 650+ is the highest possible level of antibacterial activity the honey can have, and is equivalent to the highest commonly available UMF rating.
Active AAH 650+ Manuka Honey is not only high in antibacterial activity, it is also extremely high in antioxidants. As already mentioned, antioxidants neutralise free radicals in the environment. These free radicals are caused by everyday environmental factors such as air, sunlight and pollution. They have been medically recognised as the cause of degenerative skin diseases such as wrinkles and skin discolourations, and can damage cells and harm the immune system. It is believed that using products that are high in antioxidants can help prevent or limit these negative effects.
