Ingredient Highlight: Raw Mānuka Honey
Mānuka Honey is one of the most unique and beneficial forms of honey in the world and here at Sunja Link Body Shoppe we're proud to stock the finest with New Zealand brand, Activist. Long time lovers of the Manuka Honey Mask or Green Botanical Serum will need no convincing of the magical healing powers of the Manuka flower and the sweet nectar produced from the bees pollination of it but for those curious in exactly what makes Manuka honey so special, how and why it can be beneficial to incorporate into your daily life, listen up!
Why Manuka?
In 1981, researchers at the New Zealand University of Waikato discovered that Mānuka Honey has a considerably higher level of enzymes than regular honey and identified its active agent, methylglyoxal (MGO)—the concentration of which is widely measured in the industry to determine the potency of what’s in the jar. These enzymes create a natural hydrogen peroxide that works as an antibacterial.
The findings from this research makes it clear that Mānuka is no fringe therapy; along with anti-inflammatory effects, the honey has incredible value as a wound dressing. Mānuka Honey benefits are wide, including helping with digestive issues; low stomach acid; treating acne and eczema; combatting Staph infections; treating burns, wounds and ulcers; preventing tooth decay and gingivitis; improving sore throats and immunity and helping with allergies. Mānuka Honey is also a beautiful raw resource for using as a beauty and skincare product – using as a face mask or cleanser to aid in clearing a number of skin concerns or as a ritual in keeping skin healthy and balanced.
Where does it come from?
Mānuka, The beautiful wildflower native to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Depending on the year's climate and weather patterns of the Southern Hemisphere, Mānuka flowering starts at the beginning of spring at the top of the North Island of New Zealand and makes its way south. The flowering of Mānuka is a very short window ranging anywhere from two to six weeks of the year. Because of such a short window for the wild-crafting of Mānuka Honey, the season is labor intensive, preparation for bee-health is crucial and no time is wasted when the Mānuka is flowering.
What is MGO and why does it matter?
MGO stands for Methylglyoxal which is the organic compound responsible for Manuka honey’s strong antibacterial properties. In fact, Manuka can have MGO levels up to 100 times that found in other raw honey.
Over the last couple of decades, scientists have tested Manuka honey against a wide variety of bacteria strains and found Manuka was effective in reducing almost all bacteria tested, even some that were resistant to antibiotics.
Activist, the brand you'll find at the Shoppe has their Raw Mānuka Honey independently tested, certified and labeled in New Zealand under the New Zealand MPI Guidelines. New Zealand has strict guidelines in place which are set by the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI). Using the Methylglyoxal (MGO) grading system, MPI approved laboratories test and verifies that the Mānuka Honey you are buying is authentic and up to standards.
Without the independent testing of a Manuka honey product, it becomes hard to determine how much (if any) antibacterial or anti-inflammatory properties it contains but they may still come with a price tag.
How do I choose right Manuka?
Activist Surfer's Honey - high quality multi-functional honey with health benefits of a Mānuka component of 50+MGO. A thick floral honey, perfect to drizzle into your favourite herbal tea or to incorporate into cooking.
With a Manuka component of 300+MGO, this one is the wellbeing superstar; the perfect choice to incorporate into your daily lifestyle for proactive health benefits and immune support for the whole family (apart from infants under 12months of age). Add to smoothies, herbal teas, juices and meals. If you're fighting a cold, simply take a solo teaspoon of this stuff for sore throat relief or to help with digestion.
Ask any one of us at the Shoppe and I'm pretty sure you'll get the same response; this mask is simply magic in a tube. Activist have developed, filtered and refined this product especially for topical and wet bathroom use and to make the application of this skin hero more intuitive and sensual. With 850+MGO this mask helps to repair skin damage, revealing a healthy glow. Use as a face mask, skin cleanser and spot treatment. Beyond the glow, this mask is also extremely hydrating, promotes skin regeneration, repairs cellular damage, calms inflammation and lessens the appearance of scars.
Last but not least, to keep your skin glowing and quenched, day and night, we give you; the Activist Green Botanical Serum . A lightweight, deeply nourishing serum that combines omegas, antioxidants, nourishing seaweed, cleansing Mānuka and Kawakawa oils. The healing and anti-inflammatory properties of this serum help to soothe irritation, acne and redness with the aid of Blue Tansy. Soaks into skin like a dream to smooth the appearance of fine lines.
So whether it be a spoonful in the morning to help aid digestion, a generous slather in the evenings as a luxurious face mask or a drop or two of botanical serum to soothe and heal tired skin; incorporating Manuka into your routine is a proactive way to support yourself throughout daily life with care.
