Manuka Honey is now being used for its natural pain relieving properties in the treatment of Arthritis. It is gaining popularity as a natural analgesic when applied directly to the skin, it penetrates the surface of the skin and disperses deep into the body tissues where it acts to reduce inflammation in muscles and joints.

Manuka Honey is gathered generally on the North Island of New Zealand from the Manuka bush, Leptospermum scoparium, which grows uncultivated throughout the country. The Manuka bush, is a part of the Tea Tree family from Australia, and has been used by generations of Maori tribes for its unique healing properties to combat day to day ailments.

Manuka Honey contains anti-inflammatory properties that can be used as a natural pain reliever. It starts working immediately by reducing inflammation and pain when used as a topical analgesic. In histological experimental studies the anti-inflammatory effect of Manuka Honey has been demonstrated to have a direct anti-inflammatory effect, not a secondary effect, resulting from the anti-bacterial action.

The NHS spends more than £200 million a year on prescriptions for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alone, and hundreds of millions more on the other main class of anti-inflammatory; cortisone-based drugs such as prednisolone. NSAID's can be useful, especially with short-term pain and if used at low levels, are not generally harmful. There are millions of people, in this country and around the world taking NSAID's at increasingly higher and higher doses to try and counter-act the severe pain of Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Unfortunately, the body gradually gets used to NSAID's reducing their effectiveness with the pain, which causes the patient to keep increasing the dose to get the same effect.

In generations before the benefits of pharmacological advances existed, people used the healing power of nature's flora and fauna. It seems strange to me that more people don't consider trying natural alternatives before heading to the Doctors for prescription medication, particularly if they have built up a resistance to what is considered traditional medicines.

In the age of increasing intolerances and allergies to everyday products and drugs, Manuka Honey has proved itself to be an excellent natural alternative product that has helped many of my clients.

I encourage people to read up on natural supplements and products to see if they can help improve or at the very least maintain their condition.