The UMF is the quality identifying mark for making sure that you have natural Manuka honey produced in New Zealand. As Manuka honey has become more recognized in the world, more counterfeit products have started to flow into the market. New Zealand’s trade and industry groups have established indicators, such as monofloral (pure nectar of manuka), and multifloral (including nectar other than manuka), in order to identify genuine Manuka honey. But more importantly, you must check to make sure it is monofloral honey and has the UMF certificate labeled on the jar to identify that it is genuine Manuka honey. It is important to understand the MGO and UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) grades for Manuka honey.This makes it extremely difficult for bees to collect large quantities of nectar from the Manuka flower. Furthermore, these flowers are only in bloom for two to six weeks each year, and some individual flowers may only bloom for five days. That is because the Manuka flowers are extremely delicate and, therefore, are susceptible to variations in climate, rainfall, and wind. Manuka honey is one of the most expensive honeys in the world.

Likewise, a jar of Manuka honey should not be part of your first-aid kit. The UMFHA (Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association) in New Zealand doesn’t recommend that so-called “Medical Grade”, or “Clinical Grade” Manuka honey be sold at regular grocery stores. It is sterilized and different from the jar of Manuka honey you buy in a grocery store. However, the honey to treat wounds is a medical grade honey.

Medically, Manuka honey can be used for healing wounds and burns.

Honey is acidic and will react with metal surfaces.

Do not use a metal spoon with your honey.

Therefore, anyone taking immunity suppressants should consult their doctor before consuming Manuka honey.

Flavonoids in Manuka honey have important immunomodulatory effects.

5 Facts About Manuka Honey You Ought to Know Manuka honey also contains a large number of phenolic compounds: flavonoids and phenolic acids, also known as polyphenols. It is rich in nutritional value: containing vitamin B, vitamin C, and minerals like calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, and magnesium. This honey also has higher antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties than regular honey. Manuka honey has high antibacterial properties, called methylglyoxal (MGO). Manuka honey is made by bees that pollinate the Manuka tree, which grows mainly in New Zealand. These gourmet honeys-like Manuka, Acacia, and Pohutukawa-have been getting more of the spotlight in recent years due to increasing health trends at all ages. This helps to stimulate the release of amrita, because that soft tissue is connected to the bone ( sella turcica) that protects the pituitary gland.Beyond the natural and raw honey that you normally find in the grocery store or market, New Zealand boasts some unique and healthful honey varieties. Basically, the tongue rolls into the back of the mouth behind the uvula, and there presses against the soft roof of the throat. In order to help the release of amrita from the pituitary gland, a mudra know as Kechari (tongue lock) is practiced. The precious immortality-giving nectar is said to flow from the pituitary gland into the back of the throat during very deep states of meditation.

He advised them to call a truce and seek amrita- a nectar that could be found in the ocean of milk separating different realms of existence.Īfter churning the ocean for years, amrita was discovered, along with Lakshmi and several other important gods.Īmrita is not just an interesting mythological story, however. Seeing they could not win, they went to Vishnu for help. Seeing this opportunity, the asuras (demons) attacked the devas. This sage supposedly contained a large portion of Shiva’s wrath, and when he felt insulted by Indra, he cursed the devas to lose their immortality. The story goes that the devas (Indra and others) were cursed to lose their immortality by an incarnation of Shiva known as the sage Durvasa.

The MythologyĪccording to Hindu lore, the gods achieved their immortality by drinking Amrita- a nectar created by churning the ocean. To this end, all religions have mythology based around the afterlife, and Hinduism is no different. It wouldn’t be incorrect to assume there isn’t any religion that exists without some belief in the afterlife, or that our existence doesn’t end with death. Immortality is something often talked about in many religions in fact, you could say it’s the driving force behind most spiritual beliefs.

Nectar of the gods