Active Manuka Honey

Introducing Professor Peter Molan...

Professor Peter C. Molan (MBE) BSc (Hons) Wales. PhD Liv. from New Zealand's University of Waikato is "the founding father of bio active honey research".

For more than 30 years he's led the field, painstakingly researching manuka honey and its effect on burns, ulcers, throat, eye infections and so much more.

The scientific papers he has written for New Zealand's valuable export trade are unquestionably the single most important contributing factor to the success of manuka honey worldwide.

We are extremely grateful and indebted to Dr Peter Molan. He is a man of great character and many hundreds of thousands of people around the world may not have found healing if not for his discoveries and his commitment to the protection of quality manuka honey.

	Listen to the enlightening 7 minute conversation as Professor Peter Molan is interviewed by Michael Lowe, founder of Includa Pty Ltd.

TA, UMF, NPA, MGO...

Confused by too many manuka honey activity ratings?

Let's take a closer look...

TA

TA or ACTIVE on the label of manuka honey refers to Total Activity.

This number is calculated by combining both the Peroxide and Non-Peroxide Activity (NPA) levels of the manuka honey.

This type of activity testing is usually represented with a TA alongside the number such as: TA15+. It's also displayed as just 20+ without any letters.

NPA

The NPA (Non-Peroxide Activity) manuka honey test counts only Non-Peroxide Activity to reveal how strong and potent the active enzymes within the manuka honey are at fighting bacterial infections and inflammation.

As Peroxide Activity is not included in the rating, NPA based manuka honey is always stronger than TA.

UMF

The phrase UMF was coined by Dr Peter Molan to reveal the NPA (Non-Peroxide Activity) component of manuka honey. Have a listen to the recording at the top of this page to learn more about why NPA is the key to Manuka's unique properties.

TA or NPA - Which is stronger?

The bottom line is NPA ratings (as used by MX and UMF brands) show only the Non-Peroxide Activity of the manuka honey on the jar, therefore, NPA rated manuka honey will always be stronger than their ACTIVE / TA rated manuka honey counterparts.

MGO

Another way to predetermine the effectiveness of manuka honey is to measure its Methylglyoxal (MGO) content.

MGO is found in high concentrations in manuka honey and according to German researcher, Professor Thomas Henle, is the antiseptic compound mostly responsible for NPA.

While most believe that Methylglyoxal is the key, others are still of the opinion that a combination of Methylglyoxal and other actives within manuka honey synergise to create its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory affects.