Manuka Honey and Pediatric Patients: A Review

Abstract

Manuka is a monofloral honey with New Zealand and Australian origins. It takes its name from the L. scoparium or tea-tree (manuka or tea tree) plant, whose flowers rich in pollen and nectar feed the bees during the production of honey. To be labeled as "New Zeland manuka honey", bees must use at least 70% of the pollen and nectar from manuka. This honey has nutritional properties similar to those of other types of honey even if, containing some active ingredients, it seems to inherit many phytotherapeutic and medicinal characteristics. Not surprisingly, the manuka plant and honey are used in traditional Maori medicine and in contemporary pharmacology.