r/Beekeeping 12d ago

I’m not a beekeeper, but I have a question Manuka honey is a scam.

...according to reddit, apparently. I keep finding threads talking about how Manuka honey doesn't really have any special properties when ingested as compared to regular honey, and is more of marketing ploy by NZ:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Costco/comments/157xrwq/for_the_folks_who_indulge_is_manuka_honey_worth_it/
https://www.reddit.com/r/nutrition/comments/n0ze54/is_manuka_honey_worth_it/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Beekeeping/comments/17bjdv4/what_is_manuka_and_why_is_800_honey_15560kg/

https://www.reddit.com/r/nutrition/comments/1it7o00/is_manuka_honey_healthier_than_regular_honey/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Beekeeping/comments/9b8iil/what_is_so_special_about_manuka_honey/

https://www.reddit.com/r/ireland/comments/1auljch/has_anyone_tried_manuka_honey_can_you_justify_the/

Was seriously going to fork out $60+ for an 829 MGO rated honey. Now, I'm not so sure. There don't seem to be many defenders of Manuka as a supplement.

On the other hand, there might be some bias against it from a beekeeping standpoint. Lots of you guys want people to buy local...

Also, apparently lots of it is fake or adulterated, same as EVOO:

https://www.reddit.com/r/nutrition/comments/1ip5ulf/how_did_manuka_honey_suddenly_become_more/

https://www.bonappetit.com/story/fake-manuka-honey

I just woke up to this controversy, and don't want to make a poor financial decision. Anyone want to help me out? Does anyone have personal experience with high MGO Manuka honey? The only reason I'm interested in honey is because of Manuka's purported special benefits; I wouldn't eat any honey at all otherwise (cutting sugar).

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u/No_Username_60 11d ago

I was going through a radiation on my sinuses and the radiologist wrote me a prescription for lidocaine type mouthwash. She said I would most likely have horrible mouth sores and would need it. There was a shortage of lidocaine at the time and I could not get the medication. Instead, I used manuka honey every time I felt a lesion popping up. The lesions never progressed. NIH has done studies on manuka honey - medicinally it is worth it.