Harriet tried Manuka Honey championed by GP Dr Hilary Jones (Image: Harriet Morphy-Morris)
Like countless other Brits, Harriet Morphy-Morris battles with the daily irritations of allergies and hay fever including a stuffy nose, pounding headaches, puffy, itchy eyes – the lot. In a bid to ease these symptoms, she chose to put the Manuka Honey theory to the test.
Manuka honey is frequently hailed as a potential solution for allergies and hay fever owing to its possible symptom-soothing qualities. Whilst it’s not a wonder cure, this natural remedy is packed with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial compounds that are believed to assist sufferers. But does it truly provide relief?
TV GP Dr Hilary Jones (Image: Getty Images)
Fascinated by the mounting excitement, Harriet chose to give it a go herself. Doubtful initially, she ate a teaspoon of Manuka Doctor MGO honey each morning for 11 days, exclaiming: “I must admit, I was taken aback by the benefits I experienced.”
ITV GP Dr Hilary Jones champions this brand of Manuka Honey for its healing effects. He said: “Manuka honey contains special ingredients including methylglyoxal, or MGO for short. This value indicates the strength of Manuka honey’s health benefits. The higher the MGO content, the more valuable it is for us and the higher the price,” reports the Mirror.
For fellow suffers who would like to try it, Manuka Honey currently has up to 65% off as part of its ongoing summer wellness sale. Harriet tested three different strengths of honey – a basic multifloral of 70 MGO, a premium quality 540 MGO variety and a 1000 MGO Max Strength option. Right now, the 70 MGO honey is discounted, reduced from £39 to £10.92.
For those seeking maximum strength and a better chance to alleviate symptoms, the higher 740 MGO Manuka honey is now available for just £38.08, down from its usual price of £136. Manuka Doctor also offers Allergy Relief Supplements at £6.30 for 30 capsules in the sale.
Harriet added: “While I haven’t personally given these a go, they could serve as an alternative for those who aren’t keen on honey but still want to enjoy its benefits.”
Hailing from New Zealand, Manuka Doctor’s bee hives undergo laboratory testing to ensure they meet standards and are certified for use from hive to home. The brand reportedly has the backing of experts, including health professionals and doctors.
A crucial part of this is MGO, or methylglyoxal. Without delving too deep into scientific jargon, this molecule plays a key role in aiding the body’s natural healing process and regulating its immune response.
Of course, it’s not the only brand on the market. Holland and Barrett offer 70 MGO honey for £14.99, while LookFantastic sells a ‘Manuka Honey Blend’ with 30+ MGO for £9.50.
Manuka Doctor Honey 540 (Image: Harriet Morphy-Morris)
How to use Manuka Honey
Impressed with the results, Harriet described four ways in which she incorporated the Manuka honey into her diet. She said: “Every morning, I took a teaspoon of the strongest 1000 MGO honey. This ensured consistency and that I was consuming the same strength each day.
“However, I did include additional doses with my meals. My next favourite way of incorporating it into my daily routine was at breakfast, either drizzled over a bowl of yoghurt or blended into a smoothie. This proved an easy method to mask the taste, perfect for those who aren’t particularly keen on it.”
Finding the honey flavour was easy to work with, Harriet added: “It was also a breeze to incorporate into my lunch and dinner. I simply added a teaspoon of honey to homemade salad dressings three or four times.”
“For those who enjoy cooking, it could also be used in a meat marinade. One of my favourite dishes was halloumi hot honey, to which I just added some chilli flakes,” she suggested.
The Manuka Honey comes in different strengths (Image: HARRIET MORPHY-MORRIS)
How long did it take to feel hay fever relief?
Harriet explained: “At the time of writing this, I’ve been consuming Manuka honey for 11 consecutive days, consistently taking a spoonful of honey each morning (sometimes neat, other times mixed into my breakfast or morning brew).
“By the eighth day, I could confidently say that I’d felt some alleviation in my hayfever symptoms, my itchy eyes had lessened, and I was sneezing less frequently. The most noticeable improvement, which I began to feel on the third day, was with my throat.
“Hay fever has always given me a sore throat, but testing out the manuka honey has certainly helped. As well as the high MGO contents, I believe this is likely due to the simple fact that honey is soothing, and even shop-bought honey is a popular remedy for colds – like hot honey and lemon tea.”
Harriet drizzled Manuka Honey over her breakfast (Image: HARRIET MORPHY-MORRIS)
Does Manuka Honey provide sufficient relief for hay fever symptoms?
Harriet held an optimistic perspective on this matter, explaining: “After 11 days, I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my symptoms. Mainly, the absence of a blocked nose, itchy eyes, and sore throat. All of which have nearly disappeared.”
However, she cautioned that it failed to address the skin-related symptoms she encounters with hay fever – including eye swelling and rashes. She added: “I also noticed that the taste of stronger MGO honey is quite different from the overly sweet supermarket honey I’m used to – it took some getting used to.”
She concluded: “I do agree, however, that Manuka honey shouldn’t be seen as a cure-all, but rather something to try in order to alleviate symptoms. Moving forward, I plan to take an antihistamine daily for assistance – like Allevia, which can be bought on Amazon for £7.59 (although please consult your GP first to discuss best treatment plan).”
Discover more about Manuka Doctor here.