Manuka Oil Benefits

The Manuka bush, shrub, or tree (Leptospermum scoparium ) is an evergreen plant native to New Zealand. New Zealand is known for its remote, unpolluted landscapes where the manuka tree can flourish without the use of insecticides.

During the time of Captain James Cook's discovery of New Zealand in 1769 the plant was named tea tree by the colonists because they brew tea and beer of of its leaves.



Left manuka tree flowers, right the manuka bush. The manuka flower comes in two varieties, pink and white.

A passage of Captain Cook's Endeavour Journal :

"the leaves were used by many of us as a tea which has a very agreeable bitter taste and flavor when they are recent but loses some of both when they are dried. When the infusion was made strong it proved emetic (induces vomiting) to some in the same manner as 'green tree' ".

Although manuka (or kahikatoa) is the Maori word for the plant which is also known as the tea tree it must not be confused with the actual tea tree, the Melaleuca alternifolia.

The manuka tree's medicinal properties were already known by the Maori who have used its leaves, bark, and sap oil as medicines for almost a millennium. According to their folk medicine the manuka tree offered remedies for colds, fevers, flu, dysentery, skin and stomach ailments such as diarrhea. It also was used as a diuretic remedy.

The leaves and bark were boiled in water after which it was rubbed on stiff joints and muscles. Tea of the leaves was used to provide relief in case of digestive ailments and it was also inhaled for colds, hay fever sinusitis, and even bronchitis and asthma.

Also birds and other animals use the manuka bush for health benefits. Kakariki parakeets for example eat the bark and leaves. They also chew on it and apply it to their feathers. This as a means to prevent and get rid of parasites.

Photo kakariki parakeet by snowmanradio

Tea tree oil (melaleuca oil) vs manuka oil.

In the following study researchers investigated the antibacterial effects of essential oils on several oral bacteria. They tested manuka oil, tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, lavandula oil, and romarinus oil and determined their minimum repressive concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration. The essential oils inhibited the growth of the bacteria tested, manuka oil being the most effective.

Study abstract is available here

Studies on the efficacy of manuka oil remedies have been done but are limited. A few outcomes are that it has a relaxing effect on muscles and nerves. It also has proven antimicrobial properties and minor anti-fungal effects. More research has to be done on its proclaimed digestive benefits.

Manuka oil is used commonly as an alternative topical treatment for various skin ailments such as sun burns, rashes, athlete's foot, dandruff, and other minor skin issues. Other uses are acne, eczema, and ring worm but these are not necessarily proven effective. It is also used as lice treatment.

Besides treating skin ailments, manuka oil is used as an analgesic, anti-histamine, anti-infectious, antiseptic, decongestant, and insecticide.

Another popular application is to use it as massage oil. It is supposed to assist the natural immune response and helps soothe muscles, nerves, and joints. Because studies show it has mild sedative and relaxing (anti-anxiety) effects its use as an aromatherapy oil is growing.

According to a comparative study analyzing manuka oils derived from all around New Zealand and Australia an oil from the East Cape chemotype showed the strongest antimicrobial activity.

The Cawthron Institute research, conducted on behalf of the Company, showed that the oil produced from the Manuka trees, in the Te Araroa region of the East Cape, showed antimicrobial activity far greater than had been seen with other Manuka oil samples and greater than many other natural oils.

Pure manuka oil can have a very strong effect and some people with sensitive skin can develop skin irritation after use. Many commercial manuka oils are diluted with e.g. almond oil. In some cases the label says pure ore 100% while in fact this is not the case. So make sure to read the label to find out up front what the exact contents are. From for example the three oils listed above only the first one consists of 100% pure manuka oil while the other two only have 10% and 20% manuka oil complemented with almond oil.

How you use it depends on if you use a pure or diluted oil. Of course also the ailment, or the aimed benefit determines the use. For fungal infections such as ringworm or athletes foot pure oil can be applied twice a day with a cotton pad or bud. For the treatment of body and foot odor apply the oil a few times a week after washing or showering.

"Few other groups of New Zealand plants are noted for the production of essential oils. The largest group of importance is the Mytaceae, of which only the Manuka has been examined in detail. In Australia, the family includes important oil bearing trees, such as Eucalyptus and Melaleuca. Manuka is probably the most widespread tree or shrub of the native flora; its essential oil is probably the most valuable, although it has not been used commercially. Its oil is pleasant smelling, and could well be used as an inexpensive perfume for soaps etc. "

(Economic Native Plants of New Zealand).

Manuka oil is a so called essential oil but what does this actually mean? According to Wikipedia:

"Essential oils are also known as volatile, ethereal oils or aetherolea, or simply as the "oil of" the plant from which they were extracted, such as oil of clove. An oil is "essential" in the sense that it carries a distinctive scent, or essence, of the plant."

Manuka oil is being used increasingly as an aromatherapy oil

Renowned aromatherapist, Ruth von Braunschweig, from Germany states manuka oil offers stress relief especially for people with sensitive nervous systems and those who are prone to anxiety and stress. The fact that these conditions often manifest themselves in allergic reactions and other skin ailments links its use back to dermal benefits.

Manuka oil, according to the aromatherapist, strengthens the psyche and stabilizes the skin at the same time. It relaxes and soothes the skin nerves, activates cells, and regenerates outer skin layers making it more resilient.

Photo by Honou | Creative Commons

• Manuka oil use should be avoided during pregnancy. This because it might have a muscle relaxing (spasmodic) effect.



• The New Zealand Office of Complementary Medicines states that long-term exposure to manuka oil may cause allergic reactions such as skin irritations (rash).



• Because studies show a mildly sedating effect it must be used with caution.



• Manuka oil used in combination with certain prescription drugs may lead to adverse interactions. Always consult your physician.

source: ehow.com

100% Pure Manuka Oil , Manuka Oil Shampoo , Manuka Oil Antiseptic Creme

The manuka bush belongs to the myrtle (myrtaceae) family which are all wood plants or trees with oily leafs often containing essential oils. The well known eucalyptus is also member of the myrtaceae plant family.

Manuka oil has selective antibacterial activity against gram positive organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus (a common cause of staph infections) and Micrococcus luteus.

Some studies document the activity of L. scoparium against fungi and yeast, however, there are limited data to support these claims for L. scoparium as compared with other species of the Myrtaceae plant family (e.g. kanuka).

The pharmacological action of manuka oil for treating diarrhea, colds, and inflammation was studied on a field-stimulated guinea pig ileum. Manuka oil induced a muscle relaxing (spasmolytic) effect.

A sedating and potentially anxiolytic effect (drug used for the treatment of symptoms of anxiety) was recorded in a locomotion study with rats.

source: drugs.com

There is potential synergistic effect with bacitracin, cefadroxil, cephradin, and meropenem but an antagonist effect with ofloxacin, enoxacin, and sparfloxacin.

source: drugs.com