This post first appeared on Piping Rock. All content is theirs.

Bees. Some of us fear them; Some of us admire them. Regardless of which side of the spectrum we fall on, one thing remains true: Bees help us. They pollinate our flowers, keep the production of food going, and most importantly provide us with honey. The golden liquid that is syrupy sweet. 

Today, we are discussing Manuka Honey. The top tier honey in the world today, that brings major benefits from its use. This honey isn’t to be confused with the cutesy teddy bear type held in your pantry; it’s thicker, denser, and rare. 

Let’s first discuss where Manuka Honey originates. It’s native to New Zealand–Brought to the country after European honey bees pollinated the nation’s scrub plant. This occurred in the early 19th century. 

Since then, the nature-derived product has spread worldwide. Notably because of the honey’s inherent goodness.

Curious about such benefits? That brings us to today’s guide. Below we’ve outlined the top 3 benefits of Manuka Honey.

Before we touch on benefits, we should let you in on how to get the most per jar. This, done by UMF — a rating system on natural compounds present. 

About UMF (Unique Manuka Factor)

Each form of Manuka Honey has a varying degree of what is considered a Manuka Factor. This distinguishes the best from the mediocore. Determined by the amount of methylglyoxal (MGO) and dihydroxyacetone present in the honey. The higher the UMF the greater the amount, and the better the benefits. We sell Manuka Honey with a 10+ UMF for only $15. 

Benefit One: Good For The Skin

The world is trending towards a more natural skincare route, and Manuka Honey is a great start. Instead of putting harsh items on your face from beauty brands, try making a honey mask. Manuka Honey is naturally cleansing, and protective of the skin’s surface. Using it can lead to touchably soft, noticeabley cleaner skin. 

Benefit Two: Tummy Troubles

To ward off the stomach woes in the morning, start your day with a glass of warm water and a scoop of Manuka Honey. Honey, as your mother probably told you growing up, calms the tummy. 

Benefit Three: Cuts, Scraps, Oh My!

While not a curing substance by any means, honey is a great natural sealant. It can be applied to small wounds–think paper cuts, or cuticle damage from biting–and will seal up any moisture due to its viscous texture. This results in preventing any icky things from your external environment from getting in, thus helping your cut heal itself naturally. 

There you have it, three benefits of manuka honey (aka liquid gold). What do you use it for? Are you fan? Comment below!