Published Research

What the research actually says.

Drawn from the UMF Honey Association's 2025 research summary, produced with the University of Waikato Honey Research Unit. Findings are organised by area of study, not by marketing claim — and each is grounded in a specific level of evidence.

Clinical trial (human)
Animal model
In vitro (lab/cell)
Review of literature
12+ STUDIES REVIEWED

Wound Care

Mānuka honey is FDA-approved in the United States for wound treatment. A 2025 randomised trial found venous leg ulcers healed in 7 weeks with topical mānuka honey, versus 14 weeks with a standard antimicrobial dressing.

Kucharzewski et al., 2025Pharmaceuticals 18(2), 149 — 80-patient RCT
4 STUDIES REVIEWED

Oral Health

In a controlled trial across four mouthwash types, mānuka honey outperformed 0.2% chlorhexidine and two essential oils at reducing Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Jain et al., 2022Indian J Dent Res 33(2) — 20 patients per group
3 STUDIES REVIEWED

Coughs & Colds

A BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine meta-analysis found honey effective for symptomatic relief of upper respiratory tract infections. Separately, in vitro testing showed mānuka honey specifically had potent anti-influenza activity.

Abuelgasim, Albury & Lee, 2021BMJ EBM 26:57–64 — systematic review
6+ STUDIES REVIEWED

Gut Health

A pilot study using mānuka honey to treat Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) reported a significant improvement in symptoms versus placebo. Other work explores its prebiotic potential for the gut microbiome.

Gośliński et al., 2023Food Sci Nutr 12(1), 172–179
3 STUDIES REVIEWED

Skin Care

Review literature reports promising results for resistant bacterial and fungal skin infections, herpes lesions, photodamage, burns and foot ulcers, noting medical-grade honey is now available in diverse topical forms.

Jodidio & Schwartz, 2024Int J Dermatol 63(4), 422–430
5 STUDIES REVIEWED

Antioxidant Activity

Mānuka honey's phenolic compounds and flavonoids (quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, apigenin) are linked to its antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity. An animal study found it reduced oxidative damage in rats.

Wang, Qiu & Zhu, 2024Food Chem 440, 138060
4 STUDIES REVIEWED

Dry Eye & Blepharitis

A review of 288 participants across five randomised controlled trials found mānuka honey treatment produced significant improvement across multiple dry eye disease indices compared with control groups.

Hu, Kong, Zhu, Ju & Zhang, 2023Clin Exp Optom 106(5), 455–465
3 STUDIES REVIEWED

Sinusitis & Cystic Fibrosis

Randomised pilot trials of mānuka honey sinus irrigation reported improved quality of life and better endoscopic outcomes versus saline in chronic rhinosinusitis, including in cystic-fibrosis-associated cases.

Lee, Humphreys, Purcell & Davis, 2017 / 2021Int Forum Allergy Rhinol / Clin Otolaryngol
EARLY-STAGE · 2 STUDIES

Cancer Research (Preclinical)

Early laboratory and mouse-model research (not yet tested in humans) found mānuka honey inhibited breast cancer cell growth and reduced tumour size in mice, alongside effects on colon cancer stem-like cells in combination with chemotherapy.

Márquez-Garbán et al., 2024Nutrients 16(14), 2369 — UCLA, preclinical only
How to read this section

Research is only as strong as its evidence tier. In vitro work isolates cells in a lab and is useful for identifying mechanisms, but doesn't always translate to the same effect in a whole person. Animal studies allow more complex biological control but still can't be assumed to transfer directly to humans. Clinical trials — especially larger, controlled ones — carry the most weight. This summary reflects the current published literature and is provided for informational purposes; it is not medical advice, and findings (particularly the early-stage cancer research above) should not be read as treatment claims. Anyone considering mānuka honey for a specific health condition should speak with a healthcare provider.