Effects Of Manuka Honey For Ibd

[MaryJane]

In a quick google, the only human study that I found was at:

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20064284

 

It's a small study .. only 20 people and while they didn't see any benefits, more importantly they didn't see any harmful effects on people.

[4My2Greys]

In a quick google, the only human study that I found was at:

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20064284

 

It's a small study .. only 20 people and while they didn't see any benefits, more importantly they didn't see any harmful effects on people.

 

Not really sure why they would expect to see a reduction in gut bacterial levels in healthy adults.

We all know our digestive system is full of bacteria.

That would indicate to me that it does not interfere with the bacterial balance in healthy adults. (ETA, Afterall isn't this the problem with the use of antiobiotics. They destroy both the bad and good bacteria., which in itself has a negative effect.) To me this speaks more to the benefits and use of Manuka honey.

Here's another human study I found on the effects of Manuka honey for plaque and gingivitis. I know it's totally unrelated to the subject the use of Manuka honey for IBD and colitis, but nevertheless still interesting considering all the problems greyhounds have with their teeth.

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15125017

Edited March 27, 2011 by 4My2Greys

[Guest 2dogs4cats]

Here is my understanding of the rating systems. If it has the UMF or MGO seal, it is guaranteed to have the active properties to the number rating on the jar. If it doesn't have the UMF or MGO rating, it is said not to be guranteed to be as active as the jar may indicate. (I think there have been some scammers selling this stuff, which is why they came up with the rating systems.) Anything UMF rated will be much more expensive than anything labeled active. HOWEVER, I use a hi-actve 16+ from Whole Foods and it works great. My personal opinion is, if you get it from a reputable source, it will be the real deal. I would buy UMF rated if it was available, but I have't seen it in any stores close by. There is lots of info about the 2 rating systems on the web also.

[silverfish]

I think the high UMF manuka honey is wonderful stuff!

 

However .. I feel it would be fair to point out that if the rats needed 5g/kg, then using that scale, a 30kg dog would need 150g per day - and if you want to extrapolate and treat yourselves, a 75kg person would need practically a whole jar, which is clearly an unhealthy amount.

 

I'm sure it doesn't work quite like that, but I'm just saying that you might find a single teaspoonful is not sufficient. And maybe that's why the human trial didn't have quite the expected results.

 

Or am I missing something?

[Guest manawatugal]

If any of you have a NZ address or phone number on the jar of your product you want checked out I am happy to help. We are only a small country and getting hold of people here is relatively quick. ie I can ring and have a chat with someone if it helps to make sure they are a bona fide supplier. NZ has strict rules on quality of export foods, recently China was found to be putting New Zealand on some of it's foodstuffs/souvenirs.

[4My2Greys]

These are two very different trials, the fact that one was done on rats and the other on humans is really inconsequential. What is important is that one was done on rats who had been induced IBD by contrast the other study was healthy individuals. The test done on humans was only testing the safety of Manuka honey, whereas the tests done on the rats was measuring colonic inflammation.

I wonder on the amounts given to the rats if that was over the entire course of the trial. On a 30kg dog this would average about 17g/day, which is between 2 tsps and 1 Tbsp per day.

[Batmom]

I don't go in for a lot of what is often called "alternative medicine," and I wasn't totally bowled over by the rat study .... but this seems to me at the very least, "can't hurt, might help." If I had a dog with serious digestive issues, I'd likely be trying it.

[Guest ravenchilde]

Okay - I went to my local health food store, and I purchased a jar of Manuka honey! It's made by this company and I purchased the Active 16+ jar. http://www.wedderspoon.ca/ It was $28.99. PS - I'm in Canada. Seems like a reputable company. Oh, here is a link to the actual product that I purchased. http://www.wedderspoon.ca/shop/organic-honey/organic-manuka-honey-active-16.html.

 

Miley has been "unofficially" diagnosed with IBD (haven't had a biopsy done, but ultrasound) and we're treating her with Metronidzale. She's been stable for the last month or so, with only occasional softer stool, but on the whole, much MUCH better than she has been without the Metro. (Without Metro, she has such bad diarrhea, she needs to be hospitalized to regain all the fluids that she's lost). We're going to be weaning her down to 3/4's the dose of Metro this week on the advice of my vet, and so I'll be keeping this honey on hand for any gurglies/gas/poop explosions that may occur.

 

I tasted the stuff and yeah...it's an acquired taste, that's for sure. But a put about a 1/4 tsp out for Miley and she licked it up without any coaxing.

 

Will keep you posted on results...

[4My2Greys]

I don't go in for a lot of what is often called "alternative medicine," and I wasn't totally bowled over by the rat study .... but this seems to me at the very least, "can't hurt, might help." If I had a dog with serious digestive issues, I'd likely be trying it.

 

I'm glad to see that you of all people would consider trying it. I think the study says a heck of a lot for Manuka honey especially when you take the other study on safety of Manuka honey into consideration. According to the rat study there was significant protection with Manuka honey. All treated groups showed reduced colonic inflammation, however compare the safety of Manuka honey to the following possible side effects of Sulfasalazine, which is often prescribed, that was also part of this study.

 

The most common adverse reactions associated with Sulfasalazine are anorexia, headache, nausea, vomiting, gastric distress, and apparently reversible oligospermia. These occur in about one-third of the patients. Less frequent adverse reactions are skin rash, pruritus, urticaria, fever, Heinz body anemia, hemolytic anemia, and cyanosis, which may occur at a frequency of one in every thirty patients or less. Experience suggests that with a daily dosage of 4 g or more, or total serum sulfapyridine levels above 50 mcg/mL, the incidence of adverse reactions tends to increase. Although the listing which follows includes a few adverse reactions which have not been reported with this specific drug, the pharmacological similarities among the sulfonamides require that each of these reactions be considered when Sulfasalazine tablets are administered. Less common or rare adverse reactions include:

 

Blood dyscrasias: aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis, leukopenia, megaloblastic (macrocytic) anemia, purpura, thrombocytopenia, hypoprothrombinemia, methemoglobinemia, congenital neutropenia, and myelodysplastic syndrome.

 

Hypersensitivity reactions: erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome), exfoliative dermatitis, epidermal necrolysis (Lyell's syndrome) with corneal damage, drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), anaphylaxis, serum sickness syndrome, interstital lung disease, pneumonitis with or without eosinophilia, vasculitis, fibrosing alveolitis, pleuritis, pericarditis with or without tamponade, allergic myocarditis, polyarteritis nodosa, lupus erythematosus-like syndrome, hepatitis and hepatic necrosis with or without immune complexes, fulminant hepatitis, sometimes leading to liver transplantation, parapsoriasis varioliformis acuta (Mucha-Haberman syndrome), rhabdomyolysis, photosensitization, arthralgia, periorbital edema, conjunctival and scleral injection, and alopecia.

 

Gastrointestinal reactions: hepatitis, hepatic failure, pancreatitis, bloody diarrhea, impaired folic acid absorption, impaired digoxin absorption, stomatitis, diarrhea, abdominal pains, and neutropenic enterocolitis.

 

Central nervous system reactions: transverse myelitis, convulsions, meningitis, transient lesions of the posterior spinal column, cauda equina syndrome, Guillian-Barre syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, mental depression, vertigo, hearing loss, insomnia, ataxia, hallucinations, tinnitus, and drowsiness.

 

Renal reactions: toxic nephrosis with oliguria and anuria, nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, urinary tract infections, hematuria, crystalluria, proteinuria, and hemolytic-uremic syndrome.

 

Other reactions: urine discoloration and skin discoloration.

 

The sulfonamides bear certain chemical similarities to some goitrogens, diuretics (acetazolamide and the thiazides), and oral hypoglycemic agents. Goiter production, diuresis and hypoglycemia have occurred rarely in patients receiving sulfonamides. Cross-sensitivity may exist with these agents. Rats appear to be especially susceptible to the goitrogenic effects of sulfonamides and long-term administration has produced thyroid malignancies in this species.

 

Postmarketing Reports

 

The following events have been identified during post-approval use of products which contain (or are metabolized to) mesalamine in clinical practice. Because they are reported voluntarily from a population of unknown size, estimates of frequency cannot be made. These events have been chosen for inclusion due to a combination of seriousness, frequency of reporting, or potential causal connection to mesalamine:

 

Gastrointestinal: Reports of hepatotoxicity, including elevated liver function tests (SGOT/AST, SGPT/ALT, GGT, LDH, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin),jaundice,cholestatic jaundice,cirrhosis,and possible hepatocellular damage including liver necrosis and liver failure. Some of these cases were fatal. One case of Kawasaki-like syndrome, which included hepatic function changes, was also reported.

[4My2Greys]

Here is my understanding of the rating systems. If it has the UMF or MGO seal, it is guaranteed to have the active properties to the number rating on the jar. If it doesn't have the UMF or MGO rating, it is said not to be guranteed to be as active as the jar may indicate. (I think there have been some scammers selling this stuff, which is why they came up with the rating systems.) Anything UMF rated will be much more expensive than anything labeled active. HOWEVER, I use a hi-actve 16+ from Whole Foods and it works great. My personal opinion is, if you get it from a reputable source, it will be the real deal. I would buy UMF rated if it was available, but I have't seen it in any stores close by. There is lots of info about the 2 rating systems on the web also.

 

I agree with you on getting it from a reputable source. I've had success with both the Hi-Active 15+ and 16+ jars I have bought and they do not have a UMF or MGO rating. I did find this article though that says that the MGO rating is the preferred rating scale.

 

http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/study-adds-further-fuel-manuka-honey-testing-debate-103046

 

 

[Guest sweetpea]

So, 'just had a flare of the gurglies Sunday (actually Sweetpea did ).

 

As usual, the first clue she gives that the gurglies are imminent is turning up her nose at breakfast.

Since breakfast was a little later than normal, I could also hear gurgle-murmurs tuning up in her tummy.

 

'Gave her a tsp of Manuka, went on with the rest of our day. (The gurgles stopped in about 20 minutes.)

 

At approximately midway between breakfast and dinner I gave her another tsp of honey.

 

At dinner time (6pm) gave her a tsp of honey, then she marched into her closet and ate her meal.

 

For comparison, before when the gurglies came, it would be at least two days of pepcid (and no eating)

and we'd have to wait until she passed a greasy noxious poop before she'd get her appetite back and

start eating again.

 

Since we started Manuka, we resolve the gurgles in less than one day, and it never travels to her lower GI; her

poops stay the same.

 

Purely anecdotal, I know, but it might work just as well in some other hound, and it sure does wonders for my peace of mind.

I mean, Sweetpea isn't carrying around any extra weight, so 2 to 3 days of not eating was pretty stressful for me!

 

Toodles,

Buzzy

[Guest MZH]

I agree totally about sulfasalazine. A rheumatologist put me on sulfasalazine back in 07. Within a week I was in much worse condition than when I started the stuff; I was in bad shape before trying it. I'm putting manuka honey on my shopping list. Maybe I can get off Entocort. I know there are dogs on it. The stuff must have platinum it it; it's good but outrageously expensive.

[4My2Greys]

So, 'just had a flare of the gurglies Sunday (actually Sweetpea did ).

 

As usual, the first clue she gives that the gurglies are imminent is turning up her nose at breakfast.

Since breakfast was a little later than normal, I could also hear gurgle-murmurs tuning up in her tummy.

 

'Gave her a tsp of Manuka, went on with the rest of our day. (The gurgles stopped in about 20 minutes.)

 

At approximately midway between breakfast and dinner I gave her another tsp of honey.

 

At dinner time (6pm) gave her a tsp of honey, then she marched into her closet and ate her meal.

 

For comparison, before when the gurglies came, it would be at least two days of pepcid (and no eating)

and we'd have to wait until she passed a greasy noxious poop before she'd get her appetite back and

start eating again.

 

Since we started Manuka, we resolve the gurgles in less than one day, and it never travels to her lower GI; her

poops stay the same.

 

Purely anecdotal, I know, but it might work just as well in some other hound, and it sure does wonders for my peace of mind.

I mean, Sweetpea isn't carrying around any extra weight, so 2 to 3 days of not eating was pretty stressful for me!

 

Toodles,

Buzzy

 

 

Buzzy I'm so glad that this is working so well for Sweetpea. Nadir does the same thing with turning his nose away from his food that I know trouble is brewing. As soon as he does this I give him the Manuka honey. He also like Sweetpea doesn't carry extra weight and I was having the hardest time keeping weight on him because of his digestive system troubles.

[Pippin]

No experience with hounds, but I'm a firm believer in Manuka honey. Last year I lost my voice, and the lady at the health food store recommended it for my throat. I paid about USD25, IIRC, for a 12oz jar labelled Raw Manuka Honey, and ate 1 tsp/day for several days. Felt like it helped. Now I take some any time my throat starts feeling scratchy. Mine says it's Hi-active, with a circle saying "Active 15+".

 

It says Product of New Zealand on the label, as well, and came from Y.S. Organic Bee Farms in Sheridan, IL.

 

Last summer, I burned the back of my hand on the oven rack - put some Manuka Honey on it immediately, and it was better within minutes. No pain, no blister, no redness, no soreness after the first maybe 10 min.

 

Was just thinking yesterday of taking some for a tummy upset I was experiencing... looks like it might not be a bad idea. But I've never tried giving it to the dogs.

[4My2Greys]

I’m not sure how it could be applied to dogs , but here is another upcoming study which will be interesting to see the results of:

 

A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Manuka Honey for Oral Mucositis Due to Radiation Therapy for Cancer

 

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT00615420

[Guest zombrie]

Just wanted to say, this stuff is AMAZING. Doolin has been having gurgley stomach issues and refusing to eat (turns out he has hookworms, not IBD) I gave it to him in the morning when his gurgles started, 13 minutes later the gurgling stopped and he ate ALL his breakfast. Mira absolutely loves it, it is her new favorite treat. On first sniff both greys turned their noses but I put it on their tongues and they realized that it was very yummy and ate it on their own, they just had to get past the medicine-like smell

Edited April 2, 2011 by zombrie

[Remolacha]

OK, so I picked some of this up last week. I got the same stuff Buzzy got for Sweetpea at Sprout's, for about $20. I put it in Fletcher's bowl with dinner and he ate it right up I tasted it and didn't think it was too bad. A day or so later, I ate something that disagreed with me, and took a spoonful for myownself, and it really helped!

 

My question, do you think it would be useful to continue giving it to Fletcher, my IBD boy, on a regular basis, or only when he has a flare up? I gave him about 1 tsp.

[Guest sweetpea]

I save it for when Sweetpea has flare ups, but when I was gone on vacation my sister gave her a tsp everyday, just in case.

(Sweetpea gets a little blue when I go away, and her appetite drops off. For rookies it's sometimes hard to tell

if she's not eating because the gurglies are coming or if she's not eating 'cause she's pining for me!)

 

Glad it helped!

 

Buzzy

[Remolacha]

Thanks! I think I will try it on an as needed basis for now, I can always change to daily if I need to.

[4My2Greys]

There seems to be a lot of intestinal problems lately for which Manuka honey is beneficial. Bumping this thread in hopes that the information can help someone.

 

 

[Remolacha]

I am reviving this thread because I wanted to say how wonderful this stuff is! I have been giving it to Fletcher when his tummy starts rumbling, or I see from his poop he is having a flare up of his IBD, and it usually gets him back on track in less than 24 hrs! I give him about a tsp with each meal, and continue for a day after he is back to normal. I've taken it myself a few times too, for an unsettled stomach Well worth every penny!

[4My2Greys]

Thank you for posting your experience with using Manuka honey. I'm glad to hear that it has been a help for Fletcher. I have found that it seems to stimulate Nadir to eat if I give him some when he turns away from his food if he's having a flare up.

[brandimom]

Thanks for bumping this thread as I am going to get some for the humans and furries in the family. On another note I have purchased the wound manuka honey for boo boo's on my greyhound. Works very well. Just need to make sure you cover it with something that will not permanently stick to the wound when it is time to change the bandage. I have used it on myself when I have burned a body part on the stove or oven.

[Guest sweetpea]

Thank you for posting your experience with using Manuka honey. I'm glad to hear that it has been a help for Fletcher. I have found that it seems to stimulate Nadir to eat if I give him some when he turns away from his food if he's having a flare up.

 

'Just had to give da 'Pea spoonful at breakfast, and another at noon, by the time I got home from work (5-ish)

she was back on track.

Plus also I sing "just a spoonful of honey makes the gurglies go down, the gurglies go doooowwwn, gurglies go down...."

 

Buzzy

[Guest ravenchilde]

We've given our grey, who had all the symptoms of IBD (but we never did an official surgical diagnosis), Manuka honey with no bad result. Our main cure for her IBD-type symptoms was to start feeding her raw bison with a low fat and fairly high bone content. She cleared up in about 3 days. Manuka honey doesn't seem to have negative effects, and we have slippery elm too but haven't had the need to try it. She poops very well now, most of the time. Most of her poops are tiny and hard.