Yemeni Sidr or Manuka Honey?

It is believed that they can heal wounds and cure illnesses! Two of the most globally known types of honey, Sidr honey and Manuka honey, are full of unique characteristics and medicinal properties that differentiate them from the rest of the raw honey.

Geographical Background

The Sidr honey is produced from the Sidr tree, called Ziziphus Spina – Christi, Lote tree, Christ’s Thorn, Jujube, or Nabkh tree. The Sidr tree also has religious importance, as mentioned in the Quran as a tree from heaven. While in the Bible, the crown of Jesus is believed to be made from Sidr branches. Besides the religious significance, the Sidr tree by itself is used locally in healing wounds, relieving stomachache, curing skin problems, and other health usages. The most popular and unique Sidr honey is produced in Yemen, Oman and South Saudi.

On the other hand, Manuka honey is produced from the nectar of the tea tree called Leptospermum Scoparium, and such a tree can be found in Australia and New Zealand. Still, Manuka honey from New Zealand is the most popular one. In terms of the medicinal properties of Leptospermum Scoparium, the local people, Maori, used oil for its antiseptic and antibacterial properties.

ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES OF BOTH SIDR AND MANUKA

Antibiotics are the medicine for bacterial infections that hit both humans and animals; the problem here is that bacteria always develop their defending methods towards chemical medicine until we have antibiotic-resistance bacteria. That kind of bacteria makes it harder and more costly to treat infections such as; pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, and salmonellosis.

Researchers from the University of Ottawa tested Sidr and Manuka honey’s antibacterial activities. Why honey? Because it is believed that honey is an antibiotic with no side effects in the long run.

They compared the impact of the commonly used chemical antibacterial medicines and both Yemeni Sidr honey and Manuka honey on single bacteria and biofilms. The two types of honey showed 100% effectiveness in killing MSSA, MRSA, and PA single bacteria. In contrast, the effectiveness had changed in the case of bacteria grown under a slimy layer that shows more resistance to antibiotics called biofilms.

Dr Susan Richardson, head of microbiology at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, said that you don’t need to inject the honey into the blood veins or swallow it; you just apply it onto the surface of the bacteria, and it will work!

THE STORY AND LEGACY

Yemen suffers from armed conflict, and the apocalyptic scenes dominate the whole country. Accordingly, Yemeni people lost nearly everything due to that war, which they had nothing to do with. Moreover, all they got from this war were losses, as they lost their homes, work, families, and most of them lost their lives; still, Yemenis didn’t lose hope. What gives them hope right now is working on the Yemeni Sidr honey industry, which helps the local beekeepers and their families look into a brighter future for themselves by doing what they love and reviving the country’s legacy that was once known as the Arabia Felix! That’s a whole other level of motivation to produce raw honey of the highest quality ever.

CONCLUSION

Sidr honey and Manuka honey have several medicinal properties supported by laboratory experiments from reputable organizations, which gives them the advantage over the other types of honey. Still, there is a misconception that they are similar to each other, but they are not, as the Yemeni Sidr honey has much unique and smoother taste, along with its substantial positive impact on the whole country of Yemen and its people.

Article courtesy: Yemeni Sidr