Not All Mānuka Oils Are Created Equal.

NZ Crop and Food have defined three predominant mānuka oil chemotypes (races of plants with different chemistry) throughout New Zealand:

 In the far north, the mānuka oil has a high pinene content.

1. In the East Cape and Marlborough Sounds regions, a high triketone chemotype is found.
2. Oils containing a complex of sesquiterpenes are found over the rest of New Zealand.

Evidence shows that the antimicrobial activity of mānuka oil is determined largely by the proportion of triketones in the oil.

The proportion of chemical components in the three regional chemotypes of New Zealand mānuka. [i]

Currently most of ManukaRx production of oil comes from wild harvest of the mānuka bush on the East Cape, however ManukaRx are now involved in the development of plantations on the East Cape, plantations specifically for oil production. ManukaRx only use 100% pure East Cape mānuka oil in all product formulations

So What Does This All Mean For East Cape Mānuka Oil Uses?

Thanks to its abundant antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, mānuka oil could be (and has been demonstrated to be) an effective natural help for many conditions and preventative care applications such as:

• Acne prevention and control
• Foot and toenail fungus
• Dry skin conditions
• Minor rashes, burns, and abrasions
• Shiny and soft hair
• Skin aging and reducing wrinkles
• Sunburns
• Beautiful nails and soft cuticles
• Protecting at-risk skin on lips, elbows, knees, and ankles
• Mosquito bites, bee stings, and other insect bites or stings
• Chaffed or irritated skin
• Annoying dry and itchy skin
• Minimizing old scars
• Sore muscles and aching joints
• Congestion and respiratory infections
• Studies have also shown that mānuka oil is one of the best natural solutions for fighting bacteria in the mouth – beating tea tree, lavender, eucalyptus, and rosemary. Be careful not to swallow.

Citations:

[i] Crop and Food Research ‘Essential oil production from mānuka and kānuka.