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Dietary supplement

Medical Grade Manuka Honey Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by ManukaGuard

Liquid Category: Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Medical Grade Manuka Honey is a dietary supplement by ManukaGuard with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for cough and sore throat, wound and burn care, soothing minor skin irritation.Based on those ingredients, 736 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Manuka Honey. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Medical Grade Manuka Honey by ManukaGuard

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: manuka honey. That's it — no other active components, and no inactive fillers or binders listed.

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports this product's ingredients for its stated purpose, but it isn't conclusive.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: immune system and microbiome support.
  • We looked for evidence on: Allergic rhinitis (hay fever), Asthma, Cough, Diarrhea, Gingivitis, Oral mucositis — and 4 related terms.
  • The strongest evidence on file: Honey is rated "Possibly Effective" for Burns (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Honey is rated "Possibly Effective" for Cough, Oral mucositis, Wound healing.
  • Also on file: Honey is rated "Possibly Ineffective" for Rhinosinusitis.

The evidence supporting manuka honey comes from a "possibly effective" rating for several uses: cold sores, cough, mouth sores from cancer treatment, burns, and dry eye. These ratings mean there's some research backing these uses, but the data isn't yet strong enough to call them proven.

If you're considering it for one of these purposes, you may see benefit, but results aren't guaranteed.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Honey

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Manuka honey is generally well tolerated by adults and children over 1 year of age when taken by mouth or applied to skin. The most common side effects are mild — nausea, stomach pain, vomiting (taken by mouth), or burning and stinging (applied topically).

A rare but serious concern: honey from the Black Sea coast of Turkey can contain high levels of grayanotoxins from rhododendrons, which can cause heart rhythm problems and low blood pressure. Allergic reactions, including severe ones, are possible if you're sensitive to honey, pollen, or bee products.

Before using this product medicinally — as opposed to simply eating honey as food — talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Honey

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Honey.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs.
  • For scale: 737 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking this product, double-check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take phenytoin (Dilantin) for seizures, any blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs like warfarin or aspirin, or medications your liver breaks down through the CYP3A4 pathway — many common drugs use this route, so your pharmacist can identify yours quickly.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence for its stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

ManukaGuard is a straightforward honey product with some research backing a few uses like cough and cold sores. If you take phenytoin, blood thinners, or other medications metabolized through CYP3A4, you'll want to check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting, since honey may affect how your body handles these drugs.

For everyone else, it's generally safe, though mild stomach upset or topical stinging can happen.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Sep 25, 2023.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Medical Grade Manuka Honey, straight from the product label.

Brand ManukaGuard
Barcode (UPC) 858631002043
Net contents 8.8 Ounce(s); 250 Gram(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Sep 25, 2023
DSLD ID 296816
Product type Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Children 4 or More Years of Age, Adult (18 - 50 Years), Kosher, Children more than 1 but less than 4
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Medical Grade Manuka Honey by ManukaGuard, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
5 Gram(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
5 Gram(s)
Servings per container
50
UPC/BARCODE
858631002043
IngredientAmount% DV
Calories20 Calorie(s)--
Total Carbohydrates4 Gram(s)1%, 3%
Sugars4 Gram(s)--
Manuka Honey5 Gram(s)--

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Formula

Medical Grade Manuka Honey is filtered and refined to meet a regulated level of purity. The honey is then gently pasteurized, protecting the naturally occurring enzymes, proteins, and active fractions. Unlike other types of honey, the enzymes, proteins, and active fractions in Manuka honey are not sensitive to heat.

Methylglyoxal 400mg/kg MGO 400

OU (Kosher)

Authentic New Zealand Manuka Honey

Sugars occur naturally in Manuka Honey and are a natural part of the honey.

Made in the USA with Manuka honey sourced in New Zealand

Safe for children over 1 year old.

Formulation

Drug free No Additives

Medical Grade Manuka Honey Benefits: Provides prebiotics function to stimulate growth of healthy bacteria in the microbiome. Support a healthy immune system Take with probiotics for full gastrointestinal health support

The Term Medical Grade is used to describe the purity of this Manuka Honey based in a recognized international standard.

GMO Free Does not contain alcohol Does not contain artificial ingredients

Contains no added sugars.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Precautions

Keep out of reach of children. Safe for children over 1 year old.

Storage

Can be kept at room temperature or refrigerated after use.

General Statements

Recyclable packaging

Seals/Symbols

OU (Kosher)

Certified Medical Grade New Zealand

Brand IP Statement(s)

ManukaGuard The Science of Honey

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

See for yourself

Medical Grade Manuka Honey by ManukaGuard label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Medical Grade Manuka Honey by ManukaGuard

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size5 Gram(s) Dosage formLiquid Servings per container50 Amounts shown are per serving.

Manuka Honey

Interacts with
736 drugs
5 Gram(s) per serving

Honey is a natural food with some real, modest evidence for easing coughs and helping certain wounds, especially when special medical-grade or Manuka...

Manuka Honey monograph & interactions
Interaction report

Medical Grade Manuka Honey by ManukaGuard Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Medical Grade Manuka Honey?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
736Drugs
5 Moderate 731 Minor

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Medical Grade Manuka Honey with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Manuka Honey3 drug types · 736 drugs

Phenytoin (Dilantin)

Theoretically, honey might increase levels of phenytoin.
In an animal model, the rate and extent of absorption of phenytoin was increased by honey. This effect has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, honey may increase the risk of bleeding when used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
In vitro, honey inhibits platelet aggregation and increases the time to clotting. Furthermore, animal research suggests that feeding mice large doses of honey for 12 days increases bleeding time when compared with no intervention. However, these effects have not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Unlikely Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

Theoretically, honey might decrease levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4, but research is conflicting.
Some clinical research shows that honey induces CYP3A4. However, other clinical studies found no effect on CYP3A4 activity. Different honey preparations may have different effects on CYP3A4.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Medical Grade Manuka Honey, from the product label.

ManukaGuard

See all ManukaGuard products
Name
NDAL BioMedical Group
Street Address
80 Garden Court Suite 100
City
Monterey
State
CA
ZipCode
93940
Phone Number
1-800-916-1220
Web Address
www.ManukaGuard.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Medical Grade Manuka Honey by ManukaGuard: Common Questions

Does Medical Grade Manuka Honey by ManukaGuard interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Medical Grade Manuka Honey has a known interaction with 736 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Medical Grade Manuka Honey contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Is manuka honey safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
Yes — manuka honey is rated likely safe in pregnancy and lactation. When a breastfeeding mother eats honey as food, it's considered fine. If you want to use it medicinally while pregnant or nursing, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether it makes sense for your situation.
What are the most common side effects?
When taken by mouth, the most common ones are nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting. If you apply it to skin, you might notice burning, pain, or stinging. Most people tolerate it well, but these mild effects can happen.
Can this help with a cough?
Honey has a "possibly effective" rating for cough, meaning some research supports it, but it's not proven. You may see benefit, but results aren't guaranteed for everyone.
Is this safe for young children?
Yes, for children over 1 year old. Honey should never be given to infants under 1 year because of the risk of botulism.
Does the source of the honey matter?
Yes. Honey from the Black Sea coast of Turkey sometimes contains dangerous levels of plant toxins that can cause serious heart problems. Stick with honey from reliable sources and manufacturers.
Can I be allergic to honey?
Yes. Allergic reactions to honey are possible and can range from mild to severe, including anaphylaxis. These reactions may come from the honey itself, pollen, or bee products in it. If you have a known allergy to bees, pollen, or bee products, talk with your doctor before using this.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Medical Grade Manuka Honey is safe with your meds?

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Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Medical Grade Manuka Honey label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Medical Grade Manuka Honey’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Medical Grade Manuka Honey's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 40 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Honey 40 references
  1. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  2. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
  3. Bose B. Honey or sugar in treatment of infected wounds? Lancet 1982;1:963. PubMed
  4. Ozhan H, Akdemir R, Yazici M, et al. Cardiac emergencies caused by honey ingestion: a single centre experience. Emerg Med J 2004;21:742-4. PubMed
  5. Centers for Disease Control. Botulism in the Unites Sates, 1899-1996. Handbook for epidemiologists, clinicians, and laboratory workers, 1998. Available online: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/botulism.PDF.
  6. Simon A, Traynor K, Santos K, et al. Medical honey for wound care - still the 'latest resort'? Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2009;6:165-73. PubMed
  7. Gethin G, Cowman S. Case series of use of Manuka honey in leg ulceration. Int Wound J 2005;2:10-15. PubMed
  8. Ingle R, Levin J, Polinder K. Wound healing with honey - a randomised controlled trial. S Afr Med J 2006;96:831-5.
  9. Johnson DW, van Eps C, Mudge DW, et al. Randomized, controlled trial of topical exit-site application of honey (Medihoney) versus mupirocin for the prevention of catheter-associated infections in hemodialysis patients. J Am Soc Nephrol 2005;16:1456-62. PubMed
  10. Sukriti and Garg, S. K. Influence of honey on the pharmacokinetics of phenytoin in rabbits. Ind J Pharmacol 2002;34(147).
  11. Jung, A. and Ottosson, J. [Infantile botulism caused by honey]. Ugeskr Laeger 2001;163(2):169.
  12. Gunduz, A., Turedi, S., Uzun, H., and Topbas, M. Mad honey poisoning. Am J Emerg.Med 2006;24(5):595-598.
  13. van der Vorst, M. M., Jamal, W., Rotimi, V. O., and Moosa, A. Infant botulism due to consumption of contaminated commercially prepared honey. First report from the Arabian Gulf States. Med Princ.Pract. 2006;15(6):456-458. PubMed
  14. Tushar, T., Vinod, T., Rajan, S., Shashindran, C., and Adithan, C. Effect of honey on CYP3A4, CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 enzyme activity in healthy human volunteers. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2007;100(4):269-272. PubMed
  15. Nilforoushzadeh, M. A., Jaffary, F., Moradi, S., Derakhshan, R., and Haftbaradaran, E. Effect of topical honey application along with intralesional injection of glucantime in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. BMC Complement Altern Med 2007;7:13. PubMed
  16. Koca, I. and Koca, A. F. Poisoning by mad honey: a brief review. Food Chem Toxicol 2007;45(8):1315-1318. PubMed
  17. Akinci, S., Arslan, U., Karakurt, K., and Cengel, A. An unusual presentation of mad honey poisoning: acute myocardial infarction. Int J Cardiol 2008;129(2):e56-e58. PubMed
  18. Yildirim, N., Aydin, M., Cam, F., and Celik, O. Clinical presentation of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in the course of intoxication with mad honey. Am J Emerg Med 2008;26(1):108.e-2. PubMed
  19. Shrestha, P., Vaidya, R., and Sherpa, K. Mad honey poisoning: a rare case report of seven cases. Nepal Med Coll J 2009;11(3):212-213.
  20. Fetzner, L., Burhenne, J., Weiss, J., Völker, M., Unger, M., Mikus, G., and Haefeli, W. E. Daily honey consumption does not change CYP3A activity in humans. J Clin Pharmacol 2011;51(8):1223-1232. PubMed
  21. Thamboo, A., Thamboo, A., Philpott, C., Javer, A., and Clark, A. Single-blind study of manuka honey in allergic fungal rhinosinusitis. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2011;40(3):238-243.
  22. Ahmed, A., Khan, R. A., Azim, M. K., Saeed, S. A., Mesaik, M. A., Ahmed, S., and Imran, I. Effect of natural honey on human platelets and blood coagulation proteins. Pak.J Pharm Sci 2011;24(3):389-397.
  23. Yarlioglues, M., Akpek, M., Ardic, I., Elcik, D., Sahin, O., and Kaya, M. G. Mad-honey sexual activity and acute inferior myocardial infarctions in a married couple. Tex.Heart Inst.J 2011;38(5):577-580.
  24. Biberoglu, S., Biberoglu, K., and Komsuoglu, B. Mad honey. JAMA 4-1-1988;259(13):1943.
  25. Biberoglu, K., Biberoglu, S., and Komsuoglu, B. Transient Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome during honey intoxication. Isr.J.Med.Sci. 1988;24(4-5):253-254.
  26. Gössinger, H., Hruby, K., Pohl, A., Davogg, S., Sutterlütti, G., and Mathis, G. [Poisoning with andromedotoxin-containing honey]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 1983;108(41):1555-1558.
  27. Fenicia, L., Ferrini, A. M., Aureli, P., and Pocecco, M. A case of infant botulism associated with honey feeding in Italy. Eur J Epidemiol 1993;9(6):671-673. PubMed
  28. Sutlupinar, N., Mat, A., and Satganoglu, Y. Poisoning by toxic honey in Turkey. Arch.Toxicol. 1993;67(2):148-150. PubMed
  29. von Malottki, K. and Wiechmann, H. W. [Acute life-threatening bradycardia: food poisoning by Turkish wild honey]. Dtsch.Med.Wochenschr. 7-26-1996;121(30):936-938.
  30. Abdulla CO, Ayubi A, Zulfiquer F, Santhanam G, Ahmed MA, Deeb J. Infant botulism following honey ingestion. BMJ Case Rep. 2012 Sep 7;2012.
  31. Johnson DW, Badve SV, Pascoe EM, Beller E, Cass A, Clark C, de Zoysa J, Isbel NM, McTaggart S, Morrish AT, Playford EG, Scaria A, Snelling P, Vergara LA, Hawley CM; HONEYPOT Study Collaborative Group. Antibacterial honey for the prevention of peritoneal-d
  32. Matos D, Serrano P, Menezes Brandão F. A case of allergic contact dermatitis caused by propolis-enriched honey. Contact Dermatitis. 2015 Jan;72(1):59-60. PubMed
  33. Oduwole O, Meremikwu MM, Oyo-Ita A, Udoh EE. Honey for acute cough in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Dec 23;12:CD007094. PubMed
  34. Vezir E, Kaya A, Toyran M, Azkur D, Dibek Misirlioglu E, Kocabas CN. Anaphylaxis/angioedema caused by honey ingestion. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2014 Jan-Feb;35(1):71-4. PubMed
  35. Wang YT, Qi Y, Tang FY, et al. The effect of cupping therapy for low back pain: A meta-analysis based on existing randomized controlled trials. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2017;30(6):1187-1195. PubMed
  36. Oduwole O, Udoh EE, Oyo-Ita A, Meremikwu MM. Honey for acute cough in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;4:CD007094. PubMed
  37. Wong D, Albietz JM, Tran H, et al. Treatment of contact lens related dry eye with antibacterial honey. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2017;40(6):389-393. PubMed
  38. Martina SJ, Ramar LAP, Silaban MRI, Luthfi M, Govindan PAP. Antiplatelet Effectivity between Aspirin with Honey on Cardiovascular Disease Based on Bleeding Time Taken on Mice. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019 Oct 14;7(20):3416-3420. PubMed
  39. Jhawar N, Gonzalez-Estrada A. Honey-induced anaphylaxis in an adult. QJM 2022;115(5):325-326. PubMed
  40. Di Costanzo M, De Paulis N, Peveri S, Montagni M, Berni Canani R, Biasucci G. Anaphylaxis caused by artisanal honey in a child: a case report. J Med Case Rep 2021;15(1):235. PubMed

See these in context on the Honey monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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