More About Manuka

NZ Honey Co.
New Zealand Honey Co.in strengths from UMF 10+/MGO 263+ to UMF 30+/ 1620+ MGO.

Ancient Remedies-Honey
Ancient Remedies-Honey

‘More About Manuka’ is my second blog post about honey.

The reason for a second post is because of the additional information I am gathering about the historical healing properties of honey.
The History of Honey for Healing is Fascinating and Extensive:
Ancient Egyptians packed honey into battle wounds 4,000 years ago.

Hippocrates prescribed honey for ulcers and infections 2,400 years ago.

WWI field doctors used honey when antibiotics ran out 110 years ago.

Recent Healing Documentation
In addition, I am in touch with my two favorite Manuka Honey Companies, Manukora Honey, and the New Zealand Honey Company for cutting edge healing news. It will be reported as available.

Manukora 5
Manukora Honey
Question and Answer Regarding Brands Pricing
Refer to this chart to compare strength pricing.I inquired to both companies about this disparity.
Screenshot 2026-03-06 at 12.25.07 PM
Manuka Honey Chart ©2026 Alison D. Gilbert

“Alison’s Exotic Healthy Food Kitchen and Shopping Super good question! Our jar of a similar size is $160 while theirs is $140 (both on subscription).
As you might now already, our customers choose Manukora because of our:
– Higher potency
– Certifications such as non-GMO, glyphosate-free, antibiotic-free, and B corp
– Independent testing via the QR code on each jar
– Ethical beekeeping practice that we call “The Art of Ethical Beekeeping”

Many thanks for your support,
The Manukora team


“Thank you so much for your thoughtful comparison and for being such a fan of Manuka honey! We really appreciate the time you’ve taken to look at the pricing across brands — it shows how much you care about getting the best quality. While we can’t comment on the pricing of other brands, we can share a bit about ours. Pricing differences can come down to a few factors: sourcing, batch size, production costs, certification, and even how the honey is processed and packaged. While ratings give a good indication of potency, the overall cost of the honey can vary based on the region, quality testing, and the brand’s supply chain. We hope this helps clarify the value of our honey, and we’d be happy to answer any other questions you have.”

Kind Regards,
Jenny | Customer Care Specialist | New Zealand Honey Company


Honey as Medicine in Ayurveda (Indian Traditional Healing):
Honey as medicine in Ayurveda
Honey as Medicine in Ayurveda from Banyan Botanicals
Bees and flowers
Respecting the source of Honey from Banyan Botanicals

NZ Honey Co.
New Zealand Honey Co.
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Alison’s Apothecary

ALISON Alison’s Apothecary ©2025 Published by Alison D. Gilbert.

It all started with the sensitivities I developed from eating the Standard American Diet. This included my adverse reactions as well as sensitivities to prescription medication. These issues therefore lead me on a search for more natural foods, a green planet consciousness, an interest in traditional medicines like Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Ayurveda (Indian) and Five Elements (Chinese), as well as other out of the mainstream, holistic products and traditional services with very long histories for healing.

1991
Alison’s South Shore Guide to Health ©1991 Alison D. Gilbert

My interests have become even more focused on these types of products and services. In addition, what is available in this realm continues to increase. As a result, the type of information in the 1991 South Shore Directory is even more relevant and needed to be expanded.

Since the 1991 directory is out of print, a new directory is necessary. Besides that a paper document is limited. Thanks to digital communication, the new directory Alison’s Apothecary, can be online. Fortunately an up-to-date version is now on my website and available for everyone to use. There is no limit to how much information can be available. Updates are also very simple and always necessary as the body of knowledge continues to grow.

1987 Pink Flyer
The first EAT FREE hand drawn flyer by Alison D. Gilbert ©1987.
Over the last 50 years, I have taken an interest and explored natural/healthy products and services as a way of life.
Alison’s Apothecary is the resurrection, update, and expansion of the guide I published in 1991, Alison’s South Shore Guide to Health.

If you do not see a topic, product or service that you are interested in, please contact the publisher. A suggestion search for a solution will be made for you if possible.

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FOOD: My Cultural Heritage


a menorah
A menorah is the symbol of Hannukah and was found on Google
The writing of this blog post about food: my cultural heritage coincides with and is in honor of Hannukah which happens to be this week December 25, 2024-January 1, 2025. This is where potato latke and donuts come into the picture. But more to come later about the former food cooked in oil as part of the symbolism of this holiday.

 

soup
Mushroom barley soup made with beef short ribs and blue oyster mushrooms ©2024 Alison D. Gilbert
Over the last 50 years until now, a return to my cultural heritage has not been how I would choose to eat.

HOW I ATE
This is in spite of the fact that ever since I was in my 20s, I have had an interest in my diet for nutritional purposes. In fact, I continue to make changes in my diet more times than I can remember. And now I am feeling a need to change how I eat once again.

In fact, during the five decades between my twenties and now, my eating habits have done this:
• embraced the season
• adopted the latest ideas for health
• eaten a rotation diet
• included a boiled grain at every meal
• applied the yin and yang tenets of macrobiotics
• juggled the three doshas of Ayurveda
• practiced vegetarianism
• eaten according to my blood type
• and tried many other options.

TOO MANY CHOICES
Unfortunately, I am one of the people who always has too many choices living in an industrialized country. Often they are not healthy and I suffer the consequences. Or there are just too many choices and I did not know what to do.

barley
Arrowhead Mills Organic pearled barley, Photo ©2024 ADG
Growing up in the United States, I got far away from the food of my culture, my cultural heritage of Eastern Europe. Then again, I rarely had the opportunity to eat that way any way or even knew what that was.

ASHKENAZI FOOD
It was only on occasion at home or on a trip to my grandparents in Boston that I even would have exposure to Ashkenazi food. How I wish now that I had learned to cook from my Ashkenazi grandmother, Rose Rudnick Gilbert.

Potato Latke She made the best potato latkes in the world. Mine are tolerable. (For all my fellow Jews, Trader Joes comes in at a far second when all else fails). But I am not even sure of the names or ingredients of the other traditional foods she would make.

TJ potato latke
Trader Joes Potato Pancakes

And now that I am at the other end of those fifty years that I mentioned, I am needing and wanting to once again introduce a new diet into my eating regimen. For no other reason than it popped into my head after binging on endless, streaming episodes of the Anthony Bordain series, 'No Reservations', I have decided to give tradition and a return to my cultural heritage a try.

Anthony Bordain
Anthony Bordain in a clip from Wikipedia about 'No Reservations' my non-stop, Prime channel streaming inspiration as of late

TRADITION
What is that tradition? Of course, a deeper introduction to my Ashkenazi roots is necessary. For example, I have vague memories of eating foods that were cooked in one pot with lots of water to bring dried grain to life. Also, these are foods that needed lots of time so the meat will fall off the bone or fall apart demonstrating it is ready to eat.

Bones Yes, bones are indeed preferable if not mandatory. These include chicken bones, turkey bones, beef short ribs, and especially marrow bones. In addition, I am reintroducing meats that I partner with hardy vegetables and a delicious, healthy grain.

Barley Strangely enough my grain of choice is one that I never cared about but love to eat now. That happens to be barley. Made with broth, it is especially delicious with just the right amount of chewiness. Besides barley, I go for the occasional soba noodles or even semolina noodles. But here is one exception. That is, when I make chicken soup, it must have matzoh balls. At first I was shy about what I though would take major effort. But I quickly found out that they are not difficult to make and well worth the effort.

My Heritage, My Food
I know that I am doing something right. Because my stomach has a history of reminding me it exists by being painfully awake now at times experiences sleep, quietly filled with satisfaction. Therefore my return to tradition or the introduction of Ashkenazi food into my almost daily life is proving to be the right thing to do.

corned beef and cabbage
Home made corned beef and cabbage served in broth with barley, Photo ©2024 ADG

SOURCES & RESOURCES
Anthony Bordain: No Reservations
Trader Joes Potato Pancake Review
Rose Rudnick Gilbert
Eating According to Your Blood Type
Macrobiotics
The Five Elements Diet
The Ayurvedic Diet
Bulk Pearl Barley
Ashkenazi Food Unrecognized Diversity
Source of short ribs as a source-not necessarily a recommendation
Golds horseradish
Ashkenazi Cholent: Shabbat Overnight Stew
Floater Matzoh Balls


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