Has anyone here ever tried Manukau Honey for pouchitis? I just want to share that it was a lifesaver for me. After dealing with pouchitis for a year and Cipro, Flagyl, etc nothing helped and I was seriously considering a permanent illeostomy. I was constantly searching on jpouch forums for remedies and tried many. Finally I saw a tiny mention of manukau honey and ordered some. After 2 weeks using 1 heaping tablespoon twice daily the pouchitis was gone. It has never come back in 5 years. Once or twice I have felt the beginnings of symptoms and took a couple doses. That seems to have done the trick. I hope this post helps someone struggling with this issue.
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Wonderful!
Thanks for posting. Good timing as I just doubled my antibiotics today because of returning symptoms and always wish I could avoid taking them altogether. I did some quick research on manuka honey and want to try it. What type do you use? The grading system is a bit confusing. I'm inclined to order the 20+ UMF.
I'm curious. Can you use Manuka like any other honey? How much does one need to take? Are there any guidelines? Also curious about the UMF of the honey that Golden Girl found effective. Looking forward to hearing more!
@AMB posted:Thanks for posting. Good timing as I just doubled my antibiotics today because of returning symptoms and always wish I could avoid taking them altogether. I did some quick research on manuka honey and want to try it. What type do you use? The grading system is a bit confusing. I'm inclined to order the 20+ UMF.
I use 10+ manukau honey. Ordered it online from Costco. From research I learned it is important not to mix in a hot drink. I think maybe the reason it works is because it introduces good bacteria to the gut. The heat would kill that.
Good luck! Let us know how it goes for you.
@Sara Marie posted:I'm curious. Can you use Manuka like any other honey? How much does one need to take? Are there any guidelines? Also curious about the UMF of the honey that Golden Girl found effective. Looking forward to hearing more!
I use 10+ grade. You can spread it on toast but don’t mix in a hot drink. Heat kills the effectiveness. I just take by heaping tablespoon. Yuk- because I prefer regular honey. But it definitely worked for me!
Best of luck! Let us know how it goes for you.
Most honey labeled as mānuka is apparently counterfeit, and it can be hard to tell. I’d suggest using well-known suppliers who have a reputation to uphold, if at all possible.
It is antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant apparently.
https://health.clevelandclinic...nuka-honey-benefits/
Sage advice from Scott. I ordered New Zealand Honey Co 20 +UMF. Will report back if I experience a miracle!
I have been on Xifaxan and Sulfasalzine for 10+ years and it has worked fine, but I would love to come off it. Do you take any meds, or just the honey? Would love an update on how things are working.
No I haven’t needed any meds for pouchitis since I first used Manuka Honey several years ago.
I used the honey to clear up that terrible case of pouchitis by taking one heaping teaspoon twice a day for about 2 weeks.
A year or so later when I started having symptoms again I took Manuka honey again but just for a day. I’ve never had another bout of pouchitis. And haven’t needed to take the Manuka honey again so far.
Actually, I just had a scope of my pouch a couple of days ago and it looked amazing! My doctor was very pleased. Good luck, and I hope it works as well for you.
@Golden Girl posted:No I haven’t needed any meds for pouchitis since I first used Manuka Honey several years ago.
I used the honey to clear up that terrible case of pouchitis by taking one heaping teaspoon twice a day for about 2 weeks.
A year or so later when I started having symptoms again I took Manuka honey again but just for a day. I’ve never had another bout of pouchitis. And haven’t needed to take the Manuka honey again so far.Actually, I just had a scope of my pouch a couple of days ago and it looked amazing! My doctor was very pleased. Good luck, and I hope it works as well for you.
Do you do any other types of dietary or supplemental things for your pouch?
Nope, honestly I eat everything except things that can cause SBOs. I don’t eat apple peel, bell pepper, or celery. And I take a gummy multivitamin and gummy calcium with D3.
I eat more sugar than I should and have the occasional drink. My diet could be much better!
Thank you!
Are apple peel, bell pepper, or celery the things that cause SBOs for you?
And your guts are in good shape? No troubles? That's fabulous!
Yes any vegetable or fruit that has peel or is tough or stringy tends to cause SBOs for me. I had been careful and avoided SBOs for about 10 years but became careless and ended up in the hospital in early July with a SBO. Fortunately it resolved without surgery in 4 days. But not fun!
No other troubles thank goodness. My pouch is 15 years old and it has taken me many years to discover through trial and error to learn how to live with it. I am very thankful that my pouch is healthy.
@Golden Girl posted:Yes any vegetable or fruit that has peel or is tough or stringy tends to cause SBOs for me. I had been careful and avoided SBOs for about 10 years but became careless and ended up in the hospital in early July with a SBO. Fortunately it resolved without surgery in 4 days. But not fun!
No other troubles thank goodness. My pouch is 15 years old and it has taken me many years to discover through trial and error to learn how to live with it. I am very thankful that my pouch is healthy.
Thanks for that! I'm curious what other things you have found about how to live with the j-pouch other than the foods that cause SBOs and the manuka honey for pouchitis. For example, what are your pouchitis symptoms when you get them so that you know when to take the honey? Is this the honey you take?
https://www.costco.com/manuka-...oduct.100567043.html
I am always interested in learning how to live with the j-pouch, and benefit greatly from this group's experience!
Yes, that is the honey.
Before my proctocolectomy I suffered from UC for about 20 years. I would experience very similar symptoms with a flare of UC as I had with pouchitis. The same urgency to run to the toilet constantly even though there would often be very little in my pouch. All night, all day. Every 15 minutes for hours at times.
I believe that with pouchitis my pouch would be so raw and inflamed that the tiniest bit of fecal matter would burn and cause me the urgency to expel it. Just like when my rectum was diseased with UC.
Of course this is simply my own theory.
I never had fevers and rarely passed blood with pouchitis. The constant urgency to eliminate my pouch and just an overall feeling of fatigue were my only true symptoms.
I experienced pouchitis that lasted nearly a year twice. And a few other times over the years when the antibiotics actually worked. So I am so thankful to have found a remedy.
Do you have any issues that you are struggling with? If you have a specific problem I can help with, then feel free to ask.
@Golden Girl posted:Yes, that is the honey.
Before my proctocolectomy I suffered from UC for about 20 years. I would experience very similar symptoms with a flare of UC as I had with pouchitis. The same urgency to run to the toilet constantly even though there would often be very little in my pouch. All night, all day. Every 15 minutes for hours at times.
I believe that with pouchitis my pouch would be so raw and inflamed that the tiniest bit of fecal matter would burn and cause me the urgency to expel it. Just like when my rectum was diseased with UC.
Of course this is simply my own theory.
I never had fevers and rarely passed blood with pouchitis. The constant urgency to eliminate my pouch and just an overall feeling of fatigue were my only true symptoms.I experienced pouchitis that lasted nearly a year twice. And a few other times over the years when the antibiotics actually worked. So I am so thankful to have found a remedy.
Do you have any issues that you are struggling with? If you have a specific problem I can help with, then feel free to ask.
I have had irritation of the pouch with frequent need to evacuate but it never has lasted very long nor have I been treated by a western doc for it. I have to be very careful with what I eat. I have psyllium before meals so everything doesn't just wash through. I'm going to go to an allergist soon to see what they say about food allergies. I have never had anything as bad as what you're describing, but the anus does get really sore at times in a variety of ways, especially when the stool is more watery and frequent, but there is also irritation from foods that my system doesn't like which is expressed there through inflammation, hemorrhoids, and a fissure that also gets irritated at times. I have found topical remedies and the dietary changes I have made (no wheat, no dairy, no alcohol, extreme moderation with raw veggies, nightshades, red meat, eggs, etc.) have helped a lot with the internal and external discomfort, though it's difficult to access foods I can eat in some locations and I'm the worst dinner guest!! So I'm looking around for anything that people do to help their guts be more resilient and maybe that'll help me be able to eat more like a "normal" person! Even though we're all different, some of the things I have learned through this group have been beneficial. So I ask a lot of questions! Thank you so much for sharing and feel free to share more! I'm so glad you found that the honey gets rid of your pouchitis. I would hate for you to have to go through that again....seems like you have done enough of that!
Should you avoid hot drinks altogether, or just when you take the honey? I drink a lot of green tea, so curious if I need to avoid hot tea around the time I take the honey?
@JBS posted:Should you avoid hot drinks altogether, or just when you take the honey? I drink a lot of green tea, so curious if I need to avoid hot tea around the time I take the honey?
I think you don't want to mix the honey into the hot drink because the heat will kill its effectiveness?
Thank you Sara Marie. I am so grateful for my good health.
There are so many interesting and helpful tips from this forum and others like it. And it is comforting to know there are others who understand exactly what we’ve all been through!
@JBS posted:Should you avoid hot drinks altogether, or just when you take the honey? I drink a lot of green tea, so curious if I need to avoid hot tea around the time I take the honey?
No need to avoid hot drinks altogether. Just don’t mix your Manuka honey in one to avoid killing it’s effectiveness.
Wow. Thank you for the advice. I am having a flare up right now and thanks to you I remembered having Manuka in my cupboard! I will try it right away
@LoveLife posted:Wow. Thank you for the advice. I am having a flare up right now and thanks to you I remembered having Manuka in my cupboard! I will try it right away
I love that! Let us know if it works for you! I haven't purchased mine. What does your flare-up feel like? Same as Golden Girl?
I recently bought the Costco 850 medical grade, very expensive.
not doing much but maybe cause it was so expensive I’m using too little? Good the know the 10 is working. Maybe I should go buy that and take more.
I haven't tried the manukau honey for the pouch irritation I get, which is isn't full-on pouchitis but a mild version where the pouch feels inflamed and I have a night time emission of clear (stinky) fluid. I have used oregano oil capsules and they seem to knock that out (2/day for up to 10 days). Of course, they need to be followed by probiotics since they're so antibiotic-like. I also use oregano oil capsules after I have been exposed to something, like when for work I get to go play with wonderful, fun, germ-infested little kids! If I don't take oregano oil for a day after that, I usually have a day of extreme fatigue following the play date as my immune system is trying to overcome whatever delightful things they have given me to strengthen it. This is fine, too, when I have a day to give, but sometimes I don't.
Another New Zealand honey that has the same antioxidant/antibacterial properties as Manukah honey, and is much better tasting in my opinion, is Beech Honeydew honey. I received some in a gift pack as a Christmas gift from my aunt, and it's great! Here is a link:
https://mountainvalleyhoney.co...eech-honeydew-honey/
It's around $13 US dollars if you order a 2.2 pound jar direct from Mountain Valley, although I haven't figured out what the shipping charge is yet. You can get similar on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/RAW-Hon...Caps%2C88&sr=8-4
I can't speak to the Taylor Pass honey but Mountain Valley's Beech Honeydew honey is absolutely awesome in taste. I consume many honeys and this is one of the best I have tasted. All I can say is New Zealand is doing a great job with honey, you go Kiwis!
Edit: $61 in shipping to the USA for a $13 jar of honey so we need to get Mountain Valley to put all their honeys on Amazon, not just the 6 honey gift pack! Meanwhile looks like I will need to settle for the Taylor Pass Beech Honeydew Honey. Which is available on Amazon as per the above link.
Hi! Have any more tried the manuka honey for pouchitis and If so did it work?
I think someone in this site said it worked for them. If you do a search of the site you can probably find it.