The Seductive Truth About the Sexual Benefits Of Manuka Honey

Honey has been connected to love and fertility for centuries¹.

Its enduring reputation for healing and connection across time and cultures, and even where it comes from, is the stuff of true romance.

Thanks to a plethora of studies, we now know that honey is packed full of beneficial vitamins and minerals², and that consuming manuka honey specifically could improve your sex life and increase sexual desire.

But there’s been some controversy around sexual enhancement products made with honey, and using the wrong kind can have dangerous consequences.

So if you’re wondering about manuka honey benefits sexually, you’re in the right place. We’ll cover a brief history of raw honey as an aphrodisiac, what we know about honey for male enhancement and female reproductive health, ways to consume manuka honey for these purposes, and finally which honey is best for sexual health benefits.

In this guide to manuka honey benefits for sex:

• A brief history of honey as an aphrodisiac

• The sexual benefits of honey

• The benefits of manuka honey sexually

• Why manuka honey is the best for a healthy sex life

• Ways to use manuka honey for sex

• Which honey to buy for sexual function and increased sexual desire

The history of honey as an aphrodisiac

Honey and love have been connected for centuries.

Have you ever wondered where the word honeymoon comes from?

Some say that newlyweds used to be gifted enough honeymead alcohol to last them one moon (around a month), to help them fulfill their marital conjugal duties³.

Others claim it is simply the sweet period that follows getting married⁴.

Whatever the truth, honey as an aphrodisiac has spanned not just thousands of years, but numerous cultures, too.

The Ancient Greeks and Egyptians were big fans⁵. Honey with pepper was a very common and potent elixir used to prepare for having sex⁶.

The traditional Malay communities used a honey and egg mixture as a massage oil for treating erectile dysfunction⁷.

In Hindu culture, Kamadeva, the God of erotic love and desire, carried honey-soaked weapons to unite the hearts of couples⁸.

And in the Old Testament, God describes The Promised Land as one flowing with milk and honey, which is believed to indicate its abundant fertility⁹.

There have been a wide range of studies investigating the health benefits of honey and manuka honey specifically, but can honey help in the bedroom?

Is there proven science to back up these stories of history?

The sexual benefits of honey

Honey is pretty special stuff.

And whilst we might be somewhat biased as a manuka honey brand, the scientific evidence backs this up.

When it comes to the benefits of honey sexually, studies have had rather different focuses for each gender.

For men, the focus is on fertility, performance, and enhancement. For women, it’s more about overall reproductive health and menopause symptoms.

Let’s take a look.

Honey for male enhancement

Male fertility and reproductive health have been steadily declining over the last three decades¹⁰.

But the medical solutions on the market can have varied side effects¹¹, so it’s no wonder why many men are looking for natural remedies.

Here are a few ways that honey can be used for male enhancement:

• Due to its phenol content¹², honey can improve testosterone levels¹³ which can boost libido, improve sexual arousal and increase sperm production¹⁴.

• Honey can have a vasodilatory effect which means that it widens the blood vessels and helps to improve blood flow. This is a good way to treat erectile dysfunction¹⁰.

• Consuming honey has been shown to increase sperm count and motility¹⁰ (the ability for fluid or organisms such as sperm to move effectively).

• Cigarette smoke is one of the biggest threats to male reproductive health¹⁵. Studies have found honey to alleviate many of the negative impacts of smoke on sperm production, health, count, and motility¹⁶.

Side note: honey doesn’t just benefit sperm when it’s inside the body, either.

Honey has been studied as a potential cryoprotectant during in-vitro fertilisation¹⁰. In other words, its unique chemical compounds make it ideal for transporting and protecting sperm while it’s outside of the body.

Studies have even found it to be effective at repairing the damage caused by the freezing and thawing processes that takes place during artificial insemination¹⁷.

Honey for female fertility and sexual health

At the time of publishing, there weren’t many studies that have directly investigated the impact of honey on the female reproductive system.

But the three keys areas that have been discussed are its antioxidant properties and how these alleviate oxidative stress, its potential for managing menopause symptoms, and its application as an antifungal treatment.

Let’s take a closer look:

• Oxidative stress is caused by chemical imbalances in the body and it can lead to tissue damage and disease. It impacts the female reproductive system throughout a woman’s entire life, including during menopause¹⁸, and if left unchecked, can threaten fertility and overall sexual health.

The antioxidant properties in honey can ease oxidative stress¹⁹, even after undertaking activities that are known to make it worse, like intensive exercise²⁰.

• Menopause can be painful and uncomfortable for many women. Thanks to its flavonoid and phenolic compounds²⁰, honey has been shown to alleviate the symptoms in postmenopausal women and the associated weight gain²¹.  

• Honey has also been shown to be an effective anti-fungal treatment for the physical symptoms of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) infections.

The beneficial properties of honey don’t discriminate. So adding it to your diet can be a great way to boost overall health and wellness.

But are all honeys made equal? Or are there some types that have more potent sexual and therapeutic benefits than other honeys?

Why manuka honey is best for sexual health

Modern science has confirmed what ancient cultures have known for millennia: honey is special.

It’s the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that have earned honey so much scientific attention over the years.

It’s also used in some of the most serious and life-threatening medical applications for people and for animals.

We’ve already discussed how these beneficial properties can have powerful knock-on effects for sexual and reproductive health for all genders.

So if you want the maximum potential using honey to improve sexual health, you’ll want the honey with the most potent health benefits. The honey used by medical professionals throughout the world.

And that’s manuka honey²².

Whilst there are plenty of honey products on the market promising sexual performance enhancement and claiming to be natural, many have been found to contain hidden pharmaceutical ingredients.

So if you’re looking for a truly natural honey remedy for sexual health and wellness, sticking to pure manuka honey is the safest bet.

New Zealand manuka honey with a UMF™ grade has been independently tested and certified to be 100% pure and natural.

Ways to use manuka honey for sex

To get the most manuka honey benefits sexually, make sure you opt for a UMF™ graded jar and include it in your diet regularly.

Here are some delicious ways to eat manuka honey.

1. Maca oatmeal with manuka honey and pistachios

Both maca²³, a sweet root vegetable, and pistachio nuts²⁴, have been found to help improve the symptoms of erectile dysfunction as well as general sexual health and wellness.

With its malty, butterscotch flavour, and energy-boosting nutrients, maca is a fantastic breakfast food. Simply add maca powder to your oatmeal, stir in manuka honey after it’s cooled a little, and sprinkle pistachios on top.

Add a few dark cacao nibs for a slightly bitter edge.

2. Red ginseng and manuka honey water

Red ginseng is believed to be a libido-boosting supplement²⁵, used for centuries in Chinese medicine. It’s been found to alleviate erectile dysfunction²⁶ and also improve sex drive during the menopause²⁷.

With a slightly sweet but bitter taste, why not prepare a hot drink with ginseng and manuka honey? Simply stew your ginseng in water. Once it’s cooled a little, remove the root and add your manuka honey. Serve and enjoy.

NB: Don’t ever add manuka honey to boiling water. You’ll get the delicious flavour but much less of the beneficial compounds.

3. Sprouted fenugreek salad with manuka honey dressing

Fenugreek has been found to contain the compounds that our bodies use to make sex hormones²⁸. Popular in Ayurvedic medicine for enhancing libido, fenugreek is often used in curries and delicious South Asian dishes. But why not try it in a salad?

Sprouted fenugreek seeds are a little more bitter and add a delicious crunch to any salad. They’re packed full of vitamins and minerals just like manuka honey, so top off your favourite salad with these complimentary ingredients for an extra seductive kick.

NB: Fenugreek is generally safe, but has been known to react to blood-thinning medications²⁹ and may interfere with hormone treatments, given its link to hormone production²⁵. Check with your doctor before consumption.

Wanting more inspiration? Check out this mega guide for more than 170 ideas on ways to use manuka honey!

Get your sexy time honey

UMF™-graded manuka honey is the only type of honey on the market that is required to go through a stringent regulatory process.

These honeys have been rigorously and independently tested to ensure they’re 100% pure, natural, monofloral manuka honey from New Zealand.

With that said, if you’re looking for a powerful, all-round wellness boost, look no further.

Get your raw manuka honey here.

Are you unsure which UMF™ grade is right for you? Take our quiz.

FAQs: Manuka honey sexual benefits

Quick-fire answers to your burning questions about the benefits of manuka honey sexually.

What are the benefits of manuka honey sexually?

Manuka honey has the highest levels of antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties which have been shown to improve testosterone levels, boost sperm count and motility, widen blood vessels which aids penile erection, and relieve oxidative stress.

Is honey good for sperm?

Studies have shown that honey can be good for sperm production, count, and motility. It is also believed to raise testosterone levels, the hormone associated with making sperm.

Honey is even being investigated as a potential cryoprotectant substance, which would help transport and protect sperm during artifical insemination.

Does honey improve fertility?

Honey can boost testosterone levels in men which, in turn, boosts sperm production. It has also been linked to sperm motility. The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of honey benefit general health and wellness which are crucial for fertility.

Which honey is best for male fertility?

Manuka honey has the highest levels of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as the higher phenolic content which is associated with increasing testosterone. So for the best chance at success using honey to boost sexual health and peformance, choose manuka honey.

Recommended reading:

• Is manuka honey worth it? It depends. Here’s why…

• How much UMF™ is enough?

• What is monofloral manuka honey and why does it matter?

• Fake honey: What you need to know about counterfeit honey (and how to avoid buying it)

• Thinking of buying medical grade honey? Read this first…

Sources

¹ 10 Edible aphrodisiacs, PBS.

² Neutraceutical values of natural honey, National Library of Medicine.

³ The surprising history behind honeymoons, NY Post.

⁴ The mysterious origin of the word “honeymoon”, Insider.

⁵ Honey for my honey: ancient aphrodisiacs, Heritage Key.

⁶ Honey and pepper was the viagra of the ancient Greeks, Hellenic Daily News.

⁷ How do men perceive erectile dysfunction and its treatment, National Library of Medicine.

⁸ Want a good sex life? Learn these 7 facts about Kamadeva, Times of India.

⁹ Ask a rabbi: Why is Isral called “the land of milk and honey”? Jewish Boston.

¹⁰ Protective roles of honey in reproductive health, National Library of Medicine.

¹¹ Erectile dysfunction: Viagra and other oral medications, Mayo Clinic.

¹² Antibacterial and antioxidant potency of floral honeys from different botanical and geographical origins, National Library of Medicine.

¹³ Mechanisms of honey on testosterone levels, Science Direct.

¹⁴ Testosterone: What it does and doesn’t do, Harvard Health.

¹⁵ Association between tobacco exposure and reproductive parameters in adolescent males, International Journal of Andrology.

¹⁶ Effect of honey on testicular functions in rats exposed to cigarette smoke, International Bee Research Association.

¹⁷ Natural honey as a cryoprotectant, Science Direct.

¹⁸ Role of oxidative stress in female reproduction, Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology.

¹⁹ Honey as an antioxidant therapy to reduce cognitive ageing, National Library of Medicine.

²⁰ Augmentation of the female reproductive system using honey, National Library of Medicine.

²¹ Changes in lipid profile and some biochemical parameters in postmenopausal women treated with honey, Journal of Preventive Medicine and Holistic Health.

²² Antibacterial activity of manuka honey and its components, National Library of Medicine.

²³ Subjective effects of Lipidium meyenii (maca) on wellbeing and sexual performances (...), National Library of Medicine.

²⁴ Pistachio diet improves erectile function parameters serum lipid profiles, National Library of Medicine.

²⁵ Natural aphrodisiacs: A review of selected sexual enhancers, National Library of Medicine.

²⁶ Red ginseng for treating erectile dysfunction, National Library of Medicine.

²⁷ Effects of Korean red ginseng on sexual arousal in menopausal women, National Library of Medicine.

²⁸ In-vitro estrogenic activities of fenugreek, National Library of Medicine.

²⁹ Cardiovascular pharmacotherapy and herbal medicines: the risk of drug interaction, National Library of Medicine.