Mānuka Honey and Reflux (LPR): A Rongoā Way to Settle the Throat

Reflux can leave your throat feeling raw, tight or hoarse, especially at night. Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR, sometimes called "silent reflux") happens when stomach acid and enzymes travel back up toward the throat and voice box.

Mānuka honey as rongoā

Mānuka has long been part of rongoā (traditional Māori healing), where honey from the whenua (the land) is valued as kai (food) that nourishes and comforts. Mānuka honey is thick and slow, and many people reach for a spoonful when their throat feels scratchy or unsettled.

A spoonful may settle an irritated throat and ease that raw feeling, and it is a gentle part of an evening wind-down. It sits alongside the care your GP recommends. It does not replace it. You can read more in our plain-English guide to rongoā Māori.

Shop Mānuka Blend · $25

Understanding LPR

LPR is often hard to spot because the signs are subtle. People commonly report hoarseness, a persistent cough, throat clearing, a sore throat, and the feeling of a lump in the throat. A doctor can examine your throat and talk through your symptoms. Your GP may suggest changes to what and when you eat, medication to reduce stomach acid, and lifestyle changes such as avoiding late meals and raising the head of your bed.

How whānau enjoy mānuka honey

• By the spoonful: a teaspoon on its own, slowly, before bed.
• In a warm drink: stirred into warm (not boiling) water or tea, so the honey keeps its flavour.
• Before a meal: a little taken ahead of eating, as part of a calm routine.

If you have diabetes, watch your sugar or have a bee allergy, check with your GP first. Honey is not for babies under 12 months.

Which honey should I choose?

• Mānuka Blend, $25: an easy everyday jar.
• Mānuka Kūmarahou Honey, $25: kūmarahou is a native plant traditionally used in rongoā for respiratory health, infused with honey. It comes from the tribal regions of Te Whakatōhea and Ngāti Awa. Read the Kūmarahou guide.
• Spring Whānau Kete, $97: Wild Mānuka Oil 20+, Mānuka Mist and 1kg of honey for the home.
• Mānuka Honey 25+ UMF™ Luxury Gift Package, $349: our richest grade, hand-packed and blessed, a koha (gift) for someone you care about.

Every Whenua Honey product is wild and sustainably harvested, hand-packed and blessed before it leaves us.

Shop Mānuka Kūmarahou Honey · $25 Shop Mānuka Blend · $25 Shop the Spring Whānau Kete · $97 Shop the 25+ Luxury Gift · $349

Frequently asked questions

Can mānuka honey cure reflux?
No. Honey is a food and rongoā kai, not a cure. It may settle and soothe an irritated throat, and it sits alongside the care your GP recommends.

Is it safe in pregnancy or for children?
Honey is generally fine for pregnant women and children over one year old. Check with your health professional if you are unsure.

Please see your GP about reflux, especially if symptoms are ongoing. This article is general information and does not replace advice from your GP or other health professional.