Do you suffer from hay fever and allergies? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of individuals worldwide are impacted due to seasonal allergies every year. Also, if you’re opting for an organic method to ease symptoms like a sore throat or itchy eyes, you may want to consider local honey for hay fever. Yes, that’s right—honey can help lessen the effects of hay fever and allergic rhinitis over time, anecdotally. But does that mean it’s a cure?
Let us take a deeper glance at this delectable remedy.
Could local honey for hay fever be the solution to your woes?
Scientists and doctors largely doubt local honey’s allergy-fighting potential, despite indigenous civilizations worldwide having long used honey as medicine.
However, unprocessed local honey may boost hay fever immunity, and supermarket honey and local honey from local bees can alleviate hay fever symptoms.
The mechanism behind how honey prevents allergies is unknown, but some scientists hypothesize that it works via immunotherapy. The hypothesis contains weaknesses, and honey dosages may only temporarily relieve hay fever symptoms, but the long-term consequences of taking honey are unknown.
Nevertheless, antihistamine and anti-inflammatory methylglyoxal-containing Manuka honey have more evidence to support that it helps with various medical problems like sore throats, skin wounds, or a runny nose.
The scientific evidence surrounding honey’s health benefits is debated. However, eating local honey may help you find relief from your hay fever symptoms.
The Pollen Influence
According to the American Asthma and Allergy Foundation, there would be very few common pollen allergies in honey because honey bees mix their food with enzymes to digest it.
Pollen protein is changed, which means your immune system wouldn’t develop resistance against intact pollen through eating this type of treated nectar or other bee products like royal jelly (a substance used by queen bees).
What are the benefits of using local honey to treat allergies?
Local honey has historically been used to cure seasonal allergy symptoms since it is supposed to aid in developing tolerance to pollen in the environment. Still, the flower pollen in honey differs from the grass allergy-causing pollen grains.
Even so, a few advantages are outlined below.
- Raw honey can help reduce allergic rhinitis symptoms.
- Manuka honey is a safer option for people with allergies.
- Histamine-related diseases may still restrict sugar intake, so trigger foods may need to be avoided even with honey treatment.
Overall, the effects of honey on allergies vary depending on the individual.
How can you use honey to ease allergy symptoms this season?
Honey has been used medicinally for eons, and existing research indicates that honey may be beneficial in relieving allergies.
Honey contains pollen from the flowers bees visit; this exposure can help acclimate the body to allergens before hay fever season begins in the summer. Some experts believe that raw honey with high alpine flower pollen counts is particularly effective in treating allergies.
If you’re interested in using honey to ease your allergy symptoms, the best way is to dilute a tablespoon of honey with water and drink it throughout the day. You can also cook with it or add it to other dishes.
Nonetheless, because of the danger of botulism, you mustn’t offer honey to newborns. Manuka honey is a type of local raw honey that is exceptionally high in the active ingredient methylglyoxal, an antibacterial compound that is thought to have immune-boosting properties.
If you’re looking for Manuka honey that may effectively help with allergies, look for a jar of honey with an MGO of 263+ (UMF 10+) or higher.
Is honey a better option than prescription medications for treating allergies?
Modern science is beginning to confirm many traditional uses for this sweet substance.
Honey is an antimicrobial agent that can kill harmful bacteria and fungi. You may lessen inflammation with honey because of its anti-inflammatory effects. Also, honey has been shown to have wound-healing antibacterial properties and anti-cancer activity.
In addition to these well-established medical uses, honey may help reduce allergies. Studies have shown that honey can lessen allergy symptoms. It is thought that the phytochemicals in honey may play a role in the pathophysiology of allergic diseases.
However, more research is needed to confirm the efficacy of honey in treating allergies. When treating allergies, honey may be worth considering as a safe and natural alternative to prescription medications.
However, honey is not without its drawbacks.
It can interact with certain medications and is not recommended for children under one. In addition, honey is not always effective in treating severe allergic reactions.
Modern medicine and medical treatment are the only options for those with severe allergies. Modern medicine has made great strides in the treatment of allergies.
You can take no effective prescription medications daily to control allergy symptoms. In addition, you can use EpiPens and other emergency treatments in case of a severe allergic reaction.
Modern medicine also offers allergy shots, which can help to desensitize the body to allergens over time.
Final Thoughts
Though scientists have debunked the myth that honey can treat hay fever, many people still swear by its effects. Some anecdotal evidence suggests that regular honey may help lessen hay fever symptoms and allergic rhinitis over time.
- This is likely because honey contains trace allergens, which can diminish sensitivity over time. However, your body can become intolerant to higher dosages of honey, just like allergy shots. Local raw honey, which includes pollen, may have the same effect as processed honey but contains more allergens.
- Though there are many issues surrounding the use of honey for hay fever sufferers, it seems to be a much safer and more affordable option than traditional allergy drugs and over-the-counter medicines.
- Many indigenous cultures have used honey as a treatment for allergies for years—something science is only now starting to understand.
Thank you for your visit! I hope you found this information informative. Browse a few of our other entries for fascinating details on honey. Thank you once again!
Sources of Information
Nelson, MS, CN, C. & GoodRx. (2021, May 27). Will Eating Local Honey Relieve My Seasonal Allergy Symptoms? Https://Www.Goodrx.Com/Health. Retrieved July 10, 2022, from http://blocked.goodrx.com/conditions/allergies/does-eating-honey-help-prevent-allergies
Front Pharmacol. 2020; 11: 599080. (2021, January 21). The Potential use of Honey as a Remedy for Allergic Diseases: A Mini-Review. Https://Www.Ncbi.Nlm.Nih.Gov/. Retrieved July 10, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7870997/
Annals of Saudi Medicine Volume 33(5). (2013, September). Ingestion of honey improves the symptoms of allergic rhinitis: evidence from a randomized placebo-controlled trial in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Https://Www.Ncbi.Nlm.Nih.Gov/. Retrieved July 10, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6074882/
B. (2022, July 7). Natural Hayfever Remedy for Hayfever Sufferers in Melbourne. BeeRescue.Com.Au. Retrieved July 10, 2022, from https://beerescue.com.au/hayfever-honey/
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