Has your spring been derailed by bouts of sneezing, coughing, and wiping watery eyes because of seasonal allergies? You’re not alone — about one in four Americans suffer from hay fever.
You want to try any solution that may help. Perhaps you’ve read something on the internet that says eating locally sourced honey can relieve allergic reactions to pollen in the air. Is it true? You’re considering rushing to the farmer’s market to buy a jar.
Board-certified otolaryngologist Nilesh Patel, MD, says you can certainly try it, but it’s not necessarily going to provide the relief you’re seeking. Here’s why.
Bees collect pollen from flowers. Studies on bee pollen show that honey often contains pollen from between 10-20 plants. Logically, you might think that exposing yourself to that pollen by eating a small amount of honey each day could desensitize you, but it’s not likely.
Your seasonal allergies are most often caused by your allergic reaction to the pollens produced by trees, grasses, and weeds. However, bees collect pollen from flowers.
Even if some of the pollen you’re allergic to is in local honey, it’s not likely that it’ll be present in high enough concentrations that it would make a difference in your body’s allergic response and subsequent symptoms.
There’s very little research on honey as an antidote to allergy symptoms. One very small study of 40 people showed that those who ate a high dose of honey every day as well as taking an allergy medication did show signs of improvement compared to others in the study who didn’t eat honey.
However, other studies show that honey consumption makes no significant difference in combating seasonal allergies.
And if you have severe reactions to pollen, you may want to be cautious about eating honey. Some people have experienced anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction in which your breathing is compromised.
Dr. Patel can help eliminate or control your allergy symptoms so that you regain a better quality of life. The first step is comprehensive allergy testing to determine which types of pollen are problematic for you.
After pinpointing the root cause of your seasonal allergy symptoms, Dr. Patel may prescribe oral and/or nasal medications. If your symptoms are more severe and medication doesn’t provide effective relief, we provide allergy shots to help desensitize you gradually to the pollen causing you distress.
Although local honey won’t really help your allergies, it has antimicrobial properties that can be beneficial if you have a cold or sore throat. Honey mixed with lemon juice is a home remedy to help soothe a sore throat, as it coats the throat to ease irritation. It can also lessen coughs that come with a cold or sore throat.
For allergy relief, call the office of Nilesh Patel, MD, in Midtown, New York City, today, or request an appointment through our online portal at your convenience.
