Does local honey really help ward off seasonal allergies?
The idea behind using local honey to protect against seasonal allergies is simple: Pollen from local flowers causes seasonal allergies, honey made from local flowers contains the same local pollen spores, and eating local honey with local pollen gradually desensitizes the body so that future allergic reactions to the pollen are reduced or eliminated. There have been no studies done to either prove or disprove this idea, although I have found a lot of anecdotal evidence in its favor. For most people, it probably can’t hurt. However, some people have severe allergic reactions to honey and/or the local allergens it may contain. Remember, you’re deliberately dosing yourself with a suspected allergen, so take a small taste to start and make sure you don’t have an unexpected reaction. In addition, honey is not recommended at all for infants less than 12 months old; honey can contain botulism bacteria which could overwhelm an infant’s underdeveloped immune system.
