So What Is Manuka Honey And Why Is It So Special
Manuka honey is native to New Zealand. The bees that pollinate the manuka flower produce this honey. This flower blooms only for 2 to 6 weeks in a year.
The hives are located in New Zealand, where the manuka flowers are grown in abundance.
Generally, all types of honey have good antibacterial qualities. But, manuka honey has certain unique medicinal components that form the base for measuring the antibacterial property called the UMF scale .
You may ask a question, what honey is best for dogs?
It is the Manuka Honey. The antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant properties of manuka honey are high in scale when compared to other honey.
Manuka honey is used for wound healing, dental decay prevention, and treating throat infections. It is believed to improve the better digestion process. Manuka honey is more sweet and intense in color.
The Evidence Against Raw Local Honey
Sadly, its highly unlikely that eating raw local honey will cure your seasonal allergies. There is very little scientific evidence to suggest any sort of healing effect. Of the studies that do exist, the sample sizes are too small to generalize to the U.S. population, and the results are conflicting at best.2
The honey cure is supported primarily by anecdotal evidence. While anecdotes can be helpful, they are also subjective and frequently riddled with errors and disproportionality overrepresent positive outcomes. For example, if a persons allergy symptoms stop after two months of eating honey, they may assume the honey cured their allergies. However, it is also possible and much more likely that trees in their area stopped releasing pollen because of seasonal changes.
Can Local Honey Reverse Pollen Allergies
Local honey for allergies does it work?What does local honey mean? it has far less to do with distance, and almost all to do with floral sourceEven if said buckwheat honey comes from far away, it will still carry those benefitsas long as it is rawThe role of pollen in allergiesthe key ingredient to allergy immunity.as long as honey is raw, there will be traces of pollen mixed in. pollen is a really powerful proteinhoneyHow can honey help pollen allergies? the honeys defenses against pollen will eventually become a command within the body to not go nuts when it detects the pollen. if someone is allergic to alfalfa pollen, it makes sense to consume alfalfa honey.so many more honeys to choose fromBut what if I want to buy raw honey?Raw just means the temperature hasnt climbed to a point where enzymes have been killed off. Local means identification of where the nectar and pollen came from.Dont get too hung up on geographical location of honeyhoney has unique properties that makes it an extremely beneficial food.
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Can Raw Local Honey Cure Allergies
- Posted on: Jun 27 2018
- AENT Associates
If youre one of the 40 to 60 million Americans with hay fever, your symptoms have probably flared up in the past few months.1 Fortunately, there are many treatment options to alleviate uncomfortable allergy symptoms like sneezing, scratchy throat and itchy eyes.
Most seasonal allergies are mild enough that the symptoms can be managed with over-the-counter antihistamines. The only problem is, many Americans dont want to spend $20 to $40 per pack of allergy pills. More and more people have been turning to a natural alternative that doubles as a tasty snack raw local honey.
When Allergies Flare It’s Tempting To Seek Relief From Easy Inexpensive Treatments Can Honey Help With Allergies Here’s What The Research Says
Its that time of year: Your box of tissues never leaves your side and your eyes may as well be made of sand. Thats rightits allergy season and youre probably desperate for any fix. Of course, you can rely on over-the-counter medications or try to stay inside, but have you heard that honey might help with seasonal allergies? After all, the ingredient can already do so much in the kitchen.
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To Ease Your Seasonal Allergy Symptoms Feast On Foods Like Honey And Turmeric Which Have Natural Antihistamine And Anti
Its hard to be enthusiastic about spring when you suffer from the itchy eyes, sneezing, congestion, and runny nose associated with allergies, also known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis. And the cureover-the-counter antihistamines that leave you foggy and dried outisnt much better. But these potent immune-boosting foods can help.
Potential Risks Of Local Honey As An Allergy Treatment
Using local honey as an allergy remedy comes with risks. Honey may trigger anaphylaxis in people with severe allergies. Also, consuming local honey is not safe for infants, as raw honey can contain spores of the bacterium that causes botulism.
Even processed store-bought honey can contain harmful spores, so the CDC recommends that children under the age of twelve months should not be given honey at all .
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How Honey Could Cure Your Allergies
There have been no peer-reviewed scientific studies that have conclusively proven whether honey actually reduces allergies. Almost all evidence regarding the immunizing effects of eating honey is anecdotal. But these reports have proven persuasive enough for some people to try to fight their seasonal allergies by eating honey every day.
Without scientific inquiry, we’re left with only theories about how honey could reduce allergies. The prevailing theory is that it works like a vaccination. Vaccines introduce dummy versions of a particular virus or germ into the body and effectively trick it into believing it’s been invaded, triggering an immune system response . This produces antibodies designated to fight off the foreign invaders. When the body is actually exposed to the harmful germ or virus, the antibodies are ready for them.
As innocuous as honey seems, it can actually pose health risks in some cases. Honey proponents warn that there is a potential for an allergic reaction to it. And since honey can contain bacteria that can cause infant botulism, health officials warn that children under 12 months of age whose immune systems haven’t fully developed shouldn’t eat honey at all .
The study was never published, but the anecdotal evidence in favor of honey as an allergy reliever continues: Several of the study participants asked if they could keep the remaining honey after the experiment was concluded.
Before Taking This Medicine
Ask a doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider if it is safe for you to use this product if you have ever had:
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diabetes
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a stomach disorder called gastroesophageal reflux disease
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endometriosis or uterine fibroids or
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cancer of the breast, uterus, ovary .
Turmeric when taken in medicinal amounts is considered likely unsafe to use during pregnancy. Taking turmeric during pregnancy could cause uterine bleeding or contractions.
Turmeric is likely to be safe during pregnancy when used in the small amounts that are found in spices or foods.
Ask a doctor before using this product if you are breast-feeding.
Turmeric taken by mouth may lower testosterone levels and sperm motility in men. This could affect fertility .
Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without medical advice.
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What You Should Know Before You Use Honey As A Treatment
Doctors and researchers havent recommended a certain amount of honey a person should eat each day to relieve their seasonal allergy symptoms. Plus, there are no guarantees how much pollen may be in a serving of local honey.
Note that you should not give honey to children under the age of 1. This is because raw, unprocessed honey has a risk for botulism in infants. Also, some people who have a severe allergy to pollen can experience a serious allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis after eating honey. This can cause extreme difficulty breathing. Others may experience allergic reactions such as itching or swelling of the mouth, throat, or skin.
How To Use Manuka Honey For Allergy Support
For best results, consume Manuka honey regularly throughout allergy season. I personally take a small spoonful every morning as part of my wellness routine as it is useful for many things besides allergies.
You may also like to stir it into a Nettle infusion and drink as a cold herbal tea.
Include in energy balls for natural sweetness and wellness support.
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The Best Foods To Help You Fight Allergies
Allergies affect more than 50 million Americans, and it turns out allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, symptoms are our bodies way of being overprotective.
The immune system mistakes irritants such as airborne pollen, dust, mold or pet dander as viruses, bacteria or parasites that are trying to enter the body. Mucosal membranes of the nose, eyes, ears, sinuses and lungs try to defend our bodies, resulting in the classic allergy symptoms of itchy and watery eyes, head and nose congestion, runny nose, sneezing and difficulty breathing for those with asthma.
For most people, these symptoms can be reduced with over-the-counter medication. Others may have to visit a primary care provider or allergy specialist for more advanced treatment.
One way to naturally support your immune system during allergy season is to incorporate healthy foods into your diet.
Why Locally Produced Honey
Locally produced honey, which supposedly contains local plant pollens to which a person would be allergic, is thought to be the preferred type of honey for allergies. It makes sense that consuming honey that contains pollen to which a person is allergic would improve allergies, much like how sublingual immunotherapy works. And, the fact that many people have experienced anaphylaxis from eating honey means that there may be enough pollen to stimulate the immune system.
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How Did Aprilaire And The American Lung Association Come To Work Together In The First Place What Does That Relationship Look Like Presently
Aprilaire and the American Lung Association forged a new relationship in 2018. We quickly realized how much we had in common. Our partnership was developed as we saw an opportunity to educate and help more consumers improve the air in their homes to create a healthier environment.
Since 2020, Aprilaire has been a Proud Partner of the Lung Association with its 4 residential air filters. Additionally, Aprilaire joined the Lung Association as our FY20 National Fight For Air Climb Partner For Healthy Air. The company has also supported the Lung Associations Stand Up For Clean Air campaign. As part of this initiative, we are driving conversations around air quality, climate, and health. The Lung Association invited people to share their #MyCleanAirStoryknowing that when people realize climate and air quality are impacting the health of their neighbors, friends, and loved onesthey are more willing to act. Aprilaire provided prizes for the #MyCleanAirStory contest, including one grand prize of a whole-home Indoor Air Quality upgrade and nine Aprilaire Room Air Purifiers. This year, the company stepped up once again to sponsor the Wisconsin Fight For Air Climb in Milwaukee. Also in 2021, the Lung Association welcomed Dale Philippi, President and CEO of Research Products Corporation, Aprilaires parent company, to the Lung Associations Wisconsin Leadership Board of Directors.
Why Use Manuka Honey For Allergy Support
First of all, its important to note that Manuka honey does not cure allergies. So, why would you want to use it?
The main reason: non-peroxide activity.
As we discussed in our post, What is Manuka Honey?, non-peroxide activity is what makes Manuka honey special. Manuka honey has additional non-peroxide activity not found in local honey. This comes from an organic compound called methylglyoxal and two others, dihydroxyacetone and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural . This compound is the active component of Manuka honey and is not deactivated by the human body.
No other honey has such high levels of methylglyoxal. This makes Manuka honey the most active and beneficial honey available today.
The fact that this component is not deactivated by the human body means it is available for use, which further means we get to reap the benefits!
Because of this non-peroxide activity, Manuka can better help reduce the symptoms of allergies, such as a sore throat, inflammation, and so on.
As Registered Dietician, Tracy Lockwood-Beckerman explained this to the editorial team at Well + Good, The active ingredient, MGL* methylglyoxal, has been shown to be effective for treatments against nasal mucuswhich is you experience when you have allergies, she says. The direct relationship isnt pegged to allergies, but manuka honeys active ingredient can be an effective treatment for nasal mucus regardless of its source, whether its a cold, flu, allergies, or respiratory infection.
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What Are The Benefits Of Breathing Healthy Air And What Are Everyday Things That People Can Do To Breathe The Fullness Of Life
Clean air is essential for healthy lungs. The American Lung Association works to ensure that the air we breathe is clean and safe from harmful pollution. In fact, every year we publish our State of the Air Report, which looks at two of the most widespread and dangerous air pollutants, ozone and fine particulate matter. Our 2021 State of the Air Report found that more than 4 in 10 Americansover 135 million peopleare living in places with unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution.
One of the most important things you can do to Breathe the Fullness of Life is to keep sources of pollution out of your home. Check out these commonsense tips on Lung.org. Additionally, ventilation helps reduce indoor air pollution, but it works best if paired with keeping known sources of air pollution out of the building. For tips on how to use ventilation to protect your lung health, check out our section on Ventilation: How Buildings Breathe.
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The Amazing Benefits Of Local Honey
By Sher Warkentin in Natural Products
Why use local honey, you wonder? Shopping local has tremendous environmental benefits, no matter what youre looking to buy. When it comes to honey, not only are you helping the planet , youre helping yourself too. I recently took my kids to visit a local honey farm to learn about the benefits of local honey and why this sweet stuff is so amazing.
Why Eating Local Honey Wont Cure Your Allergies
They stagger into Andrew Murphys office itchy, sneezing, and watery-eyed. This, in itself, is unremarkable. As an allergist in Pennsylvania, Murphy regularly treats patients suffering from seasonal allergies. But when Murphy starts to explain to these patients the standard options for treatmentoral antihistamines, nasal steroids, or immunotherapythey want none of it. Instead, they want to know about an all-natural remedy theyve heard touted by friends or on the Internet: local honey.
The logic goes like this: During an allergic reaction, your bodys defenses overreact in response to an allergen, causing you to swell and tear up and sneeze. For many, that allergen is pollen. And bees, as we all know, use pollen to make honey. By exposing yourself to a low dose of the very thing youre allergic to, youre helping your body develop tolerance and stop freaking out every time youre exposed to it. Sweet deal, right?
Except for one thing: That scenario is totally, utterly wrong.
But theres a better reason the home-remedies are wrong. Even if honey were chock-full of pollen, it would offer no protection against allergies. The pollen in honey is the wrong kind of pollen.
We know, we know. Your allergies come out in March or April when daffodils shoot up and the cherry blossoms are in bloom.
Immunotherapy isnt necessarily a bad ideait does seem to be possible to desensitize your body to the kind of pollen youre actually allergic to.
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Can Local Honey Help Allergies & Hay Fever
Allergy and hay fever sufferers know that symptoms can greatly impact ones qualify of life. As such, many people search high and low for cures or remedies to alleviate symptoms. Sometimes, they stumble on questionable advice or old wives tales in their quest to do anything that helps take away the irritation, sneezing, and stuffy noses. Unfortunately, many of these cures are simply myths that dont do anything to address the underlying problem or help much with symptoms.
According to numerous studies and scientific evidence, eating honey produced by local bees can also be debunked as a myth when it comes to being a remedy or preventative measure for allergies and hay fever. The all-natural approach touted as a cure-all doesnt actually work at all.
The idea behind this myth is simple in theory, but doesnt really work in practice. Heres why:
In a 2002 study conducted by the University of Connecticut, over 30 people who suffered from hay fever were divided into separate groups and either given local and unpasteurized honey, non-local honey purchased in a store, and corn syrup with artificial honey flavor added. After evaluating patient symptoms and seeing no improvement in any group, researchers concluded there was no evidence to support that honey can help with hay fever or allergies. Other studies have found similar results and the medical community generally considers the honey cure to be a myth.
