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How Does Local Honey Help With Seasonal Allergies

What Does The Science Say About Honey And Allergies

Does Local Honey Help with Seasonal Allergies?

The research on treating allergies with honey is limited. Only two studies have been done, and they contradict each other.

A 2002 study in Connecticut divided allergy sufferers into three groups. The first had local raw honey. The second had commercially produced honey. The third group got a placebo . The allergy symptoms didnt vary significantly among the three groups.

A 2013 study in Malaysia had one group of people with seasonal allergies consume raw honey while a control group consumed a placebo . Both groups also were given an antihistamine. There was no difference in symptoms after 4 weeks, but the researchers found an improvement in allergy symptoms in the honey group after 8 weeks. That improvement lasted a month after the group stopped using honey.

So, honey might help, but experts have reasons to doubt honey as a cure-all for seasonal allergies.

Can Honey Help Relieve Seasonal Allergies

The idea behind eating local honey as a remedy for seasonal allergies is that it might work similarly to an allergy shot. When bees produce honey, it contains small amounts of pollen from nearby flowers. Consuming that honeyand therefore the pollenmay combat pollen allergies in a certain location. Ingesting flower pollen from a certain region, the thinking goes, may make you less sensitive to it.

Its an interesting idea, but unfortunately, it isnt proven. Research is scant and inconclusive. One small study in Malaysia found that honey consumption was beneficial to allergic rhinitis. But an earlier, small study at the University of Connecticut found no benefit in allergy sufferers who consumed local honey, commercially processed honey, or placebo .

Theres a fundamental weakness in eating honey as an allergy remedy: The amount of pollen that bees deposit into honey can vary widely. So theres no standard for how much pollen youre consuming. It might not even be the kind that causes your allergy symptoms. Relying on honey to assuage your hay fever is a shot in the dark.

To put it simply: There is no scientific proof that eating local honey will improve seasonal allergies, says the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology .

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 May Help Treat Allergies

Proponents of giving allergic dogs raw local honey believe that the combination of pollen and honey is what helps the dog achieve a level ofallergy relief. It works like this: Bees visit flowers to collect nectar that they use to make honey. In addition to collecting the nectar, they also collect small amounts of pollens that become part of the honey. If you offer your dog a small amount of local raw honey each week, you will be giving him minute amounts of local pollens to which his system can develop an immunity over time. Once he’s developed the immunity, he should no longer show clinical signs of his allergy.

Although most dogs do not achieve a complete cure by consuming raw honey alone, a weekly dose of honey should help reduce the clinical signs and help your pet feel a little better during allergy season.

Guideline On How To Use Honey For Dogs With Allergies

Does Eating Local Honey Help Treat Allergies?

How Much Honey Should You Give to Your Dog?

In general, the total amount of honey that you feed to your canine friend is dependent on the size of your dog. Usually, it is recommended that smaller dogs get one teaspoon weekly, whereas the larger dog breeds should consume a tablespoon every week.

Often, the effects of taking the local honey are cumulative as such plan to serve your dog for between three to four weeks before the beginning of the allergy season in your region.

You can usually use this guideline and go ahead to adjust as per the size of your furry friend. It is vital that you carry this out daily or risk the allergy symptoms from reappearing.

However, it is essential to understand that feeding your dog more than the recommended one tablespoon of the local honey per day can subsequently result in a negative impact on their health.

Why? This is because dogs are carnivorous and boast a digestive system and teeth purposed to consume meat and not sweets. In essence, too much honey may also lead to tooth decay, not to mention the added calories that can result in obesity.

Numerous pet owners often find reprieve from their cyclic allergy symptoms through taking regular local honey doses themselves. In the end, you may begin with, one teaspoon per week and accordingly adjust as per how severe the allergy symptoms are and your overall weight.

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Activities Create Biggest Risks

She and Allen argue that the biggest risks in airline travel stem from activities like the pre-flight boarding process or when a flight is delayed and people are stuck on the plane. Marr, who has been wearing an air quality monitor when she travels, said CO2 levels are elevated during these aforementioned activities and are indicative of a lack of fresh air ventilation.

The airport also presents other problems for travelers.

Allen suggests airports create more touchless experiences, upgrade their HVAC system, and require masks. Some updates have already been implemented in some airports or will be implemented in the future.

Even though there are risks to flying, Marr and Allen say you are clear for takeoff this summer.

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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.

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Can You Use Local Honey For Allergies

As winter slowly fades away, spring is on its way. If you are one of the approximately 36 million people within the United States with seasonal allergies, then you may be dreading the upcoming spring. It is easier to take care of your allergies today thanks to over-the-counter and prescription medications that can counter histamines, but you will always have to worry about side effects. Many people swear that honey relieves their seasonal allergies just as well as medications, but can local honey allergies cures really work? Keep reading to find out.

What Are The Benefits Of Breathing Healthy Air And What Are Everyday Things That People Can Do To Breathe The Fullness Of Life

Local Honey Might Be Sweet Solution To Seasonal Allergies

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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So Does Eating Local Honey Work As A Treatment For Your Allergies

“Unfortunately, does not help with allergies because the pollens that bees collect are usually from flowers, which are not as potent and don’t provoke your immune system like other pollens which cause ‘classic’ seasonal allergy symptoms,” says Dr. Wright.

Not only are flower pollens less potent than other pollens, but the amount of pollen present in local honey also isn’t enough to play a role in allergen desensitization. “Eating honey is ineffective because it only contains small amounts of pollen,” adds Dr. Wright.

What’s worse is that eating local honey isn’t just ineffective as an allergy remedy, but it could actually worsen your symptoms.

“In some cases, eating local raw honey may contribute to allergic symptoms because if you are highly sensitized, ingesting pollens in small amounts can cause local symptoms like an itchy mouth,” says Dr. Wright. “In rare cases, you can potentially have a more severe reaction like anaphylaxis because raw honey may contain bee parts, and if you have a bee allergy, you could have a reaction.”

Local honey isn’t the only food that can worsen seasonal allergy symptoms. Due to a condition called oral allergy syndrome , also known as pollen fruit syndrome , certain foods can cause an allergic reaction or worsen existing symptoms in those with pollen allergies. We put together a list of oral allergy syndrome foods to help you identify what foods besides honey might be worsening your allergy symptoms.

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.

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How Often Should You Take Local Honey For Allergies

To take honey for allergies, start by taking 1 teaspoon of local, unpasteurized honey once a day. You may slowly increase the amount of honey every other day. Do this until you eat 1 tablespoon of honey per 50 lbs of your weight. You can divide the dose throughout the day as desired through the allergy season.

Does Eating Local Honey Help Control Pollen Symptoms

Local honey, Spring time and Allergies on Pinterest

Q:I suffer with tree pollen allergies in the spring and am often told by people to eat local honey to control my symptoms. Does that actually work?

Dr. Bassett: The thought process goes like this: since honey may contain small amounts of pollen from various flowers, consuming locally produced honey will, over time, therefore provide protection from unpleasant symptoms for those who suffer from seasonal allergies.

The problem is that while a natural approach to managing seasonal symptoms always sounds tempting, it may not provide reliable relief, particularly for those with significant and truly bothersome allergy symptoms.

One study performed at the University of Connecticut, and published in the Annals of Allergy Asthma & Immunology did not find any benefit by taking a daily dose, of either commercial or local honey, for seasonal nasal and eye symptoms.

In fact, participants consuming honey for symptoms fared no better than those taking a placebo. Remember also, that pediatricians advise against feeding honey of any variety to very young children, especially those under 1 years of age.

Dr. Clifford Bassett, allergist and asthma specialist, is the Medical Director of Allergy & Asthma Care of New York . He is on the faculty of NYU School of Medicine and Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City and is also the author of The New Food Allergy Solution: Supercharge Resistance, Slash Medication, Stop Suffering.

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Can Local Honey Relieve Your Allergies

There hasn’t been any scientific proof connecting local honey allergies treatment. One study didn’t find a difference between those who had a honey-flavored placebo, commercially processed honey, or local honey. If you are highly sensitive, eating unprocessed honey may actually lead to an allergic reaction. Many people, however, swear by this remedy so you can always give it a try but watch out for potential symptoms. Honey also works to treat symptoms of allergies, such as coughs and irritation.

The theory behind the saying that local honey can relieve allergy symptoms is known as immunotherapy. Essentially, you have a small quantity of the item you have an allergy to, such as pollen, and this reduces your sensitivity. Eventually, you will build up a resistance.

It is true that local and unprocessed honey contains small quantities of pollen from the nearby environment. Most pollen in the honey comes from flowers where bees live and this flowering plant pollen is less likely to cause symptoms of allergies. There will also be lesser amounts of airborne, allergenic pollen from weeds, grasses, and trees. This means that local honey will have very small amounts of allergenic pollen. In fact, this type of pollen is thought of as a contaminant, just as other environmental particles, bacteria, mold spores, and bee parts are.

How Much Honey To Give

The amount of honey you’ll give your dog depends on his size. Smallerdogs should receive a teaspoon weekly, while larger dogs can consume a tablespoon each week. The effects are cumulative, so plan to treat your dog for three or four weeks before allergy season begins in your area.

Many dog owners also find relief from their seasonal allergy symptomsby taking regular doses of raw honey themselves. You may want to start with a teaspoon a week and adjust according to your weight and the severity of your allergy symptoms.

Do not give raw honey to children under 1 year of age, because the risk of the child contracting botulism is too great.

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Is Local Honey A Cure For Hayfever

Asked by: Richard ONeill, Glasgow

No. The myth is that local pollen in honey can desensitise the allergic reaction, but theres no evidence to support it. A 2002 study at the University of Connecticut compared locally-produced, unfiltered honey, with nationally-produced, filtered honey and honey-flavoured corn syrup.

In double-blind trials, there was no difference between the three in reducing hay fever symptoms. The pollen in honey is nearly all the heavy, flower pollen that doesnt cause hay fever. The pollen that sets your nose running is much lighter and comes from grasses and trees that bees dont visit.

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Luis Villazon

Q& A expert

Luis trained as a zoologist, but now works as a science and technology educator. In his spare time he builds 3D-printed robots, in the hope that he will be spared when the revolution inevitably comes.

Could Regularly Eating Local Honey Help Seasonal Allergies

ð?¯ 𤧠Why Raw Local Honey Helps Seasonal Allergy Relief

Perhaps I was onto something. Could honey help seasonal allergies? I decided to ask my pediatrician. For the record, our pediatric practice is quite accustomed to my holistic inquiries. They always kindly answer my questions. The doctor confirmed honey can be a very effective remedy for coughs. However, it turns out there is no scientific evidence to suggest that local honey will improve seasonal allergies.

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To Get Strait To The Point Here Are The Products That We Recommend To Our Customers:

  • To our customers who live in the greater Phoenix area or in the west valley, we recommend our Bee Pollen and our Desert Wild Flower from Buckeye and Tonopah AZ.
  • If you live in the east valley try our Bee Pollen, Desert Blossom Honey from Queen Creek, or the Desert Flower honey harvested from around South Mountain.
  • If you dont live in Arizona, we recommend you try to find a local raw honey or bee pollen that was harvested near where you live.
  • However, you should know that local raw honey and pollen are not a silver bullet for avoiding seasonal allergies. Everyone is different, and seasonal allergies can occur for a variety of reasons. As an example, some of your allergies may be due to a type of grass, dust, or plant that doesnt blossom.

    Honeybees favor flowering plants for their nectar. Therefore, the pollen that they collect and the raw honey that they make will best help you if you are allergic to the pollen from flowering plants.

    The basic idea behind eating local raw honey and pollen for allergies is: eating the honey or pollen helps to build your immune system to the pollen that is in the air. Thus, many of our customers swear by taking our locally harvested honey or pollen for their seasonal allergies.

    If youre taking honey for your allergies, we recommend eating a tablespoon or more of a raw and locally harvested wildflower honey every day.

    Honey For Dogs With Allergies

    Like people, dogs suffer from environmental allergies. Different seasons such as spring, fall and summer trigger reactions in dogs such as licking feet and thighs, rubbing the face and scratching. However, you need to be sure that what your dog is experiencing is not food allergies. There are important guidelines that you need to follow when using honey for allergies.

    • The type of honey to use

    You are advised to buy local unfiltered and raw honey. A better type of honey is local raw wild flower honey which is from many different flowers and plants. You can easily get it from bee farms.

    • Directions

    How you administer honey to your dog is very critical. You will get best results if you give 1 tablespoon of raw wildflower local honey two times in a day to large dogs. Be consistent to avoid reappearance of the symptoms.

    Crouse says that she has to be consistent with feeding the dog with honey otherwise the allergy symptoms will always come back. This dog trainer has also pointed that it is common for allergies to come back even for other dogs she samples. Unless their owners put them on honey, she says that the dogs keep on reacting to seasonal allergens.

    Moreover, Crouse advises that you can not only give dogs honey as food but you can also wash your dog with honey. Canine Allergies and Your Dogs Health describes how herbal honey can be used to cure a dogs health. The following procedure is advocated for

  • Place packed and dried herbs into a glass jar
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