Can locally-produced honey reduce your allergy symptoms?
Posted Jun 13 2009 12:26am
I have often been asked if eating locally produced honey can reduce your allergy symptoms. The idea is that the bees eat pollen produced from local flowers and then that some of the pollen ends up in the honey. When you eat this honey, then you desensitize yourself to the pollen. That is, this reduces your allergic reaction, so then when you breathe in pollen, you should react less. Short answer: no. I'd like to make a few points. First, there has never been a study documenting this. Second, the pollen from brightly colored flowers is not the same kind of pollen that causes allergy. The difference is in the weight and size. Trees, grasses, and weeds produce small and light pollen, that can be distributed by the wind. Bees are not necessary to spread pollen. Third, the idea of swallowing pollen to desensitize yourself is being actively investigated around the world. To learn more about this, search for oral immunotherapy or stayed tuned for a future blog entry.
Short answer: no. I'd like to make a few points. First, there has never been a study documenting this. Second, the pollen from brightly colored flowers is not the same kind of pollen that causes allergy. The difference is in the weight and size. Trees, grasses, and weeds produce small and light pollen, that can be distributed by the wind. Bees are not necessary to spread pollen. Third, the idea of swallowing pollen to desensitize yourself is being actively investigated around the world. To learn more about this, search for oral immunotherapy or stayed tuned for a future blog entry.