Does Local Honey Help with Allergies?

If you’re hoping to be spared the sniffling and sneezing during allergy season, you may consider turning to your pantry for help. But is there any evidence behind the claim that eating local honey can prevent or treat allergies?

Allergist Katherine Weller, MD, explains why local honey doesn’t live up to the hype and what you can do instead to keep seasonal allergies at bay.

Why people think honey can help with allergies

Many people think local honey helps allergies by desensitizing your immune system. That may be wrong, but it isn’t far-fetched.

“We often use immunotherapy — controlled exposure to the substances that trigger your allergies — to help people outgrow them,” Dr. Weller explains.

Pollen immunotherapy usually takes the form of:

• A tablet that dissolves under your tongue
• Liquid drops you place under your tongue
• An injection at your provider’s office

So, why not just eat a teaspoon of honey from a local apiary every day? Won’t that have the same desensitizing effect?

Nope.

To start, bees make honey from plant nectar, not from pollen. Unless pollen is added to honey during the manufacturing process, it’s usually only present in trace amounts, if any at all.

“Even if it’s local and unpasteurized, honey is inconsistent,” she adds. “Even when it does contain pollen, the levels are usually too low to make a difference.”

Plus, she says that bees also only pollinate certain plants — and many common seasonal allergens, like weed and grass pollens, don’t make the cut.

What does the science say?

OK, so honey isn’t a great option for dealing with pollen allergies. But can it help with allergies in some other way?

So far, it’s not looking good. There isn’t much research on local honey and allergies. And Dr. Weller says that the few studies that do exist had small sample sizes and produced mixed results.

“Some studies showed no improvement in allergic rhinitis symptoms with honey, and some showed only minimal changes,” she reports. “A 2010 study showed a significant benefit, but it used a pollen-enhanced honey that isn’t available in stores.”

At least for now, the only way to desensitize your immune response to pollen is through immunotherapy guided by an allergist.

Safety concerns

While it’s unlikely to ease your allergies, honey is generally safe to eat. But there are a few key exceptions:

• Blood sugar concerns: Honey is a natural sugar. If you have diabetes or another metabolic condition that affects your blood sugar, talk to your provider before you start a spoonful-a-day regimen.
• Botulism: Never give honey to a baby under 1 year old, even if it’s been heated. The sweet treat can contain the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which causes a life-threatening illness called infant botulism.
• Contamination: It’s great to support local agriculture. But check with the apiary to ensure their honey is third-party tested for pesticides and heavy metals.
• Honey allergies: This one may sound obvious, but it’s worth including. “I certainly see people who have a honey allergy,” Dr. Weller says. “If you’re allergic to honey, don’t eat it.”

There’s one other thing to keep in mind.

“Local honey isn’t harmful for most people, but if you rely on it alone for allergy relief, you aren’t going to get the relief you need,” Dr. Weller states. “If you want to feel better fast, it’s best to try an allergy treatment that’s more likely to work.”

What to do if allergies are bothering you

If a honey habit won’t send seasonal allergies packing, what will?

Dr. Weller says the best approach depends on your goals. If you’re looking for relief in the moment and aren’t already being treated for allergic rhinitis, try:

• OTC antihistamines like loratadine (Claritin®), cetirizine (Zyrtec®), levocetirizine (Xyzal®)or fexofenadine (Allegra®)
• OTC nasal steroids like fluticasone (Flonase®) or triamcinolone (Nasacort®)

If you take prescription medications for allergies, they’ll also provide relief in the moment. “If you want a fix that’s going to improve your symptoms long term and reduce your medication needs, talk to an allergist about immunotherapy,” Dr. Weller advises.

As for all-natural treatments that aren’t local honey, she says you can skip those, too.

“I know some people try homeopathic, nonmedical options, like essential oils, herbs and supplements,” she relays. “They end up coming to see me because those approaches don’t work.”

Where honey can help

There are several evidence-based ways to manage seasonal allergies. Eating local honey isn’t one of them — but it can still be helpful when you’re under the weather. Consider using it to coat your sore throat or calm your cough, and enjoy it in that soothing mug of warm tea.

Honey may not prevent seasonal sniffles, but it can offer comfort when you need it most. And that’s pretty sweet.