Spring and fall are peak times of the year for millions of people to experience seasonal allergies. Sneezing, watery eyes and stuffy noses can make enjoying the outdoors particularly difficult for people with seasonal allergies, and many seek any and all remedies that can help them find relief.
Raw, local honey is often presented as a means to alleviating allergies. Proponents say local honey acts like a natural vaccine when consumed. But does the science back up these claims?
The logic behind using local honey to address allergies is related to the concept of immunotherapy. Immunotherapy relies on exposing a person to small amounts of an allergen over time so the body can get used to it, says the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. Since raw honey contains trace amounts of local plant pollen, the idea is that consuming small, consistent doses of this pollen can help desensitize the immune system, turning off its hyper- reactive response over time.
