# Honey and allergy relief
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-and-allergy-relief/578254
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 13, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-and-allergy-relief/578254 "2011-04-13T18:30:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-and-allergy-relief/578254/1 "2011-04-13T18:30:55Z")
This isn’t for me, since my allergies seem to have cured themselves a couple years ago, but I’m curious. Lately I’ve been seeing some friends on Facebook saying they’re suffering from (presumably pollen) allergies. The wide consensus seems to be that eating local honey works just as well, or better, than antihistamines for purposes of pollen allergies.
I can’t find any real info on this online, at least nothing reputable (tons of homeopathy advocacy sites, which doesn’t bode well for its veracity, but I’ve been surprised before). Not even quackwatch seems to have anything on it, only that old Royal Jelly/Bee Pollen bit. So, what’s the deal with local honey and allergies?
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### Author:  [@Khendrask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khendrask)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2011, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-and-allergy-relief/578254/2 "2011-04-14T11:46:10Z")
Hey, if it makes you feel better, great, but it probably won’t.
> [@](#):
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> In perhaps the best study looking at honey and allergies, the University of Connecticut studied 36 volunteers who were given local, raw honey, a nationally-distributed honey, or honey flavored corn syrup. No differences were found among participants.
Quote from: [http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience/2010/April/Sweet-Remedy-Treating-Allergies-with-Local-Honey/](http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience/2010/April/Sweet-Remedy-Treating-Allergies-with-Local-Honey/)
The theory sounds great, but actually doesn’t work out so good.
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### Author:  [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2011, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-and-allergy-relief/578254/3 "2011-04-14T13:17:55Z")
I keep bees and sometimes sell honey (mine and other’s.) It is surprising how many people bring up the local honey/allergy question, since I am selling local honey locally. I’m always careful to make no claims about the subject and I’ve never heard any other beekeepers make the claim outright but people really, really want to believe in it.
Customer one: “Is this local honey? I’ve heard blah-de-blah, is it true?”
Customer two, overhearing: “Oh yes, my sister was totally cleared of all allergies with one teaspoon of local honey.”
Me, in my sales cap: “Well this is as local as it gets, the beekeeper lives just down the street. How many do you want?”
Busybody customer: “Don’t you have a problem with all the pollution and pesticides in the city?”
Me, through clinched teeth: “Go away busybody, I’m making a sale.”
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### Author:  [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2011, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-and-allergy-relief/578254/4 "2011-04-14T13:22:14Z")
The Mayo Clinic has a report on [honey safety](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/honey/NS_patient-honey/DSECTION=safety) which links honey allergies to the pollens present in honey. Someone allergic to pollen might find themselves having a reaction rather than a treatment.
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### Author:  [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2011, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-and-allergy-relief/578254/5 "2011-04-14T14:20:06Z")
The spring issue of _Caring Today_, a professional rag, has a small item:
> [@](#):
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> Local honey is a sweet way to prevent seasonal allergies, according to Tom Ogren, author of _[Allergy-Free Gardening](http://www.amazon.com/Allergy-Free-Gardening-Revolutionary-Healthy-Landscaping/dp/1580081665/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302790791&sr=8-1)_. The pollen in it offers desensitizing benefits similar to allergy shots. Prior to pollen season, take a daily dose of a few teaspoons.
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### Author:  [@Sally\_Mander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sally_Mander)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-and-allergy-relief/578254/6 "2011-04-14T17:33:28Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#):
>
> The Mayo Clinic has a report on [honey safety](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/honey/NS_patient-honey/DSECTION=safety) which links honey allergies to the pollens present in honey. Someone allergic to pollen might find themselves having a reaction rather than a treatment.
That’s very interesting. I have pretty severe hay fever and I’m allergic to bee stings. Local honey definitely causes a reaction for me. Itchy lips and hives are the usual reaction.
I especially like this bit:
> [@](#):
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> _Patients with polyvalent pollen or food allergies such as **an allergy to celery** , as well as patients with other bee-related allergens, should avoid honey consumption._
I can’t stand celery at all. It doesn’t cause a typical allergic reaction, like anaphylaxis, but celery tastes bitter to me. It’s nasty, bitter and vaguely metallic or chemical-y tasting to me, and it’s always been that way. I’m wondering if it’s actually a weird type of allergic reaction.