Honey & Allergies

Itchy watery eyes, scratchy throat, congestion and headaches--allergies can be pure misery, but an effective inexpensive treatment may be no further than your local farmers market. The common treatment for allergies, antihistamines, often cause drowsiness, and according to Tom Ogren, author of Local Honey and Allergies, Revisited, lose their effectiveness over time and have been linked to increased risks of cancer. Allergy shots are effective but costly. Unprocessed locally produced honey offers a natural alternative to greatly reduce or eliminate seasonal allergies.

Honey as Medicine

According to "The Honey Prescription," honeybees produce honey through an intricate process that includes combining their saliva with nectar from plants and storing it in the honeycomb until it matures. Honey contains numerous beneficial substances, including vitamins, minerals and complex pre-biotic sugars--sugars that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the colon. It is also high in antioxidants, substances that protect the body from aging and degenerative diseases like cancer. The most unique benefits of honey, however, may come from enzymes in the bees' saliva, says "The Honey Prescription." There are numerous medicinal applications of honey for ailments ranging from depression and surgical wounds to the common cold and stomach ulcers.

Honey and Seasonal Allergies

According to Health Benefits of Really Raw Honey, honey effectively treats allergies because it contains small amounts of molds, pollens and dusts that cause the allergies in the first place. Ogren compares honey therapy for allergies to the effect of allergy shots. By ingesting small amounts of allergens over time, the body's own immune system has the chance to build resistance and become accustomed to the allergens, resulting in no or greatly reduced allergic reaction.

Local Honey

Use local honey for the strongest anti-allergy effect, recommends Ogren. Look for local honey, produced as close to your daily environment as possible. It will contains the same allergens that you take in on a regular basis and be most effective in helping treat your allergies to those substances. Be sure that your medicinal honey is not filtered or heat-treated, since these processes remove or alter the very substances that will benefit you, cautions Health Benefits of Really Raw Honey and "The Honey Prescription."

Honey Therapy

Start taking honey at least one month before allergy season, recommends "The Honey Prescription." Take 1 tsp. or more every day. You can take it straight from the jar or in food or tea. But remember not to cook the honey as high temperatures destroy its benefits. According to Health Benefits of Really Raw Honey, raw honey may even be safe for diabetics, but be sure to check with your doctor first.

Averse Reactions

Ogren says that some people with extremely bad allergies may have allergic reactions to honey therapy. To watch for such reactions, start honey therapy with just a 1/4 tsp. per day. If you don't experience any averse reaction, gradually increase your daily dose. If you experience an allergic response, such as a scratchy throat or sneezing, reduce the amount of honey you are taking. If the reaction persists, you may need to stop honey therapy all together.