Can You Treat Allergies with Honey?
Is Local Honey a Legitimate Treatment for Seasonal Allergy Symptoms?
Not all of these claims are as absurd as they might seem at first glance. Honey has long been recognized for its anti-microbial activities and was a favorite dressing for serious wounds for centuries. Honey is also high in antioxidants, a group of nutrients that, among other things, may help lower your risk of some types of cancer.
But perhaps the most interesting therapeutic use for honey is as a natural remedy for seasonal allergies. According to various natural health practitioners, the tiny amounts of pollen found in locally-grown raw honey work over time to desensitize the body to a particular allergen--not unlike the way traditional allergy shots work.
Using Honey To Fight Allergies
If honey is proven to work as a safe, natural allergy treatment, it's almost certain that the best form of honey to take is pure, raw honey that hasn't been heated or extensively filtered. If you'd like to try honey for your allergies, contact a local beekeeper in your area and explain to him that you're interested in raw honey for allergies.
But Does Using Honey To Treat Allergies Really Work?
Unfortunately, very few studies have looked at honey's potential role in the treatment of seasonal allergy symptoms and those that have found honey no better than placebo. One of the best studies looking at honey and allergies was a 2002 study from the University of Connecticut Health Center. In this study, 36 volunteers were given either locally grown raw honey, a nationally-distributed brand of honey or a corn syrup mixture flavored to taste like honey. Study volunteers were asked to keep an allergy diary and report any changes in symptoms. Upon the conclusion of this study no differences were found among participants in the three groups.
Can Honey Actually Cause Allergies?
Can You Treat Allergies with Honey?
While honey is a nutritious food full of antioxidants, there's no good scientific evidence that honey treats or cures seasonal allergies or lessens allergy symptoms.
Credit: BigstockPhoto
Copyright: BigstockPhoto
You may also like...
- Honey, the Alternative Healing Medicine?
- Honey as a Treatment for Wounds
- Benefits of Raw Honey
- The Healing Power of Honey
- Planting an Allergy Free Garden
- What Causes Dark Under Eye Circles and How Can You Remedy Them.
- Quercetin and Other Home Remedies for Allergies
- Honey Health Benefits: Coat Your Throat for Protection
- Five Cold and Flu Fighters to Help You Survive the Winter-time Menace
- Eczema Can Be Helped:Tips For Itchy Skin
Takeaways
- Despite dire warnings, infant botulism from honey, while serious when it occurs, is quite rare.
- Some studies suggest that honey may promote better oral health by destroying germs in the mouth.
- Over the years honey has been looked at as a cure for everything from infertility to baldness.
Comments
Type in Your Comments Below - (1000 characters left)
Most Commented On



