How Does Honey Help With Allergies? Allergy Relief

Honey has been anecdotally reported to lessen symptoms of seasonalallergiesbased on the principle of immunotherapy, which involves repeated exposure to anallergyto make the person less sensitive to it.

The theory is similar to that ofallergy shots, in which the body builds up immunity to an allergen by repeated exposure in larger doses. Since honey contains local pollen, it is believed that eating honey can make someone less sensitive to the pollen over time.

According to the American College ofAllergy,Asthma,免疫学,没有科学的证据t eating local honey will improve seasonalallergies.

事实反驳这个理论包括the following:

• Honey collected by bees often contains pollen from brightly colored flowers, which is not the same pollen responsible for most allergies (trees, grasses, and weeds).
• Bees mix their food withdigestive enzymesto turn it into honey, which changes the pollen protein.
• Enzymes from your stomach that are released duringdigestionwould remove or break down any pollen ingested.
• Therefore, you would not be ingesting enough intact pollen for your immune system to start becoming desensitized to it.

Honey is the thick, golden, sweet liquid produced by the bees by collecting nectar and pollen from flowers. For centuries, honey has been used as both a natural sweetener and as a potential remedy due to its potential health benefits.

Honey has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, andwound-healing properties. High-quality honey is also rich in antioxidants, especially flavonoids, which may play a role in preventing cardiovascular diseases.

The World Health Organization, American Academy ofPediatrics, and American College of Chest Physicians recommend honey as a natural remedy for soothingcoughsand sore throats caused by thecommon cold.

Honey has long been used as acough suppressant. However, local, unprocessed honey may contain dust particles, bee parts,moldspores, and bacteria which can have some health risks

In rare cases, eating unprocessed honey can cause a seriousallergic reaction(anaphylaxis), leading toitching,hives, or swelling of the mouth, throat, or skin.

The Centers for Disease Control andPreventiondoes not recommend giving honey to children under 12 months because it may contain a toxin that can lead to a dangerous condition calledbotulism.

Seasonal allergies or seasonalallergic rhinitis, commonly calledhay fever, is anallergicreaction to pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds that can cause symptoms during certain times of the year, typically in the spring and fall.

Symptoms of commonrhinitisinclude:

• Sneezing
• Stuffy nose
• Runny nose
• Watery eyes
• Itchingof the nose, eyes, or roof of the mouth

Common treatment options for seasonal allergies include:

• Over-the-counteror prescription medicines:Nasalcorticosteroidsprays, decongestants,antihistamines, and eye drops
• Immunotherapy:Allergyshots or tablets for long-term treatment depending on the severity of the allergic reactions