Can honey be a cure for allergies???
The world is going natural! And what better way to live by this than by treating allergies with honey. Right? Well, not so fast. The theory behind using honey as a treatment for allergies is that repeatedly exposing a person to small amounts of an allergen desensitizes them to it- similar to an allergy shot. And while this is great in theory- unfortunately, it is not backed by science. Honey has reportedly been linked to lessened symptoms of people with seasonal allergies, but conclusions haven’t been consistent in clinical studies, with some studies showing 0% effectiveness.
Honey’s healing powers
Honey has some known healing powers. Doctors will often direct patients to drink hot drinks with honey for treating a cough or tell them to consume it alone. One study showed that honey was as effective for treating the common cough as over-the-counter medication. Warning: Never give honey to a child under the age of 1
Allergy Injections VS Honey for Seasonal Allergies:
Allergy shots have been used to treat all types of allergies, such as environmental and food allergies, for many years. It works by desensitizing them to their allergy by slowly exposing a person to their allergen in fixed amounts, at regular intervals. The doses start in tiny quantities and are progressively increase until the desired level is achieved without a reaction.
The defining difference between allergy shots and honey is that the allergen level in the injection, i.e., pollen, is known and progressively increased until the desired level for optimum results. Although there are small amounts of pollen in honey, the amounts are unknown and hard to be used in the way they would be needed to create desensitization. Additionally, the pollen in honey is mostly from the flowers that the bee’s habitat, and the allergenic pollen from trees are found in lesser amounts. The result? The amount of allergenic pollen found in honey is usually very small, too small to be effective as a treatment for allergies.
In rare cases consuming honey might actually be a risk. For some highly allergenic people, consuming unprocessed honey might result in an allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Reactions such as these could be related to either pollen or bee contaminants. So while you are welcome to consume honey to soothe a sore throat in the winter, if you have an allergy, please speak to a healthcare professional before making treatment decisions.
If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Food Allergy Concierge advises you to contact your doctor or allergist regarding diagnosis and treatment for allergies.
To read: Can you be allergic to honey? Click here
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