local honey & allergies

[movie_girl99]

does anyone have any information or testimony to the benefits of local honey helping people who suffer from allergies & sinus infections? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

[XNASA]

1. I'll testify.

When my family and I moved from Chicago to Houston in '95, we were told by a friend to consume local honey so that problems with allergies could be avoided. And it seemed to work. We really didn't have any problems at all with allergies when we lived in Houston.

However, when we moved back to Chicago in '01, we all had problems with allergies because we didn't practice what had worked for us when we moved to Houston.

It might just be a coincidence, but it is what happened. :shrug:

[movie_girl99]

3. i figure it has to be worth a try

anything would be better than him having to take medication forever. Thanks!

[Karenca]

2. Local honey cleared all my fruit allergies.

A farmer from my GreenMarket harvests honey
from hives on top NYC rooftops!

Strange, but all my allergies have cleared since I started
eating almost everything that's been locally grown. The honey was the first food I tried, and I noticed an improvement w/my allergies right away.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. It makes sense from a holistic point of view.

Local honey, preferably "raw" (must include the honeycomb) contains pollen collected by the bees. By ingesting a certain amount, you are desensitizing the allergen/irritant and the pollen that is indigenous to the flowers, trees, and other plants where you live will no longer bother you. I tried it myself and I stopped sneezing during "allergy season" in early spring. It beats those nasty shots.

[movie_girl99]

5. that's exactly what i thought

I had never in my 41 years heard of until today. I knew someone hear would know about it. Thanks!

[no_hypocrisy]

6. If you can't get the raw honey and honeycomb, try Stinging

Nettles (look at Vitamin Shop or another healthfood store). They have been a little less sticky and more portable. Same effect as honey for allergies.

And you're welcome!

[Bjornsdotter]

8. What do you do with the nettles

Do you make an infusion of them? I have bunches in my yard, so I'm curious.

Cheers

[no_hypocrisy]

9. You can make a tea of dried nettles. If you don't care for the

taste, then it comes in capsules. Probably better to do the tea.

[Bjornsdotter]

11. Thank-you! n/t

[havocmom]

16. So, if it's the local soils & molds, honey won't help?

Do I have to eat worms? x(

[bananas]

7. I used to use non-local bee pollen chewable tablets for allergies

I'd take about 6 tablets at once, I think they were 500 mg each?
Instant relief.

[Karenca]

10. Addiing: I used to be allergic to apples, pomegranates, peaches, pears,

nectarines, mangoes, persimmons, and many more fruits.

Cat alleriges too.

No more allergies for me!

[bananas]

12. How did you get rid of cat allergies? nt

[Karenca]

13. I changed my diet

local, organic foods
no pesticides, anti-biotics or hormones in the food...free-range everything.

It totally cleared up my food allergies,
and alleviated my cat allergies by about 80%

[trotsky]

14. Apparently the word is "works for some, not for others."

http://allergies.about.com/od/alternatives/a/aa060905.htm

Some have even found it harmful or dangerous.
http://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/healthcontent/Cautions-on-Using-Local-Honey-for-Allergy-Therapy.htm

I don't have allergies, but my wife does, and consuming local honey didn't seem to do much for her.

[Warpy]

15. Thanks, trotsky, didn't do a thing for me, either

I'd eat local bee pollen in the health food store I co managed because I rather liked the taste of it but it did nothing for my allergies, which were miserable. This was back in New England where I'd long for that first hard freeze.

I don't seem to be allergic to much in New Mexico, although the juniper pollen in the spring has even the cats sneezing. Just an occasional sneeze is all it does to me.

So there are two things at work here: first, allergies can be to regional flora; second, some are self limiting, with a person being gradually desensitized through constant exposure. Bee pollen may or may not help the latter. Honey contains too little pollen to do much good.