Honey and Allergies: Don’t Fall for the Marketing!

We’ve all seen the posts on social media, the signs at our local farmers market, and even may have heard this advice from medical professionals. Honey is often touted as a treatment for seasonal allergies (especially if it’s local or organic). While honey does taste delicious, unfortunately it is not a proven treatment for allergies. The explanation is quite simple.

Pollen Versus Pollen

Honeybees collect pollen from plants and flowers then take it back to their hive to produce honey. The pollen that they collect is not the same pollen that causes allergy symptoms. It’s too large to get blown around in the air like the smaller, lighter pollen from trees, grasses, weeds, and ragweed. As such, any pollen that honeybees collect is not the same pollen that causes misery for millions of people every spring, summer and autumn.

If honey actually contained the same pollen that causes allergy symptoms, people wouldn’t get relief from eating it; they would be miserable! Eating the pollen that causes itchy, watery eyes, runny nose, congestion and sneezing would cause itching inside the mouth and throat almost immediately. Ask anyone with oral allergy syndrome how they feel when they eat fresh fruits and vegetables that cross react with their pollen allergies and they will all use one word: ITCHY.

Honey Doesn't Reduce Allergies, But Allergists Can!

This is where the marketing behind honey treating allergies becomes pseudoscientific and misguided. The claims state that eating small doses of pollen delivered through honey will “desensitize” people and reduce their allergies over time. Allergists have been desensitizing people from their allergies for over one hundred years by treating with allergy shots and more recently sublingual immunotherapy drops or tablets. This scientifically proven and rigorous desensitization uses specific amounts of inhalant allergens delivered consistently for years and years. Allergy shots are a long-term treatment option for those with persistent and severe allergic rhinitis but do not provide relief for at least 6-12 months after starting treatment.

Let’s argue that honey may still contain small amounts of the tree, grass, or weed pollen that causes allergy symptoms but perhaps in weaker amounts. Even then, the amount of pollen will be inconsistent with each batch of honey and unreliable over time. Not to mention that a person would have to eat significant amounts of that honey every day for years and years to achieve any benefit. As such, this premise is not plausible.

There is some evidence that eating honey may help provide relief for sore throats and nighttime cough caused by postnasal drip. This makes sense as it provides a nice coating for the back of the throat and is similar to the soothing properties of a throat lozenge for similar circumstances.

Unfortunately, despite all the hype, honey does not contain any magical properties to treat allergies. There is little downside to trying some if you like the taste and want to see if it helps soothe a sore throat. But please don’t forgo the numerous widely available proven therapies that actually can help treat you or your child’s allergies and choose honey instead. Even if it is local or organic.

Word of caution: We never want to give infants less than 12 months old honey because of the risk for causing botulism. Please discuss any questions surrounding this or other personal matters with your child’s pediatrician.