Will consuming local honey, which contains local pollen, help the body acclimate to severe allergies?

From the Guidelines

Consuming local honey is not a reliable treatment for severe allergies, and patients should prioritize evidence-based treatments like allergen immunotherapy, antihistamines, or nasal corticosteroids. The idea that local honey can help with seasonal allergies is based on the theory that it contains trace amounts of local pollen, which might help the immune system become desensitized to these allergens through repeated exposure 1. However, this process is much less controlled than immunotherapy, and there is limited evidence to support its effectiveness.

Key Considerations

• Allergen immunotherapy is a proven treatment for allergic rhinitis and can prevent the development of new allergen sensitizations and reduce the risk of asthma 1.
• The treatment should be considered for patients with symptoms of allergic rhinitis or rhinoconjunctivitis after natural exposure to allergens and who demonstrate specific IgE antibodies to relevant allergens 1.
• Conventional treatments like antihistamines, nasal corticosteroids, or prescribed immunotherapy are more reliable for severe allergies 1.
• People with bee allergies should avoid consuming local honey, and it should never be given to infants under 12 months due to botulism risk.

Recommendations

• For patients with severe allergies, prioritize evidence-based treatments like allergen immunotherapy, antihistamines, or nasal corticosteroids.
• If considering local honey as a complementary approach, start with a small amount, about 1-2 teaspoons daily, preferably raw, unfiltered honey produced within 50 miles of your home.
• Begin taking local honey several months before allergy season starts, but do not rely solely on it for severe allergies.

From the Research

Allergic Rhinitis Treatment

• The management of allergic rhinitis includes allergen avoidance, pharmacotherapy, and immunotherapy 2
• Current pharmacologic options include oral and intranasal antihistamines, intranasal corticosteroids, oral and intranasal decongestants, oral and intranasal anticholinergics, and leukotriene receptor antagonists 2

Local Honey and Allergies

• There is no direct evidence in the provided studies to support the claim that consuming local honey can help with severe allergies
• Allergen immunotherapy is a disease-modifying therapy that can help with allergic rhinitis, but it involves the administration of increasing amounts of specific allergens, not local honey 3

Treatment Options

• Second-generation oral antihistamines and intranasal corticosteroids are the mainstays of treatment for allergic rhinitis 2, 4
• Combination therapy of intranasal corticosteroids and oral antihistamines can be effective for moderate to severe allergic rhinitis 2, 4
• Allergen immunotherapy can be administered subcutaneously or sublingually and is a disease-modifying option for allergic rhinitis 3