The latest buzz about honey is that it can actually help eliminate or reduce seasonal allergies, but there's one caveat: it's got to be very, very LOCAL honey!Here's the idea: Since bees make honey from pollen, which they collect from flowers in their area, by eating local honey produced right in your own neighborhood, you will be ingesting the same pollens that trouble you come spring. According to a recent article at www.citynews.ca, it's also important that the honey be raw and unfiltered, so as to tetain these pollens and not have them filtered out. This gradual exposure to the local pollens is thought to build the immune response to the pollens, much as immunological injections from an allergist gradually work to reduce the "hay-fever" symptoms of seasonal allergies to various pollens. Veterinarian Michael W. Fox, in his column in the Washington Post, even recommends honey for relieving pets' seasonal allergies! The key to the concept, though, is to have the honey be LOCAL, since it is local pollens that will be triggering your allergic response. It does no good to eat honey produced in California if you're living in Vermont! We've always had the advantage of lots of local honey options here in Bosque Farms, NM, where we live. Our next-door-neighbors keep hives, and occasionally gift us with some of their fresh honey. That's about as local as it gets, since I'm not up to trying my hand at beekeeping myself! And then, there are two local honey farms right here in Bosque Farms, from which we've often bought honey. It's not next door, but it's within a mile or so, and I don't think we grow any plants around our house that don't also grow a mile down the road! And, if I'm out of honey, and decide to just pick some up while at the supermarket, our local grocery carries honey produced just down the road in Los Lunas, NM. Not quite as nearby, but I'll bet that five-mile strectch stille qualifies as pretty "local" as far as the pollen strains are concerned! It's a thoroughly natural and green idea, and helps boost "buying local." Honey's also got a number of other pluses to it:
It seems it can't hurt, and may help, so get out there and find yourself some local honey. Try a couple of spoonfuls daily through the winter, and see if your spring allergies aren't improved! |
Honey, Honey- DOODAHDOOTAHDOOTOOI, Sugar, Sugar- DOODAHDOOTAHDOOTOOI, Honey, Honey!!! I use honey for glazing salmon and for cooking carrots. Thanks for reminding me how much I love to cook-when I find the time!
Thanks, Jane.
It's always a plus to find good healthy reasons for eating something that tastes so great anyway!
I had heard this before...it makes sense. I used to get allergy shot for my pollen allergies. The shots are nothing more than progressively larger injection of the pollens. So it makes sense the local honey would perform the same function.
It's fun too- trying various forms of honey is fun and yummy too. I'm a big fan of raw buckweat and orange blossom honey. Don't buy the crap in the teddy bear bottle- go to your local farmer's market and buy the raw unpasteurized stuff. That's the good stuff...
It really does work! My husband has done this before, but the silly guy doesn't like honey and stopped doing it.
Brenda and Mike, it's seemed to work for us too. My husband and I, and our rdaughters, have always eaten lots of honey grown locally, and none of us has ever suffered frorom seasonal allergies, unlike many of my siblings, nieces, nephews, etc.
Just anecdotal, and not scientific proof, I realize. But if it can't hurt, and seems to help, why not give it a whirl?
AUGUST ECO-All-Stars Challenge, I am delighted to find your post here...and I do the HONEY-thing and have for years =)
I never heard of this. Since I moved here I have been suffering from mayor allergies. I hope this helps. Thanks for the tip!
Edgar
I really would like to get a hold of some local honey...My allergies are getting very very bad and NOTHING else is working! I am new to my area and am having a hard time finding some. Does any one know who to go about finding it? Is there a good site where I could do a search in my area...or something?
Please help!
~Desperate
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