When I was younger I almost never had any allergies, now during the spring and summer I get outdoor allergies, in the past I've used your standard OTC allergy medicines before, some would always make me drowsy, others my allergies would get worse for while when I stopped taking them (almost like a withdraw?). This year I've decided to stop trying different medicines that you can buy at the pharmacy and try a more natural approach to get rid of allergies. Is there anyone else who has heard of/tried using locally made honey as a relief to allergies before? The logic behind it is that honey made locally would contain traces of pollen from the surrounding plants, so you could use that honey to build up a tolerance to whatever outside is causing your allergies. Thoughts?

That's what I did. We moved to a highly pollen intensive area 15 years ago, and with a long history of hay fever I was a little nervous. I immediately incorporated local honey into my diet. Can't say what my situation would be if I hadn't, but in subsequent years my allergies have tapered down to almost nothing. You will want to wash your hands and face often to keep ambient pollen from collecting on you too much- this has a far bigger impact on relief than you'd think.

But I've found that the people I know who fight their allergies the most strongly, struggle the most (air filters everywhere, etc). But by immersing your immune system in the local pollen you have a better chance of developing immunity. Try being physically active too- faster metabolism will speed your progress toward building your natural defenses.

I keep bees and there's definitely some value in this strategy in my opinion.

The idea behind it is that when you consume local honey, you're also consuming small amounts of local pollen and thusly your body is creating a tolerance to those local pollens which results in you being less allergic to them.

You could also buy local pollen (some folks hate the taste - I love it) and just east a teaspoon a day for maximum results.

Try to get raw, unfiltered honey if you can.

Good Luck & Blessings

I wonder if you can then collect some pollen, and make almost a homeopathic remedy you could take daily. I may even give this a shot.

I imagine your reaction to pollen would most definitely be less if you've been exposed to it all year when it comes on full force in the summer?

Most health food type stores carry local pollen. Just buy from them unless you know a local beekeeper that collects pollen and will sell you some. There's no remedy-making to do... just eat some every day. Aside from the allergy benefits, pollen has more protein than meat as well as a boatload of other nutrients... definitely a super-food!

Thanks for the advice everyone. I went over to the local farmers' market and bought some local honey from there. I'm not sure if it's raw honey or not but it's not entirely clear like store bought and definitely tastes better than it too.

Pup Tentacle: Is it difficult to keep bees?

I dont know any good natural remedies but as far as OTC, Diphenhydramine and loratadine containing Antihistamines never did anything for me. I have ragweed allergies. Any thing with cetirizine in it worked very well. My allergies were worse as a child but over the last few years have got much better. I like to think its the cannabis, psychedelics, and alcohol : poker face :

thanks for the advice, folks.

i'm dying over here; psycho motherfucking wicked allergies this year. i've been taking whatever I can get my hands on and none of does a damn thing for me.

no harm in trying local honey

I don't have hayfever, but my girlfriend does and uses Echinacea and Garlic OTC capsules. I think she uses quite a lot of them, not much over the recomended dose though, if at all. She is quite cautious like that.

Whereas she would normally sneeze almost constantly, she doesn't at all when she takes them. They are like a miracle, for me as well as her. (Give me a break, someone sneezing in your ear 24/7 is enough to grate on anyones nerves).

So yea, they may not work for everyone but they work for her. Echinacea on their own worked just as well (without the garlic).

One note, you may or may not need to take them a few days in a row to get good effect.

Hope this helps