by Bridget Wilson

Like most people in Central Texas, battling seasonal allergies is as traditional as tailgating in the parking lot of the first football game of the season. Weather changes creates a lot of challenges for those of us who deal with seasonal allergies. When I first arrived to Austin in the late Fall of 2006, I was immediately introduced to what the locals call cedar fever. During the peak of a major sneezing attack, I was left standing at the pharmacy counter reading the warning labels and weighing my options. Should I choose to just deal with the sneezing and watery eyes in hopes the symptoms would eventually wear off or gamble on the possible side effects of drowsiness and dry mouth?

You may have heard that using local raw honey containing the same pollens of the area in which you live may aid in seasonal allergies. The idea that honey can prevent allergies is based on a concept called immunotherapy. The theory is if you can get a tiny amount of what you are allergic to, over time and with bigger doses, your body builds up immunity to the allergen. This is very similar to how allergy shots work. However, there is an issue with that theory. First, there is no conclusive scientific research to base this theory as a fact. Secondly, not all honey that is produced contains pollen, let alone the pollen that causes seasonal allergies.

According to allergist, Neeta Ogden, MD, it is a misconception that insect-borne pollen from flowers has something to do with allergies. Actually, it is pollen from weeds, trees and grasses that is the leading cause of seasonal allergies. Since bees make the honey from pollen from brightly colored flowers, pollen from these flowers rarely cause allergies. “So even if local honey contains pollen, it’s unlikely that it’s behind your allergy symptoms,” Ogden says.

As doctors continue to research, there is still something you could do. Starting early to build your immune system before the peak of the upcoming allergy/flu season is the key to possibly reducing the common symptoms.

• Get enough sleep.
• Get daily regular, moderate exercise
• Eat more fruits and vegetables, which are rich in nutrients like vitamins C and E, plus beta-carotene and zinc.
• De-stress: slow down, connect with others and laugh a little

Although scientific research is inconclusive to confirm if honey is a remedy for allergies, honey can still play a role in providing antioxidants that have a soothing effect on your scratchy throat and annoying cough. Even though honey may not make the allergies go away, adding a teaspoon to your favorite hot tea will definitely make battling the symptoms a little bit sweeter.

To learn more about ways to build your immune system, health benefits of honey and research studies, check out the links within this article as well as the links below:

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/does-honey-help-prevent-allergies#1  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/24188941/