Although spring officially starts in March, in my opinion it doesn't really feel like spring until April. Of course, the return of spring usually means the return of spring allergies.
This morning during a chat with some of my mommy friends, I learned about a natural way to prevent and reduce the symptoms of seasonal allergies. We discussed how our allergies seem to be getting worse, and how we are now allergic to new things due to changes in our bodies from having children and aging in general. Not only do these allergies cause itchy eyes and respiratory issues, but also some skin conditions like hives and dermatitis.
One of my friends mentioned that she has successfully curbed allergies in her family by consuming local, raw honey. The idea behind this is that local bees pollinate local plants that produce local allergens. Consuming small amounts of honey containing trace amounts of these local allergens helps the body build up a natural immunity to these allergens over time.
This is not a new concept. Not only has it been practiced for years by societies around the world who rely on natural medicines, but this is also the idea behind allergy shots in the realm of allopathic (“Western”) medicine; administering small doses of a suspected allergen to cause the body to become immune to it.
Can I use any honey?
You can’t just go to the grocery store, pick out a honey bear, and use it to solve your allergy problems. Instead, you have to use a raw, local honey. It has to be raw because the pasteurization process used in commercial honeys will destroy many of the beneficial bacteria and other healthful properties naturally contained within the honey. It has to be sourced locally, preferably within 20 miles of your home, because anything further than that will introduce allergens that are not in your immediate environment, which somewhat defeats the purpose.
Some better grocery stores and specialty health food stores like Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s sell raw, local honey, but your best bet is to go to your local farmer’s market and see what they have. Even if you live in an urban or suburban area, there is likely a local market that sells products sourced within 20 miles of your home. Check your local yellow pages, online, or ask around.
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