Raw Honey Guide

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Best Honey for Allergies

Does local honey help seasonal allergies? What the two controlled trials found, why the pollen theory is unproven, and when to see an allergist.

Best Honey for Allergies — honey varieties and usage

Quick Answer

Local honey has not been shown to relieve seasonal allergies. In a 2002 University of Connecticut trial, 36 people with allergies took a tablespoon a day of local raw honey, national pasteurized honey or a corn-syrup placebo, and the groups did not differ. A 2011 Finnish pilot trial gave 44 birch-allergic adults honey with birch pollen added or regular honey before the season: the birch-pollen honey group had fewer symptoms than 17 people on their usual allergy medicine alone, but did not differ significantly on symptoms from the regular-honey group, and the authors called the results preliminary. If you like local wildflower honey, buy it for flavor.

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What to Look For

No study shows that honey from within a set distance of your home, raw honey or unfiltered honey eases allergy symptoms. Most allergy pollen (grass, ragweed, many trees) is carried by wind, while honey mostly holds pollen from insect-pollinated flowers, so a jar may not contain the pollen you react to. If you want local honey, buy from a beekeeper who can tell you where the hives are, and choose the flavor you enjoy.

Relevant Honey Varieties

Local Raw Wildflower Honey

Flavor changes with the local flowers and season, so it is a good way to taste your region. The idea that its pollen trains your immune system is a theory; the 2002 Connecticut trial found local raw honey did no better than a placebo.

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Local Raw Clover Honey

Mild and familiar, a good everyday local honey if wildflower is not available. No study links it to allergy relief.

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Raw Unfiltered Honey (any local variety)

Cloudier, with more pollen and wax bits, and a fuller texture. More pollen in the jar has not been shown to reduce allergy symptoms, and raw pollen can cause a reaction in some pollen-allergic people.

Buckwheat Honey

Dark, malty honey with a strong flavor. It has not been shown to reduce allergy symptoms.

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Manuka Honey (UMF 5-10)

A New Zealand honey, so it holds no pollen from your area. No study shows it eases seasonal allergies through the gut or any other route.

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How to Use

If you enjoy local honey, use it in food and drinks like any sweetener. There is no allergy dose or start date backed by evidence. For allergy symptoms, ask a doctor or allergist about proven options such as antihistamines, nasal steroid sprays and, for some people, allergen immunotherapy prescribed by an allergist.

What to Avoid

Do not use honey in place of allergy treatment, and never in place of an epinephrine auto-injector or asthma medicine. Raw honey can contain pollen that causes reactions in some pollen-allergic people: stop and get medical help if you have itching, swelling of the lips or throat, or trouble breathing. Never give honey to children under 12 months.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does the science support honey for allergies?
No. A 2002 University of Connecticut trial found no difference in allergy symptoms between local raw honey, national pasteurized honey and a corn-syrup placebo in 36 people. A 2011 Finnish pilot trial in 44 adults with birch allergy found that honey with birch pollen added was not significantly better for symptoms than regular honey; the birch-pollen honey group did better than people on their usual allergy medicine alone. The evidence is too small and mixed to recommend honey for allergies.
How local does the honey need to be?
No study has found a distance that matters. The 2002 Connecticut trial used honey collected locally and found no benefit over placebo. Most allergy-causing pollen comes from wind-pollinated grasses, weeds and trees that bees rarely collect, so even very local honey may not contain it.
Can honey make allergies worse?
In rare cases, people with severe pollen allergies may react to the pollen in raw honey. If you experience itching, swelling, or other allergic symptoms after consuming raw honey, stop immediately and consult your doctor. Start with very small amounts to test tolerance. People with bee sting allergies may also want to exercise caution.
What if I cannot find local honey?
Then you are not missing a proven treatment. Any honey you like is fine for eating. For allergy symptoms, see a doctor or allergist about treatments that have been tested.
How long before allergy season should I start taking local honey?
There is no evidence-based start date, because local honey has not been shown to work. In the 2011 Finnish pilot trial, people started honey in November for a spring birch season, and honey with added birch pollen still did not beat regular honey on symptoms. Talk to an allergist if you want a treatment that builds tolerance; allergen immunotherapy is a prescribed, dosed treatment, not honey.
Can children take local honey for seasonal allergies?
Children 12 months and older can eat honey as a food, but it has not been shown to help allergies. Never give honey to infants under 12 months because of the risk of infant botulism. Children with severe pollen or bee-venom allergies should see an allergist before trying raw honey, as trace pollen can cause reactions. For a child's allergy symptoms, ask your pediatrician about tested treatments.

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RHG

Edited by Sam French · Raw Honey Guide Editorial Team

Sam French is the founding editor of Raw Honey Guide. This is an editorial guide, not a medical review.

Health disclaimerEditorial Policy ↗

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