Eating local honey has not been shown reliably to relieve allergies. Research has largely focused on allergic rhinitis, including seasonal nasal and eye symptoms, rather than every type of allergy.
A randomized trial involving 36 participants found that local, unprocessed honey provided no more symptom relief than a honey-flavored placebo. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology also explains that honey mainly contains flower pollen, with relatively little of the airborne pollen responsible for many seasonal allergies.
Other small studies have reported benefits with particular honeys, but differences in products, methods and accompanying treatments make the findings difficult to generalize. This leaves the claim unverified: possible effects under specific study conditions do not establish that eating locally produced honey relieves allergies.
Local honey is not an established way to relieve allergy symptoms.
Rajan and colleagues, University of Connecticut Health Center
A randomized study of 36 participants compared local unprocessed honey, commercially processed honey and honey-flavored corn syrup. Neither honey group experienced greater symptom relief than the placebo group.
Based on: Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology via PubMed
American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
The specialist organization explains that honey primarily contains flower pollen and relatively little allergenic airborne pollen. It states that scientific proof of seasonal allergy relief from local honey is lacking.
Based on: American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
Aw Yong and colleagues
An academic review describes positive and negative findings across different honeys and allergic conditions. Differences in honey composition, administration and study methods limit comparisons and generalization.
Based on: Frontiers in Pharmacology
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