While honey is a nutritious food that may benefit your health, consuming it is unlikely to treat seasonal allergies or hay fever. It usually doesn’t contain the necessary quantities of allergens.

Seasonal allergies usually occur when plants, such as grass and certain weeds, start to produce pollen. Pollen is a powder-like substance that helps plants make seeds and reproduce. Pollen can spread through the air, cling to clothing and hair, and enter the lungs when you inhale.

If you have an allergy to the pollen you’re inhaling, you may experience allergy symptoms. This is because when you’re allergic to something, your body targets the pollen, similar to a virus or bacterium.

Some people believe that eating raw, local honey can reduce allergy symptoms. The theory is that honey contains bits of pollen from plants in your local environment and that consuming small amounts of these allergens over time may help desensitize you to them.

However, no research suggests that consuming honey, even raw, local honey, reduces allergy symptoms. There may also be risks involved.

Keep reading to learn whether there’s any benefit to consuming honey if you have seasonal allergies, possible risks, and how to treat allergy symptoms.

Honey in infants

Never give either raw or processed honey to children under 12 months old. Honey can cause botulism from Clostridium botulinum spores. This is a serious bacterial infection that can be life threatening. It’s also possible for infants to get botulism from honey in baked goods.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI), raw, local honey does not help treat allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, caused by seasonal allergies. There are a few reasons why it doesn’t work:

Honey does not usually contain common allergens

Bees typically pollinate flowering plants by unintentionally transferring bits of pollen that stick to their bodies, which they may carry back to the hive.

However, seasonal allergies often result from plants that aren’t pollinated by bees, such as grass, trees, and ragweed.

If honey contains any of these pollens, it is likely to contain them only in very small, incidental amounts. This may only occur if the wind blows the pollen into the hive. There isn’t a way to guarantee that local honey contains any of these pollens.

Honey does not contain enough pollen to cause immune tolerance

The theory behind using honey for allergies is based on sublingual immunotherapy. This oral allergy treatment builds immune tolerance by exposing the immune system to small, controlled amounts of allergens.

However, pollen does not contain a controlled dose of allergens. Not only does it not contain enough pollen to build immune tolerance, but it also does not allow for gradually and safely increasing the dose over time.

No research suggests honey helps build tolerance to pollen allergens

Not much research has been conducted on using honey to treat allergic rhinitis. One older study from 2002 examined the effect of pasteurized honey on allergy symptoms compared to local honey. The results showed neither group that consumed honey experienced relief from seasonal allergies.

Honey is nutritious, and enjoying it in moderation may benefit your immune and overall health.

One 2021 review of older research suggests that honey may have immune system benefits that potentially reduce allergy symptoms. This may be due to honey’s high quantity of antioxidant bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols like flavonoids and phenolic acids.

Antioxidants help support overall health by targeting oxidative stress, which can lead to cell damage. They may benefit immune and respiratory health, including allergies, but also other health conditions, such as infections.

Honey may also help relieve allergy symptoms. It may act as a cough suppressant and soothe certain symptoms of allergies, including:

You can usually manage the symptoms of mild allergies at home with over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines and home remedies like probiotics and vitamin C.

Newer antihistamines offer long-lasting relief with less sedation than older antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl). You can take these newer antihistamines once daily for allergy relief. Newer OTC antihistamines for seasonal allergies include:

  • cetirizine (Zyrtec)
  • loratadine (Claritin)
  • fexofenadine (Allegra)

Adopting certain practices may also help reduce your allergy symptoms. These can include:

  • using HEPA filters inside your home to filter out and reduce the amount of allergens indoors
  • wearing a face mask when doing outdoor activities, like mowing the lawn or gardening, that put you in contact with lots of pollen
  • showering and changing your clothes after being outdoors to remove pollen from your hair, skin, and clothing
  • avoiding spending time outdoors when the pollen count is high

If your allergies are bothersome, you can also talk with an allergist and immunologist about treatment options that can help desensitize your immune system to allergens. These are doctors who specialize in managing and treating allergies. Treatment can include allergy shots and sublingual (under the tongue) immunotherapy.

It is unsafe for children under 12 months to consume honey in any form. It can increase the risk of botulism, even in baked goods and pasturized honey.

Some people with a severe pollen allergy can experience a serious allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis after eating honey. This can cause extreme difficulty breathing. Others may experience allergic reactions such as:

  • itching
  • swelling of the mouth, throat, or skin

Anaphylaxis is an emergency

If you or someone else is experiencing symptoms of anaphylaxis, such as difficulty breathing, swelling of the mouth or face, confusion, shock, or weak pulse, contact 911 or your local emergency services and administer an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) if available.

Honey is also high in sugar, so it is best to consume it in moderation, especially if you have health conditions like diabetes or are monitoring your sugar intake.

Honey hasn’t been scientifically proven to reduce sensitivity to pollen allergens.

However, it may still benefit your immune system health when consumed in moderation. It may also help relieve coughing and sore throat due to allergies.

If you have seasonal allergies, you can treat them with antihistamines and by avoiding known allergy triggers.