health sectionhealth sectionAllergic reactions occur due to chemical histamine releases throughout the body that cause inflammation, leading to allergy symptoms. Chamomile is a natural antihistamine, with anti-inflammatory properties that work to reduce swelling. A chamomile tea allergy antidote relieves internal symptoms of congestion, runny nose and sneezing, combining with honey to soothe coughing and chest tightness. Using the chamomile tea antidote as an external poultice or ointment allows for treatment and relief of allergic conjunctivitis, allergic migraine and allergic sinusitis.
When people talk about honey, allergies, and remedies, they are usually talking about either being allergic to honey or using honey as a remedy for seasonal allergies. Cases of being allergic to commercial honey are rare, though concerns about giving raw honey to babies are very real. Care should always be taken when using raw honey to immunize yourself against pollen allergies.
Local honey is a folk remedy used to treat pollen allergies. It contains the same types of pollen that are found airborne in the local environment. The idea behind treating allergies with local honey is similar to allergy shots, in that the allergy is treated through long-term exposure to the local pollens contained in the honey in trace amounts.
From sweet blossom to clover, honey comes in many varieties, depending on which flowers the honeybees visited for pollen and nectar. For ages honey has been touted for numerous health benefits, ranging from vitamins to helping cuts and burns. In many instances, local honey can also help control pollen allergies and hay fever by boosting the immune system.
Allergies are the result of the immune system identifying a particular substance as a threat to the body. Because honey is a by-product of bees and pollen, people who suffer from allergies to bee stings and/or pollen may be more susceptible to a honey allergy. A honey allergy may present differently from person to person, but it is typically not life-threatening and can be easily treated.
Honey allergies are not very common. When honey allergies do manifest, it is typically because the honey is contaminated with pollen allergens to which the victim is allergic. There are more than 300 types of honey, and the pollen of one or more plants is likely present in the honey you consume. Therefore, if you are highly allergic to various flora, you may want to take extra precautions when consuming honey or strike this sweet condiment from your diet altogether.
