Raw Honey For Allergies?

UndercoverGator · May 28th, 2006, 07:23 PM

My doctor recently wanted to put me on thrice weekly allergy shots for allergies (duh!) but I decided against it after three years of shots in my teens that dind't help at all. Instead I decided to do it the naturopathic way and start with a spoonful of local raw honey made from wildflower pollens. Everyone I talked to didn't warn me that it could cause your allergies to really intensify for a few months. I'm miserable.

Has anyone here had success with the raw honey immunity cure?

A*O · May 28th, 2006, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UndercoverGator

Has anyone here had success with the raw honey immunity cure?

Sorry Gator - that sounds like something off Survivor

Voodoo Child · May 28th, 2006, 08:03 PM

Maybe try Manuka honey? I love that stuff and it is supposed to have many medicinal purposes.

Rogue · May 29th, 2006, 04:26 PM

I've heard about it working, but never done it myself because a) we don't get much local honey and b) I don't get that much in the way of allergies.

But it's supposed to be a proven remedy (far too many books on home remedies around here!), although I didn't know you'd flare up in the meantime. Maybe you're just too allergic for it to work?

Siobhan · May 29th, 2006, 07:10 PM

According to the allergists around here (the "allergy capital of the known universe"), eating honey will not help with the allergies. Bees don't pollenate the same plants that cause allergies (around here, that's oak, grass, cedar). Unless you're allergic to the wildflowers, it won't help. I've had friends try using the honey, and nothing changed.

The allergists recommend using decongestants, if that doesn't help then steroid nasal sprays, and if those don't help, shots. They said the sprays are the most effective, are not habit forming, and don't have steroid side effects. The shots are most effective for cat, pollen, and dust mites.

Good luck! Allergies are miserable.

UndercoverGator · May 29th, 2006, 08:39 PM

Quote:

They said the sprays are the most effective, are not habit forming, and don't have steroid side effects.

They don't do jack shit for me! It's either massive amounts of Benadryl or nothing. Everything else either doens't work or gives me horrid side effects. Not sure how much longer I can keep doing this as the allergies have gotten really bad this weekend.

sugarbean · May 30th, 2006, 01:06 PM

Yes raw honey (the stuff you can't see through) from local beekeepers does help with my symptoms, my mother's symptoms, my best friends symptoms and my hubbies symptoms. Take about a tablespoon a day.

A*O · May 30th, 2006, 07:17 PM

Surely it's all about which specific pollens you are allergic to, and whether the honey is made from the same specific pollens??

zorbeet · May 30th, 2006, 10:05 PM

I could only breathe through one side of my nose for years due to chronic sinus infections & allergies. Tried the honey. Didn't work at all for me. I got honey that was harvested in the field behind my house. Close to my allergy pollens as you can get. Now I use it as a facial scrub.

Also have been through the guantlet of antihistamines and steroid sprays. My opinion is that the steroid sprays are scented water, do not work at all.

The only thing that works for me is doubling up tavist with benadryl or seldane (damn that fda). Sudafed works, but the effing sudafed nazis are insane in my area.

Shower before bed or after gardening and do a lovely saline sinus rinse. Basically buy a bottle that lets you squirt about 200mL of buffered salt water up your nose until it drips out the other side and cleans out the nasal passages. Lovely for all involved.

Damn it does work like a charm. No more headaches, sneezing or constantly running nose. Mine is made be NeilMed.

If it doesn't work for your allergies, you'll have a new party trick to entertain the kids.