Does honey really do anything to ease hay fever symptoms? I tried it for a week and grilled experts to find out
HAY fever season has well and truly arrived.
And with a staggering 16million Brits affected, it’s no wonder we are always on the lookout for a miracle cure.
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A growing number of TikTok influencers - and some family members - claim local honey is the wonder hack guaranteed to ease your itchy eyes and runny nose.
And a quick social media or Google search brings up dozens of posts claiming that a spoonful is all it takes to provide the relief you need.
The theory is that local honey contains small amounts of pollen from nearby plants, and by consuming it, your immune system becomes accustomed to the pollen, reducing sensitivity and the severity of reactions over time.
But is there any scientific research to back up the claims?
Sadly, GP Dr Helen Wall says the evidence is “slim”.
“Some small studies and anecdotal reports suggest that locally sourced, unprocessed honey might reduce symptoms,” she tells Sun Health.
“It is based on the idea that it could act like a natural desensitisation process.
“Desensitisation is a therapy that can be used to cure allergies by slowly introducing the allergen in small amounts so the immune system can get used to it.
“But controlled clinical trials are lacking and systematic reviews do not support honey as an effective treatment for hay fever.”
Despite what you may hear, honey does not work like an antihistamine.
“Antihistamines are medications that block histamine receptors which then prevent the release of a chemical called histamine, which is released when your body thinks it has come across a threat,” Dr Wall says.
“It is meant to be a protective mechanism, but in people with allergies, histamine is triggered unhelpfully and this is what causes allergy symptoms.
“Honey does not block histamine receptors so it doesn’t work in the same way as many medications would.”
And if you stop taking your usual medicine, you may find your symptoms worsen.
“If someone relies solely on honey, they may suffer from poorly controlled hay fever which can impair sleep, concentration and quality of life,” Dr Wall says.
“It often builds up over time, so getting on top of it early can be beneficial.
“I recommend starting antihistamines and steroid sprays four weeks before hay fever starts in those known to suffer.
“In people with allergic asthma, untreated hay fever can worsen respiratory symptoms and trigger asthma.”
Some patients will swear by local honey, and I don’t doubt their experience, but medically I can’t explain it nor recommend it
Dr Sophie Farooque
Dr Sophie Farooque, a consultant allergist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and one of the UK’s leading allergy experts, says that while local honey may be “delicious” and soothe a scratchy throat, there is little scientific evidence that it will reduce symptoms.
“The theory that honey may help stems from the idea that pollens contained in honey will desensitise you,” she says.
“However the pollen in honey is from flowers and not from the pollen that causes hay fever, which is from tree, grass and weed pollens.”
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A 2002 study by the University of Connecticut compared taking a tablespoon of locally produced, unfiltered honey with a tablespoon of nationally produced pasteurised honey, and honey flavoured corn syrup (the placebo) in patients with hay fever.
None of the three groups noticed a reduction in the symptoms.
Further research in Malaysia evaluated 40 patients with hay fever and divided them into two groups. Half ate honey and half did not.
“Those who consumed the honey noticed a very slight reduction in symptoms compared to those that didn’t, but participants had to eat a jar a week every day for months and the pollen in Malaysian honey will be different to the UK,” Dr Farooque adds.
“Some patients will swear by local honey, and I don’t doubt their experience, but medically I can’t explain it nor recommend it.
“There isn’t good data and scientifically, it doesn’t make sense.
“If patients want to go drug-free then saline rinses have far stronger evidence and I often suggest these.
“Of course eat honey for pleasure, but not in the belief that by doing so you are desensitising yourself and reversing the common immunological processes that cause seasonal allergies. It’s a myth.”
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Antihistamines
Antihistamines (cetirizine or loratadine) work by blocking histamine in the body, which is released when the body detects something it thinks is harmful.
Histamine causes blood vessels to expand and the skin to swell, but in people with hay fever, also causes an allergic reaction. That’s the watering eyes, blocked nose, rashes and so on.
Max Wiseberg, airborne allergens expert and creator of HayMax, says that many antihistamines are available on prescription, such as Telfast, which you can see your GP for or get through an online doctor, such as LloydsPharmacy.
Telfast, and other prescription-only antihistamine tablets, work in the same way as over-the-counter antihistamines, but are stronger and intended to help with more severe symptoms.
“Get your prescription in advance of the season so you have your medication in time to start taking it at the right time,” he says.
“Some are best taken at least one month before the hay fever season starts."
Nasal sprays
A nasal spray can be effective in controlling congestion and stuffiness.
Pharmacists can advise on nasal sprays (sodium cromoglicate, ipratropium bromide or decongestant), and eye drops, too.
Nasal sprays can also help with other symptoms of hay fever “because the medicine is targeted directly to the nose, which is where the vast majority of allergens enter the body”, Max says.
Independent pharmacist Rita Ghelani says: “Try Xlear nasal spray, which contains xylitol, and has anti-bacterial properties and keeps the nasal lining moist.
“If symptoms are more severe, then try an anti-inflammatory nasal spray – sometimes referred to as a steroid nasal spray – which can take a few days to work.
“Start with one that contains beclomethasone, which is used twice a day, in the morning and at night.”
Rita also advises cleaning the nose with a saline nasal spray before a steroid spray, saying: “It will remove sticky mucus from the nasal passage, thus improving the effectiveness of the medication.”
Eye drops
If itchy eyes are your primary concern, Rita says: “Try using sodium cromoglicate eye drops.
"These make the eyes less sensitive to allergens such as pollen and reduce irritation.
"They need to be used four times a day to keep the levels of the active ingredient high enough to be effective.
"Keep using them even if symptoms improve.
“Using a good eye drop to lubricate the eyes may also help with dry eyes during the summer months.”
While it might not help with your hay fever sniffles, honey does of course have other health benefits.
Researchers at the University of Oxford found it can effectively relieve cough and cold symptoms.
It also contains vitamins, minerals, enzymes and phytochemicals, which are anti-inflammatory and contain cancer-fighting antioxidants.
But that doesn’t mean it’s good for everyone, as it’s also very high in sugar.
Dietitian Emma Shafqat said one tablespoon contains around 6g, so she recommends consuming it “in moderation”.
Excess sugar intake can contribute to tooth decay, weight gain and blood sugar spikes, so people with diabetes should take particular care.
Emma added that honey should not be given to children under the age of one as there is a risk of botulism - a rare but serious condition where the body’s nerves are attacked by a toxin.
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HAVING suffered from hay fever since I was a teenager, I was keen to put this theory to the test.
While the evidence is scant, lots of people swear by honey so I was hopeful it might have some effect.
First of all, I had to work out how much to take.
Researchers recommend around 1g per kilogram of body weight daily. For a person weighing 80kg, this is four tablespoons a day.
I weigh about 60kg so that means around 2.8 tbsp.
That’s quite a lot and I was concerned about the extra sugar in my diet. But if it could stop the itchy eyes and sneezing, I was happy to give it a go!
I bought a jar of Kentish honey from a farm shop near me. It wasn’t cheap, costing a whopping £8.45.
I started taking some in the morning with breakfast and stopped taking my antihistamines.
Quercetin is a flavonoid found in apples, onions and berries. It has anti-inflammatory and antihistamine-like effects
Dr Helen Wall
I definitely loved having it in my porridge, but I’m not sure it had any effect.
The pollen count was exceptionally high on the week of the test and my itchy eyes and sneezing continued as normal.
I struggled to sleep because of it too and after seven days, I had to go back on the antihistamines as I looked as though I’d been crying.
I admit to being disappointed. I’d far rather have taken honey to ease my symptoms than medication. But it just didn’t do the job.
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SO honey doesn’t work, but what else can you try?
Nasal irrigation is the “strongest contender” for a natural hay fever remedy, according to Dr Wall.
She says a saline rinse may flush out allergens and reduce congestion. As a treatment, it is safe and low risk.
But there are other options to try.
“Quercetin is a flavonoid found in apples, onions and berries,” Helen says.
“It has anti-inflammatory and antihistamine-like effects.
“Again there is limited evidence in humans but there have been some positive results in reducing nasal symptoms in particular, and these are foods which are good for you anyway.”
Some studies have also found spirulina (blue-green algae) may work as a treatment.
It’s thought to reduce allergic rhinitis symptoms and it’s an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant.
A 2018 Chinese study also recommended acupuncture as an effective treatment, particularly for nasal congestion and sneezing.
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