Atlantans have had a few glimpses of spring already, and along with those glimpses, allergies. As spring makes its way into the area, many flowers and trees begin to produce pollen, which, in turn, triggers seasonal allergies in a lot of people. Rather than heading to the doctor, local raw honey may just be the answer for dealing with these seasonal allergies.
Honey bees collect nectar and pollen from flowering plants and take these substances back to their hives, where honey is made. During this process very small bits of pollen from the plants get into the honey. When a person consumes this honey, he also consumes these tiny pieces of pollen.
Exposure to pollen would normally cause an allergic reaction in someone with pollen allergies, but since the amount of pollen the person gets from honey is in a very small “dose,” rather than reacting to the pollen, over time the person’s body becomes immune to the pollen. This is very similar to the way allergy injection therapy works—only more natural and with fewer risks.
So what is local raw honey?
Raw honey is unprocessed honey—basically, honey as it exists in nature. It is extracted, and it may be filtered, but no heat, which can interfere with some of the immune-boosting properties of honey, is used.
Local honey refers to honey made from substances that bees gather from the area near one’s home. This local honey contains bits of pollen from the trees and flowers found in that area.
How local should the honey be?
Many people consider local to be within 100 miles of one’s home at the very most. However, it is best to get honey from the closest possible source to one's home or workplace.
Are there any concerns with honey?
As with any other food, it is possible, though fairly uncommon, for a person to have an allergic reaction to honey. This could be due to an allergy to gland secretions or wax from the bees themselves or due to a severe allergy to the nectar or pollen gathered during the bees’ foraging.
To minimize risks, the recommendation is to begin with a very small amount of honey and slowly increase the amount to two or more teaspoonfuls per day.
CAUTION: Due to the risk of infant botulism, do not give honey to children under the age of one year.
How long does it take to see the positive effects of local raw honey on allergies?
Generally, it is best to begin taking honey four to five months prior to the allergy season. Beginning the honey regimen later may not offer as many benefits during that first allergy season. However, with consistency, positive results should be seen during the next season, and more improvements should be seen year after year. For best results, many people buy local raw honey when it's available and take it year round.
Where can I buy local raw honey?
Most farmers’ markets as well as many local health food stores carry local raw honey. However, there may be sources more local to you, so it’s great to ask around for recommendations. If you are unable to find any by these means, local beekeepers’ clubs can be an excellent resource. They will likely be able to direct you to beekeepers in your immediate area who sell local raw honey.
Below is a list of beekeepers' clubs in the metro-Atlanta and surrounding areas:
Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association
Eastern Piedmont Beekeepers Association (Watkinsville, GA)
Forsyth County Beekeepers Club
Henry County Beekeepers Association
Tara Beekeepers Association (Forest Park, GA)
If you are in Georgia but outside the Atlanta area, check the website of the Georgia Beekeepers Association for clubs in your area.
Outside Georgia, check with beekeepers' clubs in your state.
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