Can Local Honey Help Ease Seasonal Allergies?

December 30, 2025

Closeup view of fresh honeycomb with a bee

Many people believe that a spoonful of local honey a day has the power to ease seasonal allergy symptoms, like sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes. But does it work?

“The theory is that frequently exposing yourself to low levels of local allergens, such as pollen, can help ‘teach’ the immune system that the allergens are not a big issue,” says Jacob Wolf, ND, a naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist with expertise in herbal medicine at University Hospitals Connor Whole Health.

How Is It Supposed to Work?

Dr. Wolf explains that eating a little honey each day is meant to work like an allergy desensitization therapy. This type of therapy uses controlled microdoses of allergens to make the body less sensitive to them and decrease its immune response. But there are some key differences with honey.

Different pollens. Though local honey may contain pollen allergens, the pollen collected by your local bees isn’t likely to be the same pollen that triggers your seasonal allergies. In fact, most pollens that cause allergic rhinitis (hay fever) are windborne rather than pollinated by bees.
Not “local” enough. Even if you are allergic to the pollen that a local honey contains, it’s unlikely that the pollen would be local enough to effectively desensitize your allergies, says Dr. Wolf. “A local honey from a single location that is raw or unfiltered may have a higher pollen count, but unless the bees are limited to a certain pollen type, it’s hard to know which pollen is in the honey.”
Not standardized. Dr. Wolf points out that it’s challenging to standardize local honey. When allergen desensitization is used in a clinical setting, the immunotherapy targets the specific allergen that triggers your symptoms (confirmed through testing). The treatment uses standardized, medical-grade doses of the allergen. Doses start very small and increase gradually to keep the treatment safe and help your immune system build tolerance over time.
Other factors. If the honey gets processed, filtered or pasteurized, most or all of the pollen allergens will be removed or significantly degraded, says Dr. Wolf.

What Does the Science Say?

Despite its popularity, there isn’t strong scientific evidence to support the efficacy of local honey as an allergy remedy. “The science is pretty thin on the benefits of local honey for allergies,” says Dr. Wolf. “Some studies show mixed benefits, but many show no benefits.”

Although honey is not likely to prevent your seasonal sniffles and sneezes, it does have science-backed benefits for other conditions. “The strongest research suggests honey can help children with coughs and upper respiratory infections and it can aid in certain types of wound healing,” says Dr. Wolf. “It may also improve lipid levels and blood sugar control in diabetic patients, particularly if used as a swap for other sweeteners.”

Additionally, he says, for patients undergoing cancer treatment, honey may be helpful in managing mucositis, a common side effect of chemotherapy, radiation and other treatments that can cause painful inflammation in the tissue that lines the mouth and digestive system.

Managing Seasonal Allergies

For most people, over-the-counter or prescription medications do a good job of reducing seasonal allergy symptoms, says Dr. Wolf. For patients with severe allergies, options like sublingual immunotherapy or allergy injections may also help, since these therapies can be highly tailored to a specific allergen.

“You can also do a lot to manage exposure by using high-quality filtration for your home heating and cooling systems and wearing a mask or respirator if doing activities like yardwork that are going to expose you to a lot of dust and other allergens,” he says.

As for honey, it’s not a clinically proven seasonal allergy remedy, but it is a delicious natural sweetener that can be part of a healthy diet if consumed as an occasional treat in moderation. Enjoy it drizzled on yogurt and berries, pair it with cheese, add a little to salad dressings, and marinades or use it to sweeten up a hot cup of tea. Buying local honey is also a great way to support small businesses and beekeepers in your area.

“Honey is generally safe and well tolerated at typical dosing levels,” says Dr. Wolf. “The major cautions are for people with bee allergies, particularly if they’re exposed to raw or unfiltered honey, since it could cause an allergic response.”

Children younger than one year old should not be given honey either, he says. There is a risk of botulism from the bacteria present in the honey. It may also be a concern for patients who have diabetes that isn’t well controlled, since honey adds more carbohydrates into the diet.