I have always thought it was a myth, but I never tried it. The idea is simple, honey comes from flowers, and the pollen from flowers causes allergies. If you eat local honey, you are exposing your immune system to pollen that is in your area, which will give you immunity during allergy season. It makes sense, but how could something simple be true?
I was determined to find out.
First off, I’m typically comically sick during the Spring. Allergies hit me hard. I cough, my eyes get watery and itch, and my nose endlessly runs. My allergies have been so bad in the past and have lasted for so long that I have convinced myself many times that there was something much more serious going on with me, like a super Covid or something that was going to be the end of me. Thankfully, I’m still here.
This year, I have tried to really prepare for allergy season. I’ve been exercising, drinking water, getting my sleep, and loading up on various nasal sprays and allergy medication. There is nothing I won’t try to get rid of allergies. This year, I threw something new into the mix, however, and that is Hampton’s honey. You can find it in any grocery store in the Hamptons for about $10 a jar.
I like honey, I don’t like allergies, why not see if it’s true?
This is just my personal experience, but every morning like clockwork for the last three months I have been putting a spoonful of local honey into my coffee, and now that allergy season is here, I’m sort of shocked that I haven’t been sick yet (knock on wood). My only experience with allergies so far this year has been a brief moment while driving through East Hampton and the pollen hit my eyes and started making them almost burn. But when I got out of the high-pollen road, they felt better. No coughing, no sneezing, and no other symptoms so far.
Maybe it’s all in my head (probably is), but I’m sold on local honey as a way to defend against allergies. Give it a try, it’s deliciously, you don’t need much (at least I don’t), and it’s pretty cheap. I love honey and will be having it every day so long as I’m living out here. It’s important that it’s local, as the flowers that the honey comes from need to be from the area in order for it to have an anti-allergy effect.
