Allergy-Associates

• Patients allergic to honeybee stings should be aware that they have greater likelihood of being allergic to honey than the general populace. There are actually small amounts of venom contained in honey. Also, royal jelly contains a much higher quantity of venom proteins than simple honey.

The use of local honey has been recommended as a non-medicinal way of treating allergy.  As it turns out, it can either help or hurt. In order for “local honey” to actually help, it has to be taken in incrementally increasing doses, much the same way an allergy shot is built up. The benefit is extremely modest.  Remember, bees carry entomophilous pollen, whereas anemophilous (airborne) pollen accounts for most allergies. Just using regular amounts of honey on cereal or in tea can worsen allergy due to the random exposure to the pollen it contains.