If anything, we would think that if you had pollen allergies, eating local honey might make it worse – but it doesn’t. This is for a few reasons including that the amount of pollen in the honey is too little to desensitize you and it is usually not from the trees and grasses that commonly cause the worst of the symptoms.

1. If you want to avoid medications, nasal rinsing can help mind symptoms. For safety, especially in children or those with weakened immune systems, it is usually safest use a solution from your chemist and follow the instructions exactly. Other non-drug treatments that work involve avoiding contact with pollens: air purifiers/filters, avoiding gardening work on high pollen count days/times, removing clothing after coming in from outdoors, closing windows. Masks and sunglasses can protect your nose and eyes from contact with pollen. A thin layer of vaseline, coconut oil or similar around nostrils/eyes can help trap pollen when you are out – wash off when you return home.

2. Your pharmacist can help recommend antihistamines.

3. For severe symptoms, talk to your GP who can also refer you to a properly qualified allergist.

4. You don’t need allergy testing that involves IgG, hair samples, nail samples, or anything else you send off in the post. Allergy diagnosis should be done by a registered physician or CORU-registered allied health professional. Before paying for private allergy testing, check qualifications.

5. Those with severe allergy symptoms should avoid echinacea products – the ragweed in the product can actually make symptoms worse! Acupuncture has not been shown to help.  No supplement has been shown to have good evidence for helping hayfever.

What about the honey? If you do have a cough or irritated throat with your allergies, that honey could be really soothing and in clinical trials, helped with the cough better than over-the-counter cough syrups. It’s also pretty tasty and great to support local farmers. Remember to never give honey to children under age 1.