Local Honey: Therapy for Seasonal Allergies

Hello friends, I know those two timing allergies are bogging you and the little ones down, and you can't take allergy meds cause most of them make you tired... And some people truly do not like to take meds, or give their children meds.

SO last year I discovered something that got my son through a lot of the problems he'd been dealing with. Local Honey! Now you HAVE to make sure it's local to you, so if you live in Georgia, make sure it's Georgia honey, same with if you live in NYC, or PA and EVEN Arizona has their own honey that is local...

Well just like last year my sons allergies were wreaking havoc on his poor little nose. Thankfully the Giant by us carries a honey local to where we live. So the minute I spotted it I started adding it to his food. But kids are kids, and I've yet to meet a child that doesn't like honey straight up. How did I know he wasn't sick? That is was JUST allergies? Well, simple, if it's that time of year, the pollen is in the air, and you notice them rubbing their eyes when they aren't tired, drooling, or a steady little stream of CLEAR snot that keeps coming out of their nose, most likely it's allergies. If the snot is thick or discolored, they probably have a virus.

Locally produced honey, which supposedly contains local plant pollens to which a person would be allergic, is the preferred type of honey for allergies. It makes sense that consuming honey that contains pollen to which a person is allergic would improve allergies, much like how sublingual immunotherapy works. And, the fact that many people have experienced anaphylaxis from eating honey means that there may be enough pollen to stimulate the immune system.

http://allergies.about.com/od/controversialtherapies/f/honeyallergies.htm

Be aware however of your childs age, it's not recommended to give kids under 12 months honey, and some people and doctors advice as old as 18 months before allowing kids to have honey. Why? Well honey has something called Clostridium bacteria and spores, as our bodies grow these minor strains of bacteria do not bother us whatsoever. But babies do not have quite the same immunities, and therefore honey before the recommended one year old can cause Botulism... which leads to paralysis, and is very serious. I waited to my little man was 18 months to air on the side of safety.

A commonly asked question about honey is, can you eat it while pregnant? The answer is yes! As long as it's pasteurized, so just NO raw honey in other words.

Okay so now that you know what is a more safe and happier way to get around those crappy seasonal allergies, what are you waiting for? Oh, you don't know where to get it? Well check your grocery store first, if not there, I recommend, a Whole Foods, Earth Fare, or local Farm Market in your area, or even ONLINE! You can pretty much order anything online THESE days.

So best of luck my friends with allergies and little ones who are showing the signs of irritated eyes, and watery mucus that just keeps coming out of their noses. I use the honey in my tea at night, for kids they have it straight up, in mashed sweet potatoes, on their cereal or oatmeal, even a squeeze in their yogurt. I'd say a tablespoon a day or more is a good starting point. If you don't see results, you may want to up your does of honey.

Other Sights I referenced:

Wholesome Baby Food: http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/infantbotulismhoney.htm#.UXwTgXCzcso

Baby Center, Safe for Moms to eat Pasturized Honey: http://www.babycenter.com/404_is-it-safe-to-eat-honey-during-pregnancy_10305372.bc

Honey Benefits and Safety for Pregnant Women: http://www.livestrong.com/article/536647-is-it-ok-to-eat-honey-when-pregnant/