SAN ANTONIO – Oak allergy season is just beginning…and it’s already making a number of allergy sufferers. Today’s oak pollen counts 3,670! But could something in your pantry be a cure?
THE QUESTION
Is it true that if I eat local honey it might help me with my oak tree allergy
THE SOURCES
- Dr. Amanda Trott-Gregorio, Juniper Allergy Certified Allergist and Immunologist
- Dr. Edward Brooks, Medical Director of UT Health San Antonio Allergy Clinic and Division Director of Pediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases.
- Dr. Mark Stahl, Allergist and Immunologist certified by Apex Allergy and Asthma.
THE ANSWER
Dr. Amanda Trott-Gregorio of Juniper Allergy told us, “That would be great. But unfortunately, it’s not. Bees and other insects carry pollen from pretty plants. They’re attracted to pretty plants. The things we’re allergic to aren’t pretty, so it depends on the wind to pollinate.
Dr. Edward Brooks of UT Health San Antonio added, “Honey actually contains very little pollen protein. If you actually collected pollen from the hive and ate it, that might be a closer approximation to what we do. But honey is mostly honey. It’s just sugar.
Dr Mark Stahl, who represents Apex Allergy and Asthma, added: “You might have microscopic amounts of actually wind-pollinated pollen in honey, but that’s not on any level that can actually help patients.”
So no, that’s not true. If you eat local honey, it won’t help you with your oak allergies. Dr. Stahl says wearing a mask may be one of the best ways to keep pollen from clogging your sinuses. The oak pollen season lasts until the end of April.