We’re honey people. We keep hives, we craft skincare, and we’ll happily drizzle the good stuff on everything from toast to tea. But can local honey tame your seasonal sniffles? Short answer: no. Here’s why (with science, not folklore).
The big myth, busted
Most allergy misery in spring and fall comes from wind-borne pollens (grasses, ragweed, certain trees). Bees don’t typically collect those; they visit flowers with insect-pollinated pollen that’s heavier and less likely to float into your nose. Even when trace amounts land in honey, the dose is unknown and almost certainly too low to retrain your immune system the way medical allergen immunotherapy does. AAAAI
There have also been clinical trials looking for a benefit and coming up empty, one well-cited study found no improvement in allergy symptoms versus placebo from eating honey. ScienceDirect
“But I’m allergic to bee stings… is honey unsafe?”
Different issue. Bee-sting allergy is a reaction to venom proteins, which aren’t in honey. So honey isn’t automatically dangerous for people with venom allergies. (Always follow your allergist’s advice, of course.) AAAAI
One very important safety rule
Honey is not for infants under 12 months, period. Because of the risk of infant botulism. Save that sweetness for after the first birthday. CDC
What does help allergies?
If you’re suffering, the evidence points to allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots or carefully dosed tablets/drops for specific pollens), plus standard medical treatments your clinician recommends. Honey simply doesn’t work like those controlled, calibrated therapies. AAAAI
Where honey shines (and why we love it)
Just because it won’t cure allergies doesn’t mean honey isn’t special. It’s a delicious natural sweetener, and in skincare it’s a beloved humectant, that means it helps draw and hold moisture on the skin’s surface, leaving things soft and dewy. (That’s a big reason you’ll find honey-inspired goodness across Diaz Beez formulas.) The point is: enjoy honey for flavor and skin feel and not as an allergy treatment. AAAAI
Diaz Beez take
At Diaz Beez, we’ll always be straight with you. We adore our hives and everything they inspire, but we won’t sell you a fairy tale. If your goal is fewer sneeze attacks, talk to an allergist about proven options and then come back to us for your skin-loving ritual. We’ll handle the glow; your clinician can handle the pollen.
