Martin O’Neil, Cheshire

A DAN RUTHERFORD WRITES: There is only anecdotal evidence that supports the idea, although it is an attractive one, that by taking local honey you may encourage your immune system to build up resistance to pollen that you might be allergic to.

The topic of “desensitisation” is controversial, although still popular and widely practised in Europe and America. In this treatment small, but progressively larger, doses of allergen are injected over several weeks before the start of the new season. Very occasional severe reactions to such injections effectively stopped this practice in Britain several years ago, but the treatment is still available through the small number of specialised allergy clinics around the country. There are also newer products such as Grazax® for grass pollen allergy that can be taken orally.

A SARA STANNER WRITES: Hay fever can occur at any time from early spring to late summer, depending on which type of pollen you’re allergic to. The pollen most likely to cause problems in early spring are those from trees such as the silver birch, ash, oak and London plane. People who suffer in the summer are likely to be reacting to pollinating grasses such as timothy, rye, cocksfoot, meadow and fescue. Weeds like nettles can also occasionally cause symptoms in late summer and autumn.

Conventional “preventive” strategies include staying inside as much as possible when the pollen count is high, wearing wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting in your eyes, using Vaseline inside the nose to reduce symptoms, keeping windows (including car windows) closed midmorning and early evening when pollen levels peak, avoiding areas such as parks (especially in the early evening), and changing your clothes when you come home. Some sufferers advocate taking local honey every day for a few months before the pollen season starts to prevent symptoms. It has been suggested that this gradually “desensitises” the body against local allergens, because it contains the same spores that give allergy sufferers so much trouble. But many experts have regarded this as nothing more than a myth, as there has been very little scientific evidence to support the claim. Also, scientists point out that the pollen that commonly causes allergies – primarily trees, grasses and weeds – aren’t those bees use to make honey.

However, there was a very interesting new study published last year. In addition to conventional medication, one group of women were given honey, either plain or with added birch pollen, and recorded their symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing, red or itchy eyes. Meanwhile, another group of women stuck to their usual medication alone and also recorded their symptoms. Those receiving the birch pollen honey reported a 60 per cent lower symptom score, twice as many asymptomatic days, and 70 per cent fewer days with severe symptoms. Similar benefits were found in those receiving normal honey. Findings certainly need to be supported by further trials, but if you like honey, why not give it a try?

Reader's response

Recently, a lady complained of a bitter taste in her mouth after eating pine nuts. I, too, experienced the same problem but it was only pine nuts from China that caused it. I have found that Italian pesto, for instance, is not a problem at all. So perhaps try checking where the ingredients are from?

Date: 2015-12-17; view: 709