Honey May Provide Relief for Asthma

Some people use honey for asthma relief and to alleviate symptoms of their allergies. It is said that local honey works best for the allergies.

There is a belief that since honeybees collect pollen as they extract nectar from flowers that this pollen is in the honey and that is what is thought to help desensitize the allergy sufferers with only a spoonful each day.

Others find relief from asthma by mixing the honey with other natural ingredients.

New York Times Reported Negatively on Local Honey for Allergies

The New York times reported that when some researchers from the University of Connecticut health Center performed testing with honey on allergies. The subjects were split into 3 groups and given one of the following: a placebo honey-flavored corn syrup, commercial honey, or unfiltered and unpasteurized honey. They discovered no difference in reaction between the groups that took honey compared to the placebo group.

New Study on Honey and Allergies Reports Positive Effects

A new study examined how using regular honey or birch pollen honey affects the symptoms and meds for a normal season of birch pollen.

Forty four patients who have a allergy to birch pollen took either regular honey or honey from birch pollen everyday during the period of November through March. Seventeen patients made up a control group who kept also taking their allergy meds to alleviate symptoms.

This study discovered that the patients that took the birch honey during this time had the following results:

• Had double the days without symptoms
• Sixty percent of them had reduced symptoms
• Half of them could use antihistamines less
• Seventy percent of them suffered fewer days of severe symptoms

Benefits of Honey for Asthma

Asthma is more severe than just having allergies. It is a disease of the lungs. It can narrow the airways and cause inflammation in them. This can cause the sufferer to wheeze, cough, have tightness in the chest and have trouble breathing.

A asthmatic can find relief and sometimes a cure through treatment with medications or certain natural remedies. One natural remedy is honey. This sweet substance provides the body with a number of vitamins, amino acids and antioxidants. When it is combined with some other natural ingredients, it can be quite effective on asthma.

Recipes for Honey for Asthma Remedies

1. Cinnamon and honey for asthma relief is effective. Just take 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and mix it with 1 teaspoon of honey to get some relief from symptoms of asthma attacks.
2. Thyme and honey mixed together and consumed several times a day works to ease inflammation in your airways. You can take it as much as 10 times daily if need be, but make sure the mixture is kept at room temperature.
3. Take 1/2 Asafetida, 1 teaspoon of onion juice, 1 tablespoon of drumstick leaf juice, and 1 tablespoon on honey and mix all of it together. Take mixture to get relief from asthma symptoms.
4. At times, just taking a whiff from the honey jar has provided relief for some asthmatics. It clears airways a bit to allow easier breathing.
5. A teaspoon of honey mixed with warm water is great to drink before turning in for the night. This will provide relief while you sleep.
6. You can of course take a teaspoonful of honey by itself each day.
7. Warm up 1 teaspoon of honey and mix in 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder. Consume this mixture two times daily.
8. Take 1/3 cup of honey, 3 to 6 crushed cloves of garlic, 7 tablespoons of horseradish, and 10 tablespoons of butter, and heat until honey is thin stirring thoroughly. Place in airtight container and take 1 tablespoon before each meal.
9. Overnight, let 1 teaspoon of the fenugreek seeds soak in some water then in the morning add 1 teaspoon each of honey and ginger juice. Drink the mixture twice a day.

It is advised as you try these honey treatments that you have your nebulizer handy in case of emergency.

What Types of Honey are Recommended?

You should use a good quality honey. Local raw honey helps allergies because they are filtered the least and have more pollen to help desensitize your system.

Buckwheat and other dark honeys are ideal for treating coughs. Make sure whatever honey you buy is pure honey and has not added sugar or corn syrup. Some commercial honeys are found to be inferior in this manner.

Honey has been used for thousands of years to cure various ills. I hope you use this information to decide if it is right for relieving your asthma and allergy. It just may help you breathe easier.