As pollen counts increase in parts of Australia throughout spring and summer, so too do the number of social media posts spruiking the benefits of locally sourced honey to alleviate hay fever symptoms.

On TikTok, influencers claim raw honey is “super effective” at building resistance to hay fever or even stopping hay fever for ever, while some honey sellers claim their products can help people remain “antihistamine free”.

“It’s the ultimate hay fever hack,” one producer claimed in a Facebook post.

Kira Hughes, a research scientist and site manager with Deakin University’s AIRwatch pollen counting facility, says she has noticed a rise in misinformation surrounding alternative treatments for hay fever, and among those being “heavily pushed” is honey.

It prompted the airborne allergen researcher to take a deep dive into the science behind the claims. But first, she says it’s important to understand how hay fever develops.

In Australia the most common hay fever trigger is pollen from grasses. Also called allergic rhinitis, it occurs when particles of the irritant – which can also include dust mites, animal dander, or moulds – are breathed in.

If the immune system perceives these particles as harmful, it will produce immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies, says Prof Jo Douglass, a specialist physician in respiratory medicine and allergic disease. This in turn releases chemicals including histamine into the blood, which usually helps to protect against invaders like parasites.

But an........

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