A Natural Remedy?
Honey has been used for centuries to treat everything from sore throats to cuts, burns and digestive problems and can help against seasonal conditions such as hay fever.
Locally produced honey, as the kind one might find at an open-air market, has the added benefit of carrying traces of pollen from the area. It is thought these spores and pollens can help build an immunity or tolerance to the toxins which cause hay fever.
The Urban Honey Collective (www.urbanhoneycollective.co.uk) keeps a database of beekeepers by area to help honey-lovers to find honeys close to home.
It is also worth remembering that when exposed to temperatures of around 50C (122F) or more, the enzymes in honey are destroyed – and with them, any beneficial effects. So if putting honey in a hot beverage is your thing, remember to let the drink cool a little first.