Honey to the Rescue for Tree Pollen Allergies! Achoo!
TheReturn of Yellow Pesky Powder at Lake Tahoe
ByCal Orey, M.A.
It’s back!Every June, the eerie yellow pollen arrives, an unwelcome guest dustingeverything in sight. Reaching for a tissue and a plan, I brace myself for theseason. During my research for the honey book, a Reno beekeeper, eager tointroduce me to his new queen bees, shared his wisdom about nature’s nectar. Ileft with a jar of his golden honey, and, following his advice, I took a dailytablespoon of the local product. Honey experts suggested that consuming localhoney could help my immune system adapt to the local pollen, reducing allergy miseries.Whether it was the honey, or a combo of tactics, I found myself better equippedto face the yellow powder that coated my world on the South Shore.
Thepresence of yellow pollen in the Lake Tahoe area during early summer is acommon phenomenon. Here’s its potentialhealth impacts, and tips to adapt to the yucky yellow stuff.
So, What is Yellow Pollen, Anyhow? Yellow pollen in the Tahoe area, in early summer, isprimarily from pine trees. Pine trees are prolific pollen producers,and their pollen is easily spread by the wind. The result: Tell-tale yellowdust that can coat your car, yard, clothes, and even be visible on the lake'ssurface.
Is the Yucky Powder Unhealthy? Nah, but it can trigger allergicreactions in sensitive individuals, like me, and maybe you. Symptoms of tree pollenallergies include sneezing, itchy eyes, throat, and watery eyes. Blame it onthe body's immune system overreacting to the pollen, releasing histamine thatcauses inflammation.
How to Deal with Yellow Pollen: Check local pollen forecasts: (AccuWeather website) toanticipate high pollen days. Keep Windows and Doors Closed: Thishelps prevent pollen from entering your home. Shower and Change Clothes: Afterbeing outdoors, shower and change clothes to zap pollen. Try AllergyMedications: Over-the-counter antihistamines can help alleviatesymptoms. Consider an Air Purifier (or two): An air purifier with aHEPA filter can help remove pollen from indoor air. And consider what youconsume, too…
Anti-Pollen Diet: Hydration: Drinking plenty of water and tea tohelp thin nasal mucus and ease congestion. Vitamin C-rich foods: Somestudies suggest Vitamin C may have antihistamine properties. Consider citrusfruits, berries, and bell peppers. Probiotic-rich foods: Probioticsmay help curb the immune response. Yogurt is a good source.
Honey to the Rescue: Go ahead—drizzle honey in youryogurt, like I do. Check out local honey producers. Warning: To avoid infantbotulism, don’t feed honey to a baby who is younger than one year.
In anutshell, by July sometime the yellow dust will say goodbye and you’ll be readyfor other summertime air quality culprits—but you’ll be better prepared.
CAL OREY, M.A., is a bestselling author-novelist specializing in topicssuch as adventure, health, nutrition, and science. She holds a bachelor’sdegree and master’s degree in English (Creative Writing) from San FranciscoState University. Her books include the popular Healing Powers series,and Courage with Paws: The Heart of a Siamese Cat, (Book 2) Time-TravelingTabby, and a thrilling co-authored sci-fi series--The GhostShips. She is a South Lake Tahoelocal. Her website is www.calorey.com
