ATLANTA — Springtime in Georgia means it's also time for the yearly battle with allergies.
It can lead allergy sufferers to seek any means to alleviate the constant sneezing, runny noses and eyes, and even breathing problems.
While some locals have remedies that they swear by, 11Alive set out to VERIFY whether those natural remedies actually work. So we took our questions to the experts at Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic to find out which allergy myths we could bust, and which ones are actually true.
QUESTION
Will eating honey produced locally help with my allergies?
ANSWER
False.
EXPLANATION
This remedy was suggested by 11Alive viewer Jules Miller. She told 11Alive she eats honey produced in Georgia all year long, and doesn't even notice pollen season!
However, Dr. Kathleen Sheerin with Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic said its not a cure. She said its common for people to thing that because bees carry pollen, honey will de-sensitize their allergic reactions. However, she said bees carry a different type of pollen and not the ones that trigger allergies.
QUESTION
Will cutting down my trees ward off pollen?
ANSWER
False.
EXPLANATION
Ken Hammett said he cut down a huge Bradford Pear tree in his yard last year and noticed it helped with his allergies and they plan to cut down two more soon.
Before you yank out the chainsaw, though, Sheerin said it won't really do much good. Pollen travels miles in the wind, and Bradford Pears don't produce a lot of pollen, anyway.
QUESTION
Are dogs and cats responsible for brining pollen into your home?
ANSWER
That's true.
EXPLANATION
Several folks on 11Alive's Facebook page suggested giving your dog or cat an extra bath or two during allergy season, and Sheerin agrees. Pet fur is the perfect vehicle for carrying pollen from outside your house into your body.
SOURCES
Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic
