There’s more to honey than using it to lighten your hair. This age-old wives tale does not come with scientific proof. However, this theory is a pretty good one.
The theory is that eating locally grown honey during the winter will help protect you from seasonal allergies. The idea works like this: When you are gradually introducing the same pollen spores that trigger an allergic reaction, via the honey made from the local pollen spores, you trigger an immune system response.
Since the concentration of pollen spores found in honey is low — compared to, say, sniffing a flower directly — then the production of antibodies shouldn’t trigger symptoms similar to an allergic reaction. Ideally, the honey-eater won’t have any reaction at all. Source: How Stuff Works
To apply this theory, and yes, now is the time to start eating the honey so that your immune system is ready by spring, you’ll need to eat local honey. Bees that are actually using the flowers you’ll be smelling this spring. You can usually find local honey at Whole Foods or a Farmer’s Market.
I sell local honey here at Come & See!