Bee pollen for allergies - too late to start taking?

by Brooke
(Palo Alto, Ca)

Hi Angela~
I love your website! I live in Northern Ca, and my aunt said there should only be a few weeks left of allergy season. How long does it take the body to make antibodies, if I started taking the bee pollen now would it make a difference? I wished I would have known about this a few months ago, and bee pollen will definitely be a part of my diet for next years pre-allergy season.
Also, I started with a few granules last night and had no problem, and did 1/2 teaspoon today (that is what is said to do on the bottle I got a whole foods). Is that too rapid of an increase?
Thanks!
~Brooke (brookehealingarts@gmail.com)

Angela's Response:

Hi Brooke!
Great questions! Glad you're enjoying the site. Normally (and I say that somewhat hesitantly) it takes more than a few weeks of bee pollen consumption to help balance the immune system. BUT, there are exceptions and everyone is physiologically different. It is unlikely that you'd get any relief from taking bee pollen now with only a few weeks of allergy season left but its not impossible. The many other health benefits that bee pollen can give you might make it worth taking now. Like I say in my articles, it is often the second season of bee pollen consumption that people find the best results.

With regards to the increase in pollen that you're taking - no, that is not to much, especially since you seem to be handling it well. If you had some mild allergy symptoms upon taking those small doses, I'd suggest backing off.

Bee Healthy,
Angela