Influencers are claiming raw honey can stop hay fever, but evidence for its effectiveness is weak – and relying on it instead of allergy medication has its risks

As pollen counts increase in parts of Australia throughout spring and summer, so too do the number of social media posts spruiking the benefits of locally sourced honey to alleviate hay fever symptoms.

On TikTok, influencers claim raw honey is “super effective” at building resistance to hay fever or even stopping hay fever for ever, while some honey sellers claim their products can help people remain “antihistamine free”.