Hi all,

I read a paper years ago (can't cite) that explained that your intestines 
are actually "leaky" enough for some pollen grains to pass through the 
intestinal wall (I don't know where they go from there) and thus allow the 
body to desensitize due to low level foreign protein challenge.

I recently read another paper by a physician who stated that certain 
substances such as cow's milk and gluten make the intestine especially 
leaky, and allow allergens to pass, thus causing allergic rhinitis, even 
thought the substances weren't inhaled.

I have no idea whether there is any truth to these reports, but thought the 
List might want to hear a possible mechanism.

I personally am allergic to some grass pollens, but eating local honey or 
pollen doesn't help me.  However, I sell quite a bit of both every year to 
people who are thoroughly convinced that it helps them.

Randy Oliver 

******************************************************
* Full guidelines for BEE-L posting are at:          *
* http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm  *
******************************************************