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 * ******************************************************