05 November 2014
Last week I shared about how using a neti pot helped me kick all my prescription and over the counter allergy meds, so this week I'm going to tell you what I did to replace all those pills and inhalers...
I've posted about garlic honey and elderberry syrup...but I have not shared about the medicinal strength infusions and strong teas I use for cold and allergy relief.
The main one I started with was stinging nettle. I would mix it with other herbs (coltsfoot, hyssop, mullein...cinnamon, or the above combination) to help alleviate the inflammation of allergies in my system (stinging nettle is, among other awesome things, a natural anti inflammatory).
For stinging nettle I take a quart size mason jar, put in 1/2 cup dried nettles, cover to the tippy top with boiling water (topping it off a couple times) and then seal the jar for an over night steep. Yes...8 hours of air tight tea steeping (the vacuum action breaks apart the plant's cell walls even more). Then strain and squeeze out the plant material and have it in your fridge. I would drink 16 ounces a day with a little raw, local, honey. Most of the time I make a double batch and heat it up on the stove...no microwaving!
In the beginning I weaned myself off the meds by also taking a vitamin called Quercetin (it is derived from the bromelain in pineapples) which is also a natural anti inflammatory. I still keep some in my medicine cabinet.
I also will usually have a tincture of nettles in my medicine cabinet that I can add to my water...or I will add ground nettles to my soup or sauce. It is also high in minerals, so a great addition to recipes. If you have access to fresh nettles (and know how to cook them) they make a great stand in for spinach.
Now, there are also some herbs I use that don't require such a long steep. Sometimes my allergies require a more astringent plant so I will turn to a strong yarrow tea. The bitterness of the yarrow also helps aid digestion...which can, in turn help allergies because, and this was news to me, sometimes allergies are caused by a sluggish digestive system! So many problems start in the gut! But that's another blog post all together!
Also, in a pinch, I've used chamomile (some people use it for hay fever. It's relaxing and also anti inflammatory).
I hope to use my herbal knowledge to help my health coaching clients. Learning how to use herbs to increase my health has changed my life...it really is a whole lifestyle shift.
XO
P.S. I pick an herb to highlight every month in my free newsletter! If you haven't signed up yet, you can do so HERE!