Tag Archives: stinging nettles

Preparing for allergy season

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Stinging Nettle infusion and dried

Stinging Nettle infusion and dried

Wintertime is travel time for our family. By the end of February, after much travel, we start to get back into our normal routine. Part of our routine is drinking a quart of Stinging Nettles (Urtica dioica) infusion daily to prepare our bodies for allergy season. Nettles nourishes your body all year long, but when taken daily for a couple of months before allergy season, it nourishes the body in a way that helps it deal when faced with allergens.  Nettles are a natural source of quercetin, a plant-derived flavonoid that supports the body’s response to allergens and inhibits histamine release (the substance produced in the body that causes sneezing, itching, and respiratory issues). An allergen is a substance such as pollen that may provoke an exaggerated immune response in individuals who are sensitive to it. Through this potential action, nettles help to reduce allergy symptoms. It also contains natural antihistamines that help to open nasal passages and ease allergy symptoms.

During spring and throughout late summer, I pick fresh Nettles for my infusions and recipes. Fresh Nettles can be used in any recipe that you would use spinach. Nevertheless, I also dry them during this time in preparation for allergy season. I have found it to be most effective when I drink a quart of infusion daily for at least two months before the pollen flies. It strengthens and supports my body, so allergens don’t hit me like a ton of lead. For any stray allergy symptom, there is always Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) to the rescue.

If you did not happen to dry any Nettles last year, you can purchase them in the bulk section of a health food store or co-op. Don’t waste your time on tea bags, as you need more Nettles than that. Use about an ounce of dry herbs per quart jar, pour boiling water over it and let it steep at least four hours. I like to make it the night before and drink it throughout the following day. It will produce a beautiful rich deep green color, which will nourish and support the entire body, particularly the endocrine, immune, urinary, respiratory, and circulatory systems.

Do your body a favor and start drinking Nettle infusions every day.

All information is shared for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

 

AHHHHH Ragweed!

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My savior

My savior

After a rather mild allergy year, the last couple of nights I have been waking up with a heavy chest, itchy eyes, scratchy throat and a congested head. No worries, all I needed to do is stumble to the bathroom and find my trusty goldenrod tincture and within a couple of minutes I was able to fall back to sleep. I suspect the culprit of my discomfort is RAGWEED. It’s a rather unobtrusive weed that wreaks havoc with 30% of the human population. It really does not stand out very much as it is a little green plant with green flowers. Since goldenrod is a much showier plant and comes out at the same time as ragweed, it is unfairly blamed for late summer allergies. The big difference is that ragweed’s pollen is dispersed by the wind, while goldenrod has sticky pollen and relies on critters for pollination.

There it is hiding among the other plants. It looks quite innocent , but, oh no, don't be fooled.

There it is hiding among the other plants. It looks quite innocent , but, oh no, don’t be fooled.

Ragweed is very adept at wind pollination. Scientists estimate that a single ragweed plant can release one billion grains of pollen over the course of a single ragweed season. In addition, the grains are so light that they float easily even on gentle breezes. Pollen has been detected as far as 400 miles out to sea and up to two miles up in the atmosphere. There are a few of things a person can do to try to protect themselves from all that pollen floating around:

  • Close the windows
  • Do not use window fans
  • Use air conditioners
  • Limit time outside
  • Take a shower before bed
  • Don’t hang laundry on clotheslines
  • Use a neti pot to clean out your sinuses

I do not know about you but even though all the items above will help with my allergies, I will probably only do one or two on the list. Take a shower before bed and use the neti pot. So what do I do? Thank goodness for goldenrod, my allergy savior. During very difficult days, I will do one of two things, depending on my mood. Add 30-60 drops of goldenrod tincture in my water bottle, that way I will be slowly getting some all day long. Alternatively, I’ll make a quart of infused stinging nettles and goldenrod to sip throughout the day. Sometimes I add anise hyssop that I have in the garden to improve the taste. It has a nice licorice taste and helps aids my respiratory system to boot.

How do you deal with your seasonal allergies? Please share and I will continue to share.

All information is shared for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.