Spring has sprung, and those of us with seasonal allergies are already feeling the sniffles come on! Springtime is one of the most potent allergen seasons due to high pollen content in the air and movement in the ground that stirs up mold, mildew, and other organic matter. While we could be out enjoying all the color, fragrance, and warmth that spring offers, many of us are hiding out waiting for the invisible allergy storm to pass us by. The good news is that if you’re one of the millions of people who deal with intense springtime allergic reactions, nature has a remedy!
Sting Away The Sniffles!
Stinging Nettle is by far my favorite herbal tea for combating allergies and even helping to prevent them in the first place. This dark green leafy herb is rich in a variety of nutrients – and underneath its needle-covered facade you’ll find a rich, green, earthy tea that makes an amazing sipping brew for cool spring days.
If hayfever is your main concern, stinging nettles may be your new best friend. Experience shows that sipping nettle tea 1-3 times daily can help relieve symptoms and prevent further issues. If other allergens trigger you, stinging nettle may help but you may want to use my recipe below to make sure you get lots of extra coverage.
WARNING
Stinging nettle that has been prepared improperly can cause all kinds of issues. The small stinging hairs on the surface of the leafs can actually irritate the respiratory system, damage the eyes, and really irritate the skin. While I will prepare nettles to eat because of how they’re processed, I only buy them ready to brew for tea.
To see where I get my organic stinging nettle for super cheap.
Iced Allergy Relief Herbal Tea Recipe
Here’s my simply sweet anti-allergy herbal tea recipe. I like to make this big and ice it. These herbs do well when chilled and make a wonderful daily spring tonic! If you aren’t sure how to brew iced herbal tea, find out here.
1 part Stinging Nettle (dried and properly processed)
2 parts Lemon Balm
10 Elder Berries
Organic Orange Wedge
You can prepare this as an iced herbal tea, or make it as a hot tea and squeeze the orange wedge over your cup to get some juice.
This tea is naturally sweet, green, and light. Adding local organic honey makes it even better tasting and better at helping your immune system fight off common local allergens!
Happy Spring 2014!
