Herbs And Nutrients For Managing Hay Fever
This time of the year is often filled with sneezes, itchy eyes, tickly throats and foggy heads. Hayfever is one of the most common ailments that we see each spring and we wanted to share one of our favourite herbs and top nutrients that we use every day in the clinic
Nettle Tea for Allergy Season
Nettle leaf is super useful in reducing the symptoms of hay fever by acting as an anti-inflammatory. Some research has linked treatment with stinging nettle leaf to relief of symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes. Nettle infusions are highly nutritive tonics that nourish your body with trace minerals and vitamin K as well as many antioxidants and other plant compounds.They also help support cardiovascular health, blood sugar regulation and general wellness.
It's an all-round SUPER HERB. It’s easy to make an infusion at home and have a pleasantly mild flavour. Here is how.
Nettle Leaf Infusion
- 50g dried stinging nettle leaf
- 8 cups water
Instructions
- Use clean filtered water and bring it to a boil.
- Toss nettles into a mason jar or jug, and then fill it with boiling water. Allow the herbs to steep in water for 12 hours, then strain them from the infusion using a fine-mesh sieve or tea strainer.
- Drink right away or store the strained infusion in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Add lemon or lime juice to flavour if you wish
You can drink iced tea too!
Quercetin – mother nature’s natural allergy nutrient for seasonal allergies and inflammation
The main natural sources in foods are vegetables such as onions, the most studied quercetin containing foods, and broccoli; fruits (apples, berry crops, and grapes). Quercetin is known for its antioxidant activity in radical scavenging and anti-allergic properties characterised by stimulation of immune system, antiviral activity, inhibition of histamine release, decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines, leukotrienes creation, and suppresses interleukin IL-4 production.
It can improve the Th1/Th2 balance (that's auto immune disease). All its researched mechanisms of action contribute to the anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulating properties of quercetin that can be effectively utilised in treatment of late-phase, and late-late-phase bronchial asthma responses, allergic rhinitis and restricted peanut-induced anaphylactic reactions.
It’s cheap, safe, natural and so incredibly effective!
Come and have a chat to us if you need some advice for seasonal allergies.
We appreciate the compromises and demands from modern life, and sometimes, all that we need is professional ‘on-the-spot’ advice from a trained clinician, with heartfelt compassion, wisdom and clarity. We offer a free quick Apothecary Drop-In Consult from Monday to Friday - 9am to 5pm.
