**Let’s make a tea blend to use during allergy season that can help support the body**.

*By the end of this post you may even have a few new herbal allies to reach for during allergy season*

Tea Blend to Support Seasonal Allergies

This post may contain links but they are not affiliate links. I am not in any sort of affiliate program at this time. They are links to things I actually use

Let’s begin by answering a few questions about the allergic response, what is it, how do you know if you’re having one & what are some possible treatment options?

Remember that you don’t have to have an allergy diagnosis to experience an allergic response. Sometimes certain environmental factors such as dust mites or certain types of animal dander can trigger an allergic response.

What is the allergy response?

An allergy occurs when your body is reacting to a foreign protein, these are typically referred to as allergens. These proteins are typically harmless, but if you have an allergy to a particular protein, your body’s defense system overreacts to its presence

An allergic reaction is the way the body responds to an allergen

The body releases something called Histamine which is a chemical that produces an inflammatory response when triggered by seasonal irritants, such as pollen or mold spores. This right here is telling us that inflammation is a key factor in allergies & allergic reactions

Histamines are primarily stored in mast cells & a specific type of white blood cell called basophils. They bind to specific receptors found throughout the body which create physiological effects. One such effect is the increased permeability of blood vessels which can allow immune cells to reach the affected area easily. However, it is this same process which leads to the symptoms generally associated with allergies. I will talk about some of the symptoms next.

Histamines is very complex chemicals that is needed to help regulate certain actions in the body & to get rid of it completely would be devastating to the system but we can do things to help keep them balanced

If you are able to keep your histamine levels down, you will most likely experience less frequent sneezing, nasal congestions, or watery eyes.

Common allergy triggers:

Pollen, a powdery substance released for the fertilization by trees, grass & weeds
Mold spores
Dust mites
Insect stings
Animal dander
Latex
Certain foods and/or medications

Now I will say that if you are experiencing any anaphylaxis symptoms such as difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat or tongue, hives, rapid heartbeat, nausea, vomiting & a feeling of impending doom, seek immediate medical attention.

We need to be responsible when using any medications, including herbal preparations & only use things in the scope in which they were indicated. One of the most important rules of herbal medicine is: First, do no harm.

Now I’m all for using herbal preparations but I also know there is a time & a place for conventional western allopathic medicine. Instead of a one or the other mentality, I like to use them to support each other.

Symptoms of an allergic response?

Runny nose
Congestion
Loss of smell
Coughing
Sneezing
Headache
Itchy, red, watery eyes
Increased mucus production
Postnasal drip

Possible treatments for allergies

Antihistamines
Nasal sprays
Decongestants
Asthma medications
Immunotherapy (allergy shots)
This allergy relief tea

Another possible treatment is a nasal inhaler, the next post I will be sharing a formulation you can use for allergy support. That post will be available in two weeks.

Just a side note, I am changing the frequency in which I do these posts & the accompanying YouTube videos. You may have noticed a bit of inconsistency lately & this is for a few reasons.

The first is I’m going to be updating the shop on my website for my beading this summer & actual products you can purchase hopefully by the fall.

The second reason is I’m also working on expanding my healing practice so I will be offering one-on-one health/medical astrology sessions in the next few months.

However, trying to wear all the hats & do all the things ended up landing me in bed for a few weeks with an inflamed sciatic nerve & then nothing got done. I can’t exactly film the YouTube videos from my bed, it’s not that type of channel LOL!

In seriousness, I do ask for your patience & understanding as this not very technologically savvy one person team figures all this stuff out. It’s been a learning curve to say the least, but as long as I keep putting one foot in front of the other I’ll reach my destination eventually!

Tea Blend to Support Seasonal Allergies

The Herbal Allies featured in this recipe:

Energetics: neutral, drying
Taste: salty, sweet, bitter
Rich in iron, magnesium, calcium, chromium, zinc, potassium, phosphorus & silicon
Works as a natural antihistamine helping to calm allergic reactions showing us that it has an immune system affinity. It can also help balance & calm an overactive immune system.
It’s drying energetic is telling us that it may be helpful in cases of runny nose

Energetics: cooling, moistening & tonifying
Taste: bitter
Contains a compound that helps to inhibit mast cell degranulation & histamine release. It is this release of the body that gifts us the symptoms of redness, irritation & itching
Helpful for allergy that are presenting with red, dry or itchy eyes & a dry throat with an irritated cough
Other uses could be for respiratory tract infections, dry coughs & mucosal irritation from inhaling smoke or dust.

Energetics: warming, drying
Taste: pungent, bitter
The volatile oil content can help relieve congestion throughout the body but especially in the respiratory system.
Holds expectorant properties helping to clear the lungs & upper respiratory tract

Energetics: cooling, moistening
Taste: sweet
Traditionally it has been used to alleviate allergy symptoms due to some inflammation modulating effects in the respiratory tract as well as being soothing to the mucus membranes which can get irritated during an allergic response.

Energetics: drying, tonifying
Taste: bitter, sweet
Traditionally has been used to treat allergic conditions that cause excess mucus in the upper respiratory tract

Energetics: cooling, drying, relaxing
Taste: sweet
It’s inflammation modulating properties can help reduce swelling & irritation in the airways helping to ease any discomfort associated with respiratory infections & allergies
Decongestant properties helping to clear congestion from the system
Topically it can help with itching that may occur as part of an allergic response

Energetics: cooling, moistening
Taste: sweet
Holds inflammation modulating properties & is especially soothing to the respiratory system
Can provide immediate relief for coughs, while reducing throat irritation & can provide a coating effect on the mucous membranes
This herb is to be consumed in moderation especially by those with high blood pressure

As you can see we have some pretty awesome herbal allies that can go in this tea blend, but those are not the only ones to choose from. I will be sharing a few other suggested herbs you could reach for in the Substitutions & Recommendations section of this post.

Our recipe is written in “parts”. I prefer to do it this way so that I can ensure a consistent product each & every time

What are parts?

A unit of measurement in herbalism

Here’s the fun thing about parts, you kind of get to determine the amount. This is going to come down ultimately to how much medicine you are wanting to make.

Let’s pretend one part is equal to 1 oz for the sake of ease.

This means 1 part = 1 oz

If the recipe calls for 2 parts, this would mean we would use 2 oz

If the recipe called for ½ part we would use ½ oz.

A part could be 1 tablespoon, 1 cup, 1 ounce, 1 liter, 1 gram, etc. Some herbalists even use handfuls or palmfuls as a measurement.

Equipment:

Scale if weighing out parts
Herb grinder
Bowls for measuring
Fork for mixing
Container for storage

I found these neat little fillable tea bags that would work perfectly to use this blend on the go. You can get them with a drawstring like THIS or like THIS where you can seal them with a bit of heat from a small flat iron

Ingredients:

2 parts Nettles leaf

1 part Plantain leaf

1 part Tulsi Basil leaf

1 part Mullein leaf

¾ part Elder flower

½ part Spearmint leaf

¼ part Licorice Root

Instructions:

Weigh or measure out the desired amount of herbs. Use a clean bowl for every herb. The reason we do this is to reduce the chance of cross contaminating your herbs. Use your herb grinder to ensure all herbs are roughly the same size.
Place all the herbs in a large bowl & stir thoroughly until combined.
Put the herbs in your desired storage container

To make a cup:

Place the desired amount of herb or 1 teabag in a cup
Bring some water to almost a boil & pour over the herbs
Allow to steep for 10-20 minutes
Enjoy as it is or add lemon or honey to taste

Dosage:

1-2 tsp of herbs per 8 oz of water
1-3 cups per day

Additional notes:

Licorice in excess can cause fluid retention & should be used in moderation with those who have high blood pressure
Always be sure to use your common sense when taking any herbal medications or preparations. If you have an allergy of suspected allergy avoid those herbs

Substitutions & recommendations:

Other herbs that may help address allergies

Rosemary → helps to relieve allergy related inflammation & improve asthma symptoms
Garlic → contains Quercetin, a natural compound that acts like a natural antihistamine
Turmeric → contains Curcumin which can help minimize swelling & irritation found in allergies. Adding a bit of black pepper will help increase the bioavailability of curcumin
Horseradish → can help clear nasal passages, thinning mucus thereby making it easier to expel
Butterbur → good choice for anyone who is wanting to avoid sedative effects of antihistamine medications
Horehound → great for thinning mucus & decreasing swelling
Goldenrod → helps to thin mucus, reduce inflammation & improve immune function
Echinacea → immunostimulant that can help address inflammation. There are studies showing that it may be effective in reducing the frequency & intensity of allergies

Comment down below & let me know herbal allies do you reach for during allergy season?