Happy spring! For most of you this is a wonderful time, as we’re coming out of the blahs of winter and seeing the world being reborn. Trees are budding, grass is growing and the world is celebrating new life.
Then there are the others of us who are feeling the effects of pollen and mold making eyes water, throats get scratchy, and causing some real misery.
If you are among the latter group, for whom the wonders of spring bring on these miseries, there are several herbal approaches to help allergy sufferers through these times.
Here’s our list of herbs that help. Among the top three are:
Another wonderful remedy is quercetin, a bioflavonoid that helps prevent the overproduction of histamines and reduces inflammation. Regular readers may recall quercetin also used as a protective during COVID-19. This herb helps block the ACE 2 receptors in your cells, which is the pathway used by the virus to invade your cells, and is also a powerful anti-inflammatory, protecting against the cytokine storm in the lungs.
Bromelain, found in pineapple, does double duty. It works with quercetin to enhance absorption, acts as an anti-inflammatory, and when used with a meal, is a great digestive enzyme. Good old Mother Nature always gives more than you asked.
Other helpful herbs include Mormon tea, (American ephedra), Marshmallow root Yerba santa, Turmeric, and Horseradish to name a few.
Most of the time people will use formulas instead of individual herbs, depending on their individual needs. I have always found formulas work best. The herbs tend to enhance each other, making the whole greater than the sum of the parts.
No discussion can be complete without mentioning Vitamin C. A great antioxidant, and powerful anti-inflammatory, this vitamin helps thin mucous and strengthen mucous membrane.
Some folks are concerned about possible herb/drug interaction when treating allergy symptoms. To those I suggest using homeopathic products. There are many available and can be quite specific, such as use for grass, tree pollen, mold, and regional specific formulas.
Homeopathics are extremely dilute formulas, sometimes using the allergen itself to produce the desired effect. “Like cures like” is the philosophy. It sounds crazy but it is very effective and safe to use.
I remember the first Earth Day back in the 1970s. I was in high school and very idealistic. We thought we could change the world. Well, actually, we did. Granted it took a lot of years and oceans of tears, but the air and water did get cleaner, and people paid attention to trash and litter. People tried to reduce their carbon footprint even before we knew what that meant. Back to Nature was a goal that continues today.
Not everyone can live off grid, growing their own foods and the like, but look around. How many people have gardens for food or for the pollinators?
Stop and think about the little things you do or can do to improve our lot on this little blue planet.
Some simple things to incorporate into everyday life could be reusable food storage, such as glass jars and containers and silicone bags.
Seek out brown paper bags – instead of plastic bag – as they can be used for composting, fire starters, pet litter and cage litter,
Silicone is an ideal material for things such as pot scrubbers straws and baking liners. Beeswax can be used in food wrappers.
There are so many little things that can have a large impact in the long run. Think outside the box and do a little research on how your everyday actions can help the planet!
Send questions on botanical remedies to: Nature’s RX: Jonathan Evans at Herbarium258@gmail,com, or by regular mail to: The Herbarium, 254 Exchange St., Chicopee MA 01013. If requesting info, please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope.