Tag Archives: Allergies

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Vitamin E

Useful For:  Decrease in risk for hayfever, supports healing, good for skin and hair, increases heart health, regulates blood pressure.  As an antioxidant, it helps to protect against cancer.  It can also assist with lessening the effects of female hormonal issues (hot flashes and difficult menses).

Herbal Sources:  Alfalfa, Bladderwrack, Dandelion, Dong quai, Flaxseed, Nettle, Oatstraw, Raspberry Leaf, Rose Hips

Food Sources:  Wheat germ, whole grains, expeller-pressed vegetable oil, nuts and seeds, dark green leafy vegetables, sweet potatos, and brussel sprouts

Warnings:  High dosage Vitamin E (600-800 IU) should not be done without the oversight of a medical professional if you are on blood-thinners, have a bleeding disorder, or a Vitamin K deficiency.

 

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Onions

Name:  Onions

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Vitamins/Minerals:  Quercetin

Used for:  These staples of cooking are a great boost for your immune system.  They also contain quercetin, which, when combined with bromelain, supports a healthy histamine response.

Use in tandem with:

Directions & Warnings:

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Butterbur

Name:  Butturbur

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Used for:  This herb supports healthy membranes and is effective is decreasing the body’s production of histamines and leukotrienes.  Shown to be as effective in dealing with allergies as some of the more common OTC medicines.

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Capers (Caparis spinosa)

Name:  Capers

Latin:  Caparis spinosa

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Parts Used:  Berries

Vitamins/Minerals:  Antioxidants

Used for:  These are usually found pickled, and seem to one of those foods you either love or hate.  They are antioxidant rich, and contain compounds that decrease histamine response.

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Stinging Nettle (Urtica Dioica)

Name:  Stinging Nettle

Latin:  Urtica Dioica

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Vitamins/Minerals:  Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, Cobalt, Potassium, Copper, B-Vitamins

Used for:  Due to the nutritional denseness of this plant, it is one of the best tonic herbs.  Eating a bit of this a day, or drinking a cup of infusion daily, will almost insure that you are getting enough of the basics.  The nutrients contained make this herb particularly good for the kidneys, adrenals, and thyroid, which allows them to stabilize and increases energy levels.  It also contains chromium in enough quantity to help stimulate appetite, under the right circumstances.  If utilized regularly, nettle also assists with minimizing the effects of hayfever and other allergies.  The sheer amount of calcium and magnesium also strengthens bones, hair, skin, and teeth.  An additional side effect of the nutritional denseness is and increase in fertility, making nettle one of the best choice for that particular goal.  The array of nutrients also make this a supportive herb for the nervous system.

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Osha (Ligusticum porterii)

Name:  Osha

Latin:  Ligusticum porterii

Other Common Names:  Singer’s Root, Rattlesnake Root, Bear Medicine

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Parts Used:  Root

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Used for:  This root, in tincture form, has the capacity to stop anaphylactic shock and other allergic reactions, as well as ameliorate the effect of some venoms.  However, osha root is over-harvested, and comparatively rare, so should be used with respect to those factors.  I have quite a few allergy issues, due to what appears to be a growing sensitivity to many of the chemicals used in perfumes and soaps and…  So far osha has been an amazingly fast-acting solution to my throat starting to constrict and itch.  It has also allowed a woman I know to actually interact with cats, which she has always loved, but was allergic to.

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Directions & Warnings:  Over-harvested and rare plant.  Use with respect, and try to find cultivated supplies, rather than wild-crafted.

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Cayenne (Capsicum)

Name:  Cayenne

Latin:  Capsicum

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Used for:  Cayenne is one of the “miracle herbs,” falling into the same category of niftiness as garlic and turmeric.  It is good for your digestion, and quite an assist to the circulatory system as well.  It helps to regulate your heart and blood pressure.  Used in conjunction with ginger, it can help to clear your sinuses and bronchial tubes; garlic increases the effects on blood pressure.  It helps to mitigate shock, and can help with clotting (internally).  It can also be used as a liniment for headaches and muscle aches.  It is also an intensifier when used with other herbs and spices, making them more effective.  Cayenne can also stimulate salivation, which can help with dry mouth.  It also increases metabolism, making it a good thing to include in foods when working on weight loss.  And rolling on through the myriad effects of cayenne, it is a healthier stimulant than caffeine, doing so through nutrition and a systemic revitalization rather than agitation.  The way in which it acts as a stimulant can also help with the emotional responses to stress.

Use in tandem with:  Garlic, Ginger, Turmeric

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