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If you have ever lived in Texas, then you know the plight of the person affected by seasonal allergies. I had never really experienced seasonal allergies while I grew up in California (this Hippy is not a native Texan if you couldn't tell!), but all that changed when we moved to Dallas, Texas. At first, I didn't think it would affect me because I was feeling great while watching everyone else around me sneeze, wheeze, and complain of congestion. Two years into living in Texas and suddenly I understood what all these poor people were going through. Seasonal allergies really suck!
Many allergy meds have unwanted side effects
I've tried all sorts of allergy medications to feel more normal during allergy season, but none of them left me feeling normal at all. Rather they left me feeling drowsy and congested. While many of the pharmaceutical allergy medications can relieve itching and sneezing type symptoms, they do little to treat congestion, are often expensive, and usually, come with negative side effects. When I first began my journey to a more natural lifestyle, one of the first things I began to delve into, was natural remedies for seasonal allergies. Unbeknownst to me, there are actually quite a few effective natural remedies for those pesky seasonal allergies.
Natural remedies for seasonal allergies
Believe it or not, people have been dealing with seasonal allergies for practically FOREVER! At least as long as we have been around on this planet. It's therefore, reasonable to assume that we've found and tested quite a few effective natural remedies over the centuries. These are just some of the many ways that you can take care of your seasonal allergies, sinus infections, and even help ease asthma symptoms naturally:
- Nettle & Peppermint Tea - Nettle is one of the best herbs for use with allergies! Rich in vitamins and minerals as well as antihistamines, nettle is also a natural anti-inflammatory and has even been studied in clinical trials. One study done by Helms and Miller, suggests that nettle’s anti-inflammatory action may be attributed to its histamine content, and recommends an adult dose of 300 mg twice daily of freeze-dried nettle leaf. Peppermint is a great addition to this tea because it contains a flavonoid that can help inhibit the activity and secretion of anti-inflammatory enzymes, such as histamines, and greatly reduces the symptoms that come along with histamines. Just steep 1 Tbsp. each of peppermint and nettle, strain and sweeten with raw unfiltered honey.
- Raw Apple Cider Vinegar - An age old remedy for practically everything including heartburn and even seasonal allergies, ACV really does live up to its hype in the natural healing world. I have used it to draw a fever from the body and seen many a pregnant woman find heartburn relief by taking it daily. ACV has the ability to reduce mucous production as well as cleanse the lymphatic system, making it a great addition to your herbal remedy chest. Mix 1 tsp. of ACV (always use ACV of "the mother") into a glass of water. Take this 3x daily when allergies are acting up. You can up the healing ante with this remedy by steeping dried nettle leaf in your ACV for two to four weeks and strain before use!
- Neti Pot/Saline Rinse - An ancient Ayurvedic practice that even Western medicine is starting to get behind, the Neti Pot uses gravity and a saline solution to rinse the sinuses clean. Using a Neti pot frequently has been proven to be beneficial for many reasons. Saline solution is very soothing on nasal membranes and is antiseptic, helping to cleanse your nasal passages of bacteria and allergens. You can learn more about the Neti Pot here, and even make your own saline solution instead of having to buy more refills!
- Essential Oils - There are quite a few essential oils that can be helpful with helping ease seasonal allergy symptoms. Rosalina essential oil is the eucalyptus replacement in this blend, and is commonly called "Lavender Tea Tree" because it's from the melaleuca family but smells more florally and is rich in linalool like lavender. It's highly antiseptic and is very helpful to cleanse the air and help you breathe better. Frankincense essential oil has been effectively used in studies to help reduce and relieve asthma and its symptoms. Blue Tansy and German Chamomile are both helpful for allergies, sinusitis, and hay fever because their main chemical constituent that makes their color blue, Azulene, is also a natural antihistamine.
Allergy Annihilator
Kid-Safe Allergy Essential Oil Blend
NOTE: This is not a blend to use in the case of severe allergic reactions to food/poisons/bites/etc. This is not a replacement for an Epi-pen or the emergency room. Please consult a medical doctor in the event of an emergency. This is a blend to help ease seasonal allergies. While eucalyptus is fantastic for adults and children over 10 years of age, we are not using it in this blend, so as to make it safe for all ages! You can substitute eucalyptus essential oil for Rosalina essential oil if you are making this for an adult or child over 10 years of age, but Rosalina is still highly effective even for adults!
INGREDIENTS
- 40 drops rosalina essential oil
- 25 drops Fir needle essential oil
- 20 drops Lavender essential oil
- 15 drops Frankincense essential oil
- 25 drops Sweet orange essential oil
- 5 drops blue tansy essential oil
- 5 drops German chamomile essential oil
- 15 ml glass bottle with dropper
DIRECTIONS
- Combine essential oils in a 15 ml amber glass bottle. Swirl the bottle gently to mix. Store in a cool dark place with your other essential oils, when not using!
How to use the Allergy Annihilator essential oil blend
- Aromatherapy Inhaler – Aromatherapy Inhalers are perfect to keep on hand in your back pocket or purse, for whenever the need to take a whiff arises! The best part is you’re the only one who smells your personal inhaler, so the essential oils used will not offend anyone around you! To use, place 25-30 drops of the essential oil blend into a small glass bowl. Add the cotton pad to the bowl and roll it around (using tweezers, not bare fingers) until it’s soaked up all the essential oils. Using tweezers, remove pad and place in inhaler tube. After closing the inhaler tube, be sure to label it so that you don’t forget which blend it is! You can pull the inhaler out and take a few deep whiffs whenever you are feeling your allergies upon you.
- Smelling Salts – This is just another way to keep a sniffer around with you on-the-go. In a 10 ml (1/3 oz.) glass bottle, add 30 drops of the essential oil blend and fill the remainder of the bottle with either fine or coarse sea salt. Waft the bottle under your nose while taking deep inhalations whenever you feel a sneeze coming on or need to catch your breath.
- Diffuser – This blend works really well in the diffuser when you are at home or in your office, using the recommended amount of drops for your diffuser, diffuse this blend throughout the space that you are occupying. Diffuse for 30 minutes ON and 60 minutes OFF so as not to get
oiled out! - Salt Steam - This is a really great method to use for colds, congestion, and sinus infections because this helps relieve congestion and clear up mucus while cleansing your sinuses. Combine 4-6 drops of essential oil blend into 1/4 cup sea salts and mix until combined. Combine 4 cups boiling hot water with real salt and mix together. Cover your head with a towel and position your face over the bowl, using the towel as a tent to hold the steam in. With your eyes closed and face 5-10 inches away from the hot water, breathe in the herbal goodness for no more than 10 minutes at a time.
- Diluted in a Roll-On Bottle - Many times, I like to keep roll-ons on hand to use topically. I add the essential oils with a carrier oil to a roll-on bottle and then massage this onto the bottoms of the feet as well as the chest/back of the neck. You can also use these like the aromatherapy inhalers and just open them up to take a whiff as well! Combine 1 Tbsp. carrier oil with the age-appropriate essential oil blend. For babies under 2 years add 4 drops essential oil blend and massage to babies feet only and use diffusion, for children 2+ years add 8 drops essential oil blend, for children 6+ years add 10 drops essential oil blend, for adults and children 10+ years add 15 drops essential oil blend.