By Katie Mae, Contributing Writer
Does sneezing, wheezing, and watery eyes sound familiar?
It’s allergy season, for many that may mean intense suffering for the next several months. For others, it could be a mild irritation.
Often, seasonal allergies are connected to an unhealthy gut. While many (if not most) people who suffer from seasonal allergies could benefit from a gut healing protocol such as GAPS. Not everyone has the time for it, or might not feel quite up to the challenge quite yet.
Thankfully, there are God-given plants in nature that work together to help our bodies fight off allergic responses.
My favorite way to ease allergy symptoms is to use a seasonal allergy tincture with three of my go-to herbs: nettle, dandelion root, and dried rose hips.
All three of these herbs contain bioflavonoids, namely quercetin, (as well as numerous other vitamins and nutrients) that work as natural antihistamines.
When our bodies come in contact with allergens, they produce histamine as a response. Bioflavonoids work to block the release of histamine.
This seasonal allergy tincture uses apple cider vinegar instead of the typical vodka. Raw apple cider vinegar, with the “mother” helps balance your GI track, resulting in your body’s natural defense to battle seasonal allergies. If you prefer to use vodka instead, the tincture will still be effective but will but not as powerful.
If you feel like you need step by step tutorial on how to make an herbal tincture, you can find one here. Or, if you prefer, you can make this in an herbal glycerite instead. Do you need something now to offer relief while you wait for the tincture to be ready? Try our rooibos allergy tea!
DIY: Seasonal Allergy Tincture
DIY: Seasonal Allergy Tincture
Ingredients
- 2 parts dried nettle
- 1 part dried dandelion root
- 1 part dried rose hips
- 4 part vodka or apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Mix the herbs together filling a glass jar 3/4 of the way full.
- Cover with vodka or apple cider vinegar, screw on the lid, and give it a good shake.
- Store in a dark place, such as a cabinet for at least four weeks. Shake every day.
Strain through a cheesecloth or old t-shirt, squeezing out as much liquid as possible. Store in a glass jar. The tincture will retain its potency for at least two years. Store in a dark location.
For ease of use, keep a small amount in an amber glass dropper bottle.
How much do you use at a time? Do you use it to prepare for allergy season or wait until your allergies flair up?
Hello,
What would be the measurement for each herb?
Thank you
It would depend on the amount that you want to make. “One part” can be a tablespoon, quarter cup, whatever you choose. Just be sure to maintain the ratios as listed in the recipe 🙂
Hello, thanks for sharing this recipe! I just finished bottling this after weeks of anticipation, waiting for it to do it’s thing, so I’m excited to start using, but I didn’t see a dosage. Could you help me figure out what is the best protocol? It would be for adults. Thanks so much!