Allergy season got you down? Or just super annoyed at not being able to fully appreciate all the beauty springtime has to offer? Enter Aller-Tea*!
If your allergies are driving you crazy and your patience and tissue supply are wearing thin, try soothing your woes with this simple concoction.
INGREDIENTS
1 Tablespoon of Nettle Tea
Stinging nettle leaf (not to be confused with the root) has anti-inflammatory properties that have been found to help aid some symptoms of allergic rhinitis, including itching, watery eyes, sneezing, and runny nose. It has also been found to be effective at lowering blood pressure and as a diuretic. Downside: Nettle Tea tastes like straight up grass, and is not very pleasant alone. If you're making a more low-key nettle-based beverage, we recommend improving the taste by adding another tea like peppermint to the mix.
1 Teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar
While studies haven't yet proven ACV to have any antihistamine properties, it is reported to boost your immune system and help break up mucus. SO since allergic reactions are a result of your immune system overreacting to allergens like pollen and dust, it doesn't hurt to keep it strong. This also doesn't taste that awesome, which is where the next ingredients come in.
1 Generous Teaspoon of Raw Local Honey
Local honey is thought to improve seasonal allergies by allowing you to ingest the same pollen that your body is overreacting to when you get an allergic reaction. The idea is that the more familiar your body is with this pollen, the less it will freak out when you're exposed to it outside. It also makes this tea taste better!
A Squeeze of Lemon
Lemon juice has vitamin C and antioxidants that strengthen your immune system and keep your body from melting down even more when you have allergies! Vitamin C also acts as a histamine blocker, helping you fight off that incessant sneezing and runny nose!
1/2 Teaspoon of Ginger (freshly grated/minced or powder)
Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that help your body chill out and is especially helpful if you're dealing with allergic asthma symptoms.
Let us know how you like it and whether it makes a difference for you! If you make a batch that has too much of a grassy or acidic taste to it, don't forget that diluting it with a little more water and balancing with the honey is a great way to make the taste more pleasant. Good luck out there!
*Not trademarked, just very cleverly made up by my husband who was in the same boat as you before Aller-Tea came along!
