When fighting allergy symptoms, it is a good idea to start taking your herbal remedy at least a month before your personal allergy season arrives. This means having the herbs that combat the problem on hand before the herbs are actually growing on your land.
Having said that, there are reliable companies online that sell fresh or freshly dried herbs for you to use. Remember, the fresher the herb, the more potent the results.
Here are 5 herbs that help allergy sufferers, and direct links to buy each one.
Great for many things, nettles also work well against seasonal allergies. The only drawback is that you have to start taking them about 4-6 weeks before your allergies kick in.
On the plus side, nettles are tasty and add a richness to broth and teas that can't be equaled. Order fresh nettles that are dark green, and smell earthy. Avoid pale, scentless nettles. They are either too old or heated at too high a temperature and have had all the essence burned out of the leaves.More »
Cayenne is much more than a seasoning for those who like things spicy. It is a wonderful herb for helping reduce allergy symptoms, and fresh, powdered herb is the easiest way to work it into your diet.
Instead of buying overpriced little jars of cayenne, with questionable age to them, why not buy some bulk cayenne and know it's fresh. Remember, fresh cayenne pepper is not only hot, it also has an almost citrus finish to the heat.
Be very careful and use a mask when transferring cayenne from the bulk pouch to your container. Also, keep your face away from the top when opening.More »
Ginger is a tasty way to control allergies. Use it in teas and recipes for stir fry, add it to anything you are simmering on the stove. I like to add it towards the end, and my favorite way to use it is grated. This leaves behind the fibers and allows the juicy bits to permeate the dish.
You can buy ginger root if you don't have access to fresh, but it needs to be fresh dried. You will know as soon as you smell the pungent scent. No smell, it's not worth your money.More »
Catnip is not just for your kitties! It is soothing and helps reduce symptoms of allergies, so buy enough that your feline friend can share.
Like all herbs, dried catnip can be of questionable quality. Look for greenish grey leaves and a musky-clean smell. No worries about some stems in the mix. It's normal and you can leave them right in there.
Add catnip to your soothing tea blends, but too much catnip can taste bitter-so use a light hand.More »
Yarrow is prolific in most areas of the US, but what do you do when you have allergies in the middle of winter or early spring, before even the leaves of the yarrow are up? Buying dried yarrow flowers is a great way to have enough on hand when you need them. Yarrow flowers are clearly fresh when they smell slightly spicy and warm-just like the fresh plant.
Avoid buying yarrow flowers that have no scent, or burst apart at the slightest touch. These are either too old, or too dried out to be of much medicinal use.
Yarrow seems to fade fast. You will get a year's worth of storage out of the flowers and leaves-even in the cool darkness of your herb cupboard. After that, they belong in the compost pile.
Connect With Amy:
Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | Herb Gardens Forum | NewsletterMore »
Having said that, there are reliable companies online that sell fresh or freshly dried herbs for you to use. Remember, the fresher the herb, the more potent the results.
Here are 5 herbs that help allergy sufferers, and direct links to buy each one.
1. Nettles
Great for many things, nettles also work well against seasonal allergies. The only drawback is that you have to start taking them about 4-6 weeks before your allergies kick in.
On the plus side, nettles are tasty and add a richness to broth and teas that can't be equaled. Order fresh nettles that are dark green, and smell earthy. Avoid pale, scentless nettles. They are either too old or heated at too high a temperature and have had all the essence burned out of the leaves.More »
2. Cayenne
Cayenne is much more than a seasoning for those who like things spicy. It is a wonderful herb for helping reduce allergy symptoms, and fresh, powdered herb is the easiest way to work it into your diet.
Instead of buying overpriced little jars of cayenne, with questionable age to them, why not buy some bulk cayenne and know it's fresh. Remember, fresh cayenne pepper is not only hot, it also has an almost citrus finish to the heat.
Be very careful and use a mask when transferring cayenne from the bulk pouch to your container. Also, keep your face away from the top when opening.More »
3. Ginger
Ginger is a tasty way to control allergies. Use it in teas and recipes for stir fry, add it to anything you are simmering on the stove. I like to add it towards the end, and my favorite way to use it is grated. This leaves behind the fibers and allows the juicy bits to permeate the dish.
You can buy ginger root if you don't have access to fresh, but it needs to be fresh dried. You will know as soon as you smell the pungent scent. No smell, it's not worth your money.More »
4. Catnip
Catnip is not just for your kitties! It is soothing and helps reduce symptoms of allergies, so buy enough that your feline friend can share.
Like all herbs, dried catnip can be of questionable quality. Look for greenish grey leaves and a musky-clean smell. No worries about some stems in the mix. It's normal and you can leave them right in there.
Add catnip to your soothing tea blends, but too much catnip can taste bitter-so use a light hand.More »
5. Yarrow
Yarrow is prolific in most areas of the US, but what do you do when you have allergies in the middle of winter or early spring, before even the leaves of the yarrow are up? Buying dried yarrow flowers is a great way to have enough on hand when you need them. Yarrow flowers are clearly fresh when they smell slightly spicy and warm-just like the fresh plant.
Avoid buying yarrow flowers that have no scent, or burst apart at the slightest touch. These are either too old, or too dried out to be of much medicinal use.
Yarrow seems to fade fast. You will get a year's worth of storage out of the flowers and leaves-even in the cool darkness of your herb cupboard. After that, they belong in the compost pile.
Connect With Amy:
Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | Herb Gardens Forum | NewsletterMore »
Source...