Complimentary care: herbs and supplements

"Everything on the earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to it, and every person a mission." ~Anonymous

Sometimes it is appropriate or necessary to get additional allergy support from supplements and natural herbs. These can help to build immunity, ward off undesirable reactions, or manage symptoms once they occur. 

What to know about selection

• Look for supplements and herbs that have been standardized - each capsule or tablet contains the same amount of active ingredient

• Do your best to ensure that the herbs you select do not come from areas where agricultural chemicals have been used

• Look for ingredients that are native to your locale

• Organic or wild-harvested herbs are best

Echinacea

Most known for it's proven ability to strengthen the immune system, echinacea also reduces the body's sensitivity to allergens.

Elderflower

An essential preventative remedy for hay fever, especially when used prior to the allergy season. In season, elderflower is most useful for reducing inflammation, the production of nasal mucus, and watery eyes.

Eyebright

Used as an eyewash, eyebright helps to relieve inflamed or watery eyes. And it is quite effective at slowing a runny nose and soothing mucus membranes when used as a nasal rinse. 

Thyme, rosemary and chamomile

The essential oils of these herbs are helpful at clearing the sinuses and stimulating circulation. As a tea or or infusion, they can reduce nasal congestion.

Red clover and sage

These are powerful blood purifiers that help cleanse the toxins produced by allergies. As a tea or gargle, sage is known to soothe the throat. 

CAUTION: Red clover and sage should not be used while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Stinging nettle (L. Urtica ioica)

Tea made from nettle can help increase resistance to allergic reaction. It is especially useful at reducing the release of histamines that cause itching from stings, hay fever and food allergies. Available in capsule, tincture and tea form. 

Black Seed (Nigella sativa)

Black seed is a powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, bronchodilator and antihistamine. Two of black seed's volatile oils,  work together to enhance its action against respiratory symptoms, offering a safe alternative to the cortisone-based therapies often used by allergy sufferers.

CAUTION: Black seed should NOT be used during pregnancy as it may increase the risk of miscarriage.

Quercetin

This funny sounding antioxidant and bioflavonoid is actually responsible for the dark colors in plants like fruits and vegetables. This pigment inhibits both the production and release of histamines in the body. To counter their slow-acting properties, begin taking quercetin before allergy symptoms begin - prior to or at the beginning of the allergy season. Quercetin can be found abundantly in apples or as a dietary supplement.

Eucalyptus and peppermint

Peppermint is highly regarded for its treatment of nasal congestion, sinusitus, improved digestion, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Invigorating eucalyptus is used widely for its ability to calm and clear as well as for easing breathing. Peppermint is a common tea in many homes. Both are available as essential oils. Sprinkling a few drops of either on the floor or walls of the shower before bathing in the morning is uplifting. 

Did you know?

It's easy and fun to grow your own allergy herb garden! Start with a small pot or window box, indoor or out.

You should always consult your health care practitioner before using herbs and supplements, especially if taking any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications as they may contraindicate on another and cause undesirable or serious effects.

More information

Cascadia Folk Medicine supplies botanical medicines (herbs) that are "ethically wildcrafted or organically grown in the mountains, valley, and gardens of the Cascadia Bioregion".

Mountain Rose Herbs offers a wide range of certified organic herbs. Herbal students studying with specified educators are eligible for a 10% discount.

Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine offers online herbal courses and certification. 

Seasonal allergies: complimentary care

“It's bizarre that the produce manager is more important to my children's health than the pediatrician.” ~Meryl Streep

Aromatherapy

Essential oils are the extracted aromatic essence of common and rare plants, namely trees, fruits, flowers, and herbs. More than 150 essential oils are known to have been extracted, each with its own unique scent and healing property.

Essential oils act within the body pharmacologically (like drugs but safer), physiologically (benefit, stimulate, or adapt to specific systems), and psychologically (triggering a brain response). 

Although essential oils are generally considered safe for home treatment, you should consult a qualified health practitioner if you are pregnant, use homeopathic remedies, have a chronic illness like high blood pressure or a serious health problem like epilepsy, are undergoing psychiatric treatment, or plan to use with babies or young children.

The aromatherapy benefits of essential oils are easy to obtain at home in a variety of ways. Oils can be added to baths, massage oils, steam inhalation, body and skin care products, mouthwashes, and compresses. Sometimes essential oils are enjoyed simply for their fragrance.

Essential oils that are helpful with hay fever include:

• Cypress is an antispasmodic that is often used as a throat gargle. Several drops added to a vaporizer relaxes tense muscles and prevents coughing spasms.

• Eucalyptus’ reputation as a powerful antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and decongestant, accounts for its use in the treatment of colds, coughs, sinusitis and infections. It has a calming effect and ability to open aid breathing.

• Lavender, well known for its calming and relaxing properties, can be massaged into the chest to reduce spasms. Some hay fever or asthma sufferers may be allergic to lavender.

• Peppermint’s uplifting and invigorating characteristics open up passages that ease breathing.

• Roman Chamomile is calming and soothing to the nervous system, helps prevent spasms, and induces sleep. A few drops in a vaporizer or sprinkled on a light bulb is even gentle enough for children. Should not be used in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Tip: Drinking a glass of lemon water (juice of ½ a lemon or a few drops of lemon oil in a glass of warm water) first thing in the morning can regulate blood pressure, reduce phlegm, relieve indigestion, purify the blood and flush toxins from the body. Drink up!

Homeopathy
Contrary to allopathic medicine, homeopathy is based on the philosophy that minute doses of a substance that produces symptoms similar to the illness, triggers the body’s immune defenses. This is poplary known as the principle of “like cures like”. Although Samuel Hahnemann, an 18th century German physician, is credited with developing homeopathy as we know it today, it was Hippocrates (“the father of medicine”) who initially understood the philosophy.

Homeopathy follows a methodology that considers the individual’s (a) specific symptoms, (b) reaction to sickness, and (c) ability to heal for determining diagnosis and treatment.

An unusual aspect of homeopathy is that many of the substances used in remedies would be harmful if taken in their basic form. Remedies are diluted, however, and developed from plant, animal, and mineral origins and include snake venom, homey bees, coffee, and copper.

Although many doctors remain skeptical about its effectiveness, the value of homeopathy is proven by its worldwide popularity as a safe and effective treatment for many problems.

Euphrasia, the homeopathic version of eyebright, has been used since 1305 as a treatment for sore, watery, irritated eyes associated with hay fever sufferers.

Ayurveda
Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine based on the philosophy that each person is uniquely individual, and that illness impacts the body and mind collectively. As the traditional medicine of Indian for more than 5000 years, Ayurveda is the oldest recorded medicine known to mankind.

Ayurvedic healing may incorporate the use of herbs, nutrition, cleansing, acupressure massage, breathing, yoga, Sanskrit and astrology. According to ayurvedic practitioner, Rose Parsad, “In Ayurveda, we usually start looking to why the allergy has occurred rather than at the symptom by itself!”

Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine
If you would like to go deeper than treating the symptoms, acupuncture or Oriental Medicine (OM) may be a great place to start.

Acupuncture looks at the flow of energy or “qi” through the body’s pathways. From this view, blockages in the body’s energy stream result in disease. Tiny needles are placed along the pathways to balance qi.

Oriental Medicine is concerned with the internal and external causes of disease rather than the symptoms. An emphasis is placed on rebalancing qi using any number of treatments including the use of herbs, moxibustion, breathing, cupping and nutrition.

Neti Pot
The neti pot, the cousin of the old-time nasal syringe, is a form of nasal irrigation that has gained tremendous popularity over the past few yours. Neti pots are fabulous for clearing and soothing clogged and irritated nasal passages. 

Rather than trying to explain how to use a neti pot, here's a video ...

Featured Spice: Fenugreek

Recently I was treated to a delicious Indian dinner. As I savored the flavors, I recalled that many years ago, back when I was still living in New York City, friends invited me to come along to visit a family living in a small town outside of Philadelphia. That visit turned out to be the start of several long and dear relationships.

Besides the fun and camaraderie of the gathering of women, what I remember most is the food. We spent most of the day in the kitchen – rinsing, snapping, chopping, dicing, stirring while laughing and sharing life stories. During the preparation I was introduced, for the very first time, to fenugreek – an herb used for medicinal and culinary purposes dating back at least as far as ancient Egypt. I would later learn much more about this amazing herb, but on that sweltering summer day, in a tiny row house kitchen filled with amazing sisters, I learned of the subtle culinary power of the herb with the funny-sounding name.

Fenugreek seeds and ground spice. Credit: © Can Stock Photo Inc. /rexkrr

After that day it would be many years before I would use fenugreek again or even think of it. Then while shopping in a Mediterranean market, I came across the powder and recalled all of the sensations of that prior experience. That night I recreated the flavor with some delicately cooked black beans … and was hooked. Even as I expanded my use of the herb to stews, soups and curries, the health benefits of fenugreek eluded me until just a few years ago.

During a discussion about culinary herbs and spices, I mentioned to a (healthy) client how I was introduced to fenugreek and how it had become a staple in my pantry. Unbeknownst to me, she began experimenting, cooking with the herb on her own, and also came to love it. Several months later, she excited shared medical test results showing that her cholesterol levels had normalized. Best of all, her doctor supported her!

Fenugreek has numerous benefits, which include:
• Anti-diabetic properties that lower blood sugar levels by slowing sugar absorption
• Lowers blood cholesterol
• Useful in reducing fever and menstrual cramps
• Calms inflammation of the stomach and intestines
• Contain mucilaginous fiber that has slight a laxative effect (digestive aid)
• Contains soluble fiber that aids in weight control
• Used to treat various respiratory ailments
• Excellent for inducing lactation – increases breastmilk supply

Fenugreek is a commonly used ingredient in curries, chutneys, and traditional medicines of India, China, Northern Africa and the Mediterranean. Used as both as an herb (leaves) and a spice (seeds), the most commonly eaten part of the fenugreek plant is the seed which can be crushed or ground and roasted and added to foods easily. The leaves are high in iron. Fenugreek can be sprouted, eaten in salads, and is often used to add maple flavoring to artificial maple syrup, candies and even cattle feed.

PRECAUTION

Note that there is a significant difference between using fenugreek as a food product (i.e. seasoning, etc) and using it as a dietary supplement (encapsulated). I advocate using fenugreek as a food product in recommended (safe) quantities in the presence of good health.

However, you should note:

Fenugreek is part of the peanut and chickpea family. If you are allergic or sensitive to these foods, you may have similar reactions with fenugreek. Consult your doctor.

Asthmatics should be careful to avoid inhaling the powder as it has been reported that doing do may worsen asthma symptoms.

If you have bleeding disorders, ulcers, take blood thinners or have diabetes, consult a physician before using fenugreek.

If you have a medical condition, are on medications, pregnant or breastfeeding, you should consult with your medical doctor before using fenugreek or any other herbs.

Further information on precautions can be found at WebMD, MedHelp.

Family remedies

Cloves, star anise, and cinnamon sticks

I grew up with the old fashioned grandmother. Nanny grew her own food, raised chickens out back, wore an apron most of the day, hummed old gospel hymns over collard greens and black eyed peas, made dumplins from scratch, and frogs legs on special occasions. 

Culture is critical to one's foundation. It stays with you long after folks pass on, long after the lessons end. 

Maybe it's that I am the oldest grandchild or perhaps because I was the slowest eater ... whatever the reason, of all the things I learned from Nanny, her love of food is what stuck with me. And as I raised my own children, those family recipes brought comfort, healing and a few new twists. Seeing as it is the cold season, I wanted to share one with you.

This concoction came in handy whenever my family came down with sniffles, sore throat, upset stomachs, fever, or chills. Make large batches to hot drink throughout the day, using local and organic ingredients when possible.

3 cinnamon sticks

3 whole cloves

3 whole Chinese* star anise pods

1 piece fresh ginger root (at least 1")

2-4 quarts water

lemon (optional)

honey (optional)

Bring water to a low boil in stainless or glass pot/kettle.

Add cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise and ginger root.

Turn off heat, cover, and steep for 10-15 minutes. Strain.

Serve alone or with a little raw honey and/or lemon.

Enjoy!

Cinnamon

• Potential for regulating blood sugar, lowering cholesterol, and improving memory

• Improves circulation, lowers risk of infection, and healing to the sinuses.

• Increases digestion

• Excellent source of potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, vitamin A, and niacin

Cloves

• Warming and soothing

• Antispasmodic properties help to relieve coughing

• Useful at relieving indigestion, nausea, constipation, diarrhea and vomiting

• Helps regulate heart rate and blood pressure

• Great source of manganese, vitamin C, potassium, selenium, calcium, fiber, vitamins A, C, B1, B6 and K

Star Anise (Illicium verum)

*CAUTION: Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum) is highly poisonous!*

• Energy building

• Immune system strengthener

• Relieves respiratory pain and cough

• An important ingredient in Tamiflu

• Good source of calcium, iron, zinc, manganese, magnesium, copper, vitamins A and C

Ginger root

• Settles the stomach

• Relieves nausea and vomiting

• Promotes healthy sweating

• GRAS to use during pregnancy

• Good source of magnesium, B6, potassium and copper