If you love to be outdoors, but are irritated by seasonal pollen, consider the herb Stinging Nettle to help reduce the sneezing and itching symptoms of hay fever. A well-established remedy in Western botanical medicine, Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) leaves are recognized for their anti-inflammatory properties and other actions that support the immune system’s response to allergens.

Stinging Nettle does a good job at stabilizing mast cells, a type of white blood cell that becomes overactive in the body’s response to allergens and other substances that can enter the body. The leaves have been used to alleviate irritation seen in allergic respiratory symptoms as well as skin allergies. Stinging Nettle has a diuretic effect, which can help flush environmental irritants out of the body. It also supports the detoxifying action of the lymphatic system, which has important roles in immunity and recovery from illness or injury. Even though it has diuretic actions, which can flush nutrients along with toxins from the body, Stinging Nettle is also nourishing because of the robust nutrients it contains. This is why it’s considered to be a “balancing” herb.

One of the best ways to alleviate allergy symptoms is to drink a cup of warm Stinging Nettle tea a few times throughout the day: Steep 2 tablespoons crushed dried leaves in 12 ounces of water. Combine with 1 teaspoon local honey. If you are heading outdoors on a summer day, chill the tea the night before and bring it with you. When not combined with other herbs, nettle tea has a flavor profile similar to green tea: grassy with earthy notes.

Avoid Stinging Nettle if you’re allergic or sensitive to nettle or plants in the same family. There is evidence that this herb can lower blood pressure, change blood sugar and cause uterine contractions. If you take high blood pressure meds, have diabetes or are pregnant, check with your doctor before using Stinging Nettle on a regular basis.

Allergen Fighting Nettle Tea Blend

This is a great recipe for chilled stinging nettle tea that adults and kids can enjoy. This combination of herbs shifts the flavor profile from grassy to earthy/flowery.

Ingredients

• 1 ounce rooibos tea leaves
• 1 ounce nettle tea leaves
• 1 ounce lemon balm tea leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger (or grated fresh ginger)

Preparation

1. Mix tea leaves together in an appropriate size airtight container (you will store the extra tea)
2. Use about 1 heaping teaspoon of tea per 8 ounces hot water*
3. Let steep, covered, for 5 minutes, then add raw local honey and/or fresh lemon, if desired.
4. Store in the fridge overnight, or add plenty of ice and head outdoors. Sip frequently.

*Make sure water doesn’t exceed 212 degrees F, which is the boiling point at sea level; otherwise it can lessen the effectiveness of the tea.

Options: You can add other herbs in equal amounts to the blend. For example, lavender or peppermint could replace lemon balm. Experiment, but keep your total variety of teas to five or fewer.

References

Guiding Principles

The eyes are supported by bands of muscles (the extraocular muscles) that control their movement. Exercising these muscles has significant health benefits, including improved circulation, which reduces inflammation. Additionally, exercising the eyes may minimize eye fatigue or strain caused by vision overuse patterns such as digital eye strain or frequent night driving.

Below are eye exercises for general eye health:

Figure 8 Eye Exercise. You may have practiced this exercise, sometimes called “yoga eyes,” if you’ve ever taken a yoga class. This exercise should be done from a seated position, such as at your desk, while relaxing in your favorite chair, or while in an easy, seated yoga pose.

• Pick a point on the floor about 10 feet in front of you and focus on it.
• Trace an imaginary figure eight with your eyes.
• Keep tracing for 30-seconds, then switch directions.

Focusing Exercises.

• Alternate between looking at very distant and very close objects. For example, when seated or standing at home or at the office, alternate between looking at your nose and looking at a farther away building or tree. Repeat several times.
• Alternate between looking right and left.

The more time spent in front of digital devices, the greater the strain on your eyes and your mind. To reduce these effects, during screen-time, use a blue-light / glare filter over your computer screen or use glasses designed to minimize the effect of screen glare on the eyes. Also, simply closing your eyes for a few moments can give those fatigued ocular orbits a much needed reprieve from visual stimuli and processing.

References

Guiding Principles

Antioxidants help rid your body of waste substances called free radicals. These free radicals are unstable molecules that the body produces as it processes food and in reaction to environmental pressure. Free radicals damage the body by producing inflammation that can lead to disease, particularly illnesses such as arthritis, heart disease, cancer, and others.

To help you visualize how antioxidants work, think of free radicals as microscopic monsters circulating throughout the body. Antioxidants are the monster hunters that zero in on free radicals and neutralize them. This process helps protect the body from disease.

Most plant based foods — fruits and vegetables — are rich in antioxidants; these include berries, citrus fruits, pineapple, pomegranate, green leafy vegetables, carrots, beets, and green tea.

There are variations of antioxidants in different foods and each has a different role in relation to the organ or body system where they work to clean up free radicals. Some of the many antioxidants that support immunity are:

• Green tea: provides catechins and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
• Bioflavonoids and Vitamin C: found in citrus fruits.
• Selenium: a trace mineral (meaning we only need small amounts of it on a daily basis) found in Brazil nuts.

Before taking antioxidants in pill form, consult with a holistic physician who can determine which types and sources (food sources are best) are most important to your personal health for preventing or helping to heal illness.

 References

Guiding Principles