Wednesday, September 7, 2016

DIY ~ My All-Natural Nettle Allergy Tonic Recipe



The amazing provision of God is showed in many caring ways to His creation. The fact that He provides the stinging nettle in later winter/early spring is one such act of love. When allergy season is about to flourish in the spring, so does this helpful (though sometimes stinging) plant! When allergy season is about to flourish in the fall, the elderberries are reading for the picking! This easy recipe can be assembled in minutes but must sit and steep for a month. Because of this, I encourage you to get a batch going now if you suffer from seasonal allergies. For best results, you should start taking it a month before spring and autumn allergies start. I have wanted to share this recipe with you earlier (ever since I created it a few years ago) and once again, I missed the boat on timing. This time however, I am going to post it in hopes that it can at least be beneficial in the following season (if you can't get one going now).


To begin, add 1/2 c. rose hips to a clean quart jar. The purpose of the rose hips is to aid in lowering the histamine levels (which is what triggers allergy symptoms) because it is high in vitamin C.


Next, add 1/2 c. of elderberries. Their purpose is to boost the immune system through its vitamin C as well. This includes the flavonoids such as quercetin which is a known allergy remedy and aids in lowering histamine levels also.


The third herb to add would be 1/2 c. nettle. This is "the" allergy herb and another anti-histamine.


Next, add enough raw apple cider vinegar (or you may use vodka which will pull more properties from the herb yet the apple cider vinegar itself is an allergy relief ingredient so the choice is yours) to fill ¾ of the way up the jar.



Finally, fill the remaining 1/4 of the jar with "local, raw honey". The theory behind using "local honey" for allergy symptoms is shared here.


Place a lid firmly on your jar and shake for a few seconds. Let the mixture sit for a month (in a cool, dark area such as your pantry) to infuse. For best results, shake the jar every few days to break up the honey and dissolve it into the tonic. For a more potent infusion, you can blend the ingredients together after 1 week has passed since everything will have softened (and continue to let the liquid infuse until the time is complete). This will break up the herbs further and allow a stronger brew.


When the month is up, strain your tonic/tincture/oxymel through a fine cotton cloth and store in a clean glass jar. This will last in your pantry for 1 year if using the apple cider vinegar and 5 years if using the alcohol.

* Take 1 tsp. ~ 3 times a day. For best results, start taking a month ahead of time (before allergy season) to get your immune system up. This has worked very effectively for me when I am diligent in taking it!

Note: Last year I did the vodka infusion and after needing to do 1 tsp. ~ 3 times a day, I was beginning to feel like an alcoholic! I was thrilled with the ability to use the apple cider vinegar infusion knowing that the apple cider vinegar itself helps to fight allergies. I also feel that the drinking of kombucha has been a blessing in reducing allergies so I encourage you to do some research to see if it would help you.

Also, if you would like to purchase the herbs and are not sure if it is worth buying them in bulk, here are some of the ways we use rose hips (think of this as your go-to vitamin C herb) and elderberries (think of this as your cold and flu fighter) in our home pharmacy. Because of their medicinal benefits, we haven't the need to purchase over the chemically-counter medicine any more.
All the fine print. This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making MondaysModest Mom Monday'sMonday's MusingsMake Your Home Sing MondayGood Morning Mondays,  The ScoopTitus 2 TuesdaysTuesdays with a TwistRaising HomemakersWise Woman Link UpHomestead Blog Hop Wow Us Wednesdays,  Coffee and ConversationHomemaking ThursdaysHome Sweet HomeOur Simple HomesteadAwesome Life Friday Link UpFive Star Frou Frou Friday, and Shabbilicious Friday. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. This post may contain affiliate links (which are merchant links that help to support this site at no additional cost to you if you purchase an item through them). Web source #1web source #2web source #3.

*Note: I am not a doctor. While I do seek scientific confirmation of the safety and effectiveness of the herbs and remedies I use, remember that using remedies is a personal decision. Nothing I say on this blog is approved by the FDA or intended to diagnose, treat or prevent disease. All things on this blog are my opinion or the opinion of others. Also, if you have a medical condition, are taking pharmaceutical drugs, or are pregnant, please consult your physician prior to taking herbs.

18 comments:

  1. I've used nettle for years, and elderberry, but not rose hips. This is great to know. I love mixing up new remedies, and will have to try it in cider this time. I typical take honey with cider and water every morning. Now I can try something new. Thanks!

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    1. Perfect! Then you are already ahead of the game! The nice thing about this tonic is that it is also an immune booster! :)

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  2. This sounds wonderful for allergies. I have a granddaughter who suffers miserably every year from allergies during those two seasons you mentioned. And thank you for adding the links as I don't have any nettles but will add that to my next Amazon order.
    Hope your week is lovely!

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    1. Ah, I feel for her! That one year I just couldn't take it anymore (I went through 20 hankies a day!). I am so thankful to have them under control now!!! :) Perhaps this can be a help to her...

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  3. So very timely! I have started having allergies that I never did before. I don't have these ingredients but will look for them at a local health food store! Thank you so much. Jes, I think the Lord provided this post for me. I have been praying about what to use. Tried a few herbal things but nothing has really helped a whole lot.

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    1. I am sorry to hear that! Allergies can be very frustrating! Especially if you choose not to take over the counter medicine. I found out many years ago that those made me feel real foggy and dazed (not to mention the evil side effects). This tonic really works for me but the key is to try and take it a month ahead of time (before allergy season) to get your immune system up. And to be diligent with the 3 times a day! Hope this helps! Love, JES

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  4. I see you have a link to Amazon. Wonderful! Trust you will get credit! Will order.

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  5. Thank you for this! I have developed an allergy to the catkins that fall from our oak trees, and I think I may also be allergic to the goldenrod that is blooming all over the place. Ah well, I have always been told that more people develop allergies as adults than as children, so I guess I am in good company ;) Lucky me, I just got my very first harvest of elderberries, and we stole a little bit of honey from our bees!

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    1. Perfect, perfect! And if I remember correctly, you were also able to find rose hips on your property too? For us, it is the nettle that is abundant :) Hope this helps Vickie!

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  6. Great tutorial Jes. Fortunately, we don't have a lot of allergy problems, but I wonder if that is what my cough is? I assumed I have a cold.

    Be blessed!
    Laura

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    1. That is wonderful that you don't! It seems it is just me in our household... About the cough, if you notice it is chronic in the morning especially, you might try to get off of milk. I noticed my morning hacking went away the week after I stopped drinking cow's milk. However, I still put cream in my coffee and it seems to be okay :)

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  7. Yikes, I just checked out the links. The ingredients are pricey since the bags are big. I think I might see if the local herb shop has smaller quantities. Thanks for the source though.
    Be blessed.
    Laura

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    1. Yes, the bulk bags could be pricey. We are able to forage our own nettle on the property which is nice. However, the elderberries and rose hips have so many uses in our natural home pharmacy that I find it is worth it. We don't purchase any over the counter medicine and if you calculate that in, the $26 for those herbs which lasts for a few years is quite worth it! Plus I have extra medicine to give away to family and friends as gifts. Thanks for pointing that out, I will include the links of how I use the other herbs for cold/flu season and so forth to make it worth it for our family.

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    2. FIY :)

      http://strangersandpilgrimsonearth.blogspot.com/2014/11/how-to-make-elderberry-medicine-home.html

      http://strangersandpilgrimsonearth.blogspot.com/2016/03/how-to-make-rose-hip-medicine-home.html

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  8. Hi, Jes! Thank you for this recipe. I’ve made the tonic, strained it, and am ready to start using it. I just want to make sure it’s not gone bad. Any indicators that it wouldn’t be safe to take? It smells like vinegar and is a beautiful purple color. I have no reason to think it’s gone bad, but it’s the first tonic I’ve ever made.

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    1. Hi Andrea, there really isn’t any way it could have gone bad at this point. It’s not a dangerous recipe in that way… it’s pretty safe ♥️ hope that gives you peace of mind 🤗

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    2. Vinegar based tinctures should last for 6-12 months in a cool, dark area (like your pantry)… but I don’t see much danger in food spoilage as it is a beautiful preserver… however if your husband is more cautious with this type of thing, you can always store it in the fridge where it would last quite long… and please remember to keep up the dosage as herbal remedies require steadfast routine 😊

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