Herbs and Essential Oils for Allergies and Colds

And the flowers are blooming! Daffodils, magnolias, even bluebells are appearing to beautify the world, and the wattle is flowering and the pollens are blowing, and all those poor hayfever sufferers sigh.

Hayfever: is an allergic reaction, and the antioxidants are among the most effective anti-allergic remedies available. Some suggestions:

• Grape see
• Bioflavonoid
• Feverfew, another effective anti-allergic

Sunshine: is warm and inviting in Spring, so out rush the youngsters, and some of the oldies, to soak up the cheerful rays. Of course quite a few then find themselves caught out in the cold when the weather changes, as it must. So the chills and colds and flu reappear. We can try all the favourites:

• Garlic
• Ginger
• Horseradish
• Chilli
• Echinacea
• Vitamin C

Wind: is characteristic of Spring. Some folks love it, others loathe it. Cold winds can trigger headache, and in some cases, neuralgia. Hot compresses can ease the neuralgia, peppermint tea the headache. Try these as well:

• Chamomile essential oil
• Peppermint

Spring can be damp and warm, ideal conditions for moulds and mildew to grow. The essential oils make short work of them:

• Clove
• Pine
• Thyme

Spring cleaning, of course, also benefits us ourselves. There was a long tradition in English and European herbalism to use spring tonics to cleanse and revitalise the whole body after the heavy food of winter. Drink teas of Nettle, Horsetail or Rose Hip.

Reprinted with permission from the National Herbalists Association of Australia

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