Discover The Power of Herbs for Allergies

Herbs for Allergies
If you've ever suffered from seasonal allergies you know how miserable they can be. Your eyes swell up, get red, and water constantly. You take to wearing dark glasses just to hide those red itchy eyes. And that nuisance is accompanied by a nose that is either so stuffy you can't breathe or runs like a faucet. Add to all this the aggravation of repeated sneezing and you have a very uncomfortable situation. Fortunately, there are some herbs for allergies that can really make a difference in your symptoms.

Nettles And Eyebright
Nettles and eyebright head the list of herbs for allergies. Nettle leaf is helpful for sinuses, while eyebright herb is good for eye ailments.These two work well together, relieving both watery eyes and nasal stuffiness. If you take them for several weeks before allergy season they will help prevent allergy discomfort.

Elder Flower
Elder flower is a decongestant and very soothing to the mucous membranes of the sinuses. It is a good safe medicine for a runny nose that even children can use. It is sometimes called by its Latin name "sambuca." Mullein and fenugreek are also good herbs for allergies, because they are beneficial for the respiratory tract. They are both reported to help to clear mucous from the system. Dandelion helps the liver by clearing it of toxins. This lets the liver work harder on the allergy problem. Milk thistle does a similar thing. These two herbs for allergies work well together.

Ma Huang or Ephedra
Ma Huang or ephedra is often found in combination of herbs for allergies because it is a good decongestant and tihistamine. It is also known by the name "Mormon tea." It has come under scrutiny because it is such a powerful stimulant.

However, it probably can be used safely if only used occasionally by healthy people.It should not be used by people with heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney problems or any other chronic health conditions without consulting a physician. It also should not be taken by people who are on an MAO-inhibiting type of anti-depressant.

It is a natural version of the pseudo-ephedrine that is found in some OTC allergy medicines. It is also sometimes found in weight loss formulas because of its stimulating qualities.

Butterbur
Butterbur, a traditional remedy for asthma, whooping cough, the plague, and many other maladies, is an herb that has recently been shown in laboratory tests to be as ffective as prescription allergy medicine. It seems to be a safe herb as well.

Butterbur also helps people with migraine headaches. The plant got its name because years ago its large heartshaped leaves were used to wrap butter.

It may not be safe to use from the wild because it contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids which are thought to be carcinogens. Fortunately, the herb can be purchased in capsules that have had the carcinogenic components removed.

Allergies can sometimes lead to infections of the sinuses or lungs. If you get an infection from your allergy echinacea and golden seal are both great for fighting infection. Use either one alone, or both together. Golden seal tends to be a bit expensive, but it is excellent medicine for fighting off the flu.

Ragweed puts out the pollen that is responsible for most of the pollen allergy symptoms. It is in the same plant family as echinacea, chamomile, boneset and many other herbs that are otherwise beneficial.

To the allergy sufferer, these other herbs can often set off the allergy symptoms as well. Sunflower is also in the same family (Compositae) so eating sunflower seeds can set off the allergy symptoms in some.

(Eating canteloupe has been known to set it off too, presumably because of pollen getting into the fruit of the canteloupe or other melon somehow.) You can probably use any of these herbs for allergies without problems, but you should be aware that your allergic condition could show its symptoms when using some of them.