Seasonal Allergy Relief

While the newness of spring breathes life back into plants, trees, flowers, and wildlife that have been dormant all winter, this same rebirth awakens unpleasant seasonal allergies for many people. According to TCM, allergies, or bi yuan, meaning nose-pool, are caused by a blockage of wei Qi to the nose and sinuses. Acupuncture and herbal medicine manage symptoms by decreasing pain and inflammation, bolstering the immune system, and regulating the body’s histamine response to aggravates like pollen or dust, relieving symptoms before they start. The shift into spring is a great time to bolster your defenses and prepare your body for the allergies to come using essential oils, herbal formulas, and acupuncture. A western approach to allergy relief is a saline rinse via a neti pot. The saline, a sanitary salt solution, washes out irritating allergens like pollen, and calms inflamed tissues while easing congestion in the sinuses.

Aromatherapy for Symptom Relief

Essential oils have been used for centuries to aid the body in healing, and can even be used to treat allergy symptoms. Use the following essential oils as a shower steam, chest rub, in a diffuser, or directly inhale the oil to calm and relieve unpleasant symptoms like headaches, congestion, itching, and runny nose. Make sure to not apply oils directly to skin without diluting in a carrier oil, and research whether these oils are safe around kids or pets. If a reaction occurs, it could be an allergic reaction and should be washed off immediately.

Eucalyptus: Though a known cause for allergies in some people, eucalyptus is an anti-inflammatory oil that can help with congestion relief, reduce inflammation, open up the sinuses and lungs, improve circulation, and clear mucus.

Peppermint: Peppermint is a strong oil that opens clogged sinuses, is anti-inflammatory, relieves pain, opens airways, relieves a scratchy throat, has decongestant properties, and disperses wind-heat symptoms. Thi oil also enters the liver acupuncture meridian, unblocking qi stagnation and helping the body to release and relax.

Frankincense and Sandalwood: Studies have shown that the combination of frankincense and sandalwood with eucalyptus ravensara can ease symptoms related to hay fever caused by pollen. This anti-inflammatory combination helped unblock nasal passages, eased runny and itchy noses, lessened frequency of sneezing, aided in better sleep.

Lemon, Lavender, and Peppermint Blend: Lemon, lavender, and peppermint are all anti-inflammatory oils that combined is a natural antihistamine that relieves mucus and cools down the inflammatory reaction to irritants like pollen or dust. Avoid direct sunlight on exposed skin when using lemon oil.

Herbal Formulas for Symptom Relief

Chinese herbal formulas that address spring allergies are often created with warm acrid herbs that release exterior wind-cold. These formulas are curated to best combat symptoms like mucus build up, congestion, itchy eyes and nose, and sore throat. Before taking herbal formulas, consult a specialist to determine the correct one for your symptoms and to ensure no negative side effects or reactions.

Xanthium Powder (Cang Er Zi San): This formula is commonly prepared as a teapill, and combines warming acrid herbs that help dry mucus, and cooling herbs that clear phlegm. Magnolia flowers are used to unblock nasal passageways and remove excess thin mucus. This formula works best for relieving mucus symptoms, but does not address symptoms like itchy eyes and nose, and throat irritation that are commonly associated with allergic rhinitis, or hay fever.

Bi Yan Pian: This widely known formula is available in pill and tincture form, and is especially useful when sinus congestion is lingering and mucus becomes thick and yellow. Used to alleviate excess heat, it includes warming and transforming herbs, as well as herbs used for clearing heat like chrysanthemum, Japanese catnip, forsythia, and platycodon. Other herbs like licorice and schizandra balance the drying effects of these herbs.

Ju hua (Chrysanthemum): This cooling herb is used to clear heat and dispel wind, and clear the liver and the eyes. It enters the Lung channel, which opens up into the nose, head, and eyes. The wind element is associated with symptoms of pain or itchiness, and symptoms that appear quickly and change constantly. These symptoms include sneezing, headaches, and dry or itchy eyes. This formula is great to use when symptoms first hit and can offer fast relief. To use, make a compress from the tea and put over your eyes when they feel hot, dry, or itchy.

Other herbs that are used on their own: Butterbur has been shown to be as effective as prescription antihistamines, but without the drowsiness. Use with caution if you have a ragweed allergy, as they are in the same family. Quercetin is an herbal extract from foods like onions, grapes, or berries that is considered a natural antihistamine. Euphrasia officinalis (eyebright) and Scutellaria (Chinese skullcap) treat symptoms of hay fever like congestion and watery eyes.

Acupuncture for Symptom Relief

During an acupuncture session to relieve allergy symptoms, needles are placed on acu-points and meridians associated with body parts more affected by allergies, like the head, nose, and eyes.

Large Intestine 4 (LI-4): This point is located in the muscle between the thumb and index finger, and is used to treat all symptoms related to the head and face. It helps alleviate red and itchy eyes, fevers, heat in the face, sinus troubles, strengthens the immune system, regulates sweating, and moves Qi and blood stagnation to stop pain.

Stomach 36 (ST-36): This point below the kneecap is used to tonify Qi, warm the stomach and lungs, and strengthen defensive Qi. Defensive Qi, or Wei Qi, is connected to immunity, and is the body’s barrier against pathogens. Working mostly around the skin and muscles, Wei Qi induces symptoms like fever, chills, and shivering. The higher the response, the stronger one’s immune system. Good for eliminating stagnation, it can help your body move through allergy season more quickly.

Large Intestine 20 (LI-20): This point is perfect for short-term allergy relief, and is used to open your nasal passage to immediately relieve sinus pressure. This point can be found on the sides of your nasolabial folds, just to the outside of the nostril. Try pressing both points of the nose at once and breathe deeply through your nose as you go.

Gua Sha: Gua sha is a scraping technique where a spoon shaped tool is used to rub over acupressure points and fascia to improve blood flow to an area, release tension, and stimulate the immune system through lymphatic drainage. This helps alleviate cold and flu symptoms. Gua sha is often used to stimulate lymphatic drainage throughout the body and face, and when applied to the face, can relieve congestion in the sinuses. This also relieves sinus headaches and pressure in the upper respiratory system.

Allergies can take a toll on the energetic and new cycle of spring, but through the Chinese medicine practices of aromatherapy, neti pots, herbal remedies, gua sha, and acupuncture, those unpleasant symptoms can be relieved. Blend your own special mix of essential oils to ease congestion, try an herbal remedy to eliminate excess heat, increase Qi flow with acupuncture, or remove waste and fluids from the face and body with gua sha.

References

Goodman, Steve. “Chinese Herbs and Spring Allergies.” Retrieved from https://www.pacificcollege.edu/news/blog/2014/09/01/chinese-herbs-and-spring-allergies.

Mrazek, Katie. “Press Pause On Spring Allergies With These 3 Acupressure Points”. Retrieved from https://evolvewellnessvancouver.ca/2021/06/23/press-pause-on-spring-allergies-with-these-3-acupressure-points/.

Orosz, Grace. “Essential Oils for Seasonal Allergies”. Retrieved from https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/healthu/2018/06/26/essential-oils-for-seasonal-allergies#.ZC81rezMKRs.

Zappin, Benjamin. “Surviving Pollen Season with Chinese Medicine”. Retrieved from https://fiveflavorsherbs.com/blog/surviving-pollen-season-with-chinese-medicine/.

“Allergy Relief with Essential Oils”. Retrieved from https://www.energymattersonline.com/blog/allergy-relief-with-essential-oils.

“A TCM Toolkit for Seasonal Allergies.” Retrieved from https://balancecharleston.com/blog/2020/4/27/a-chinese-medicine-toolkit-fornbspallergies.

“Essential Oils for Allergies”. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/essential-oils-for-allergies#blend-of-oils.

“How acupuncture can improve allergy symptoms”. Retrieved from https://www.mainlinehealth.org/blog/allergies-and-acupuncture.

“Your First Line of Defense: Wei Qi”. Retrieved from https://mendacupuncture.com/your-first-line-of-defense-wei-qi/.

Annie Wegner LeFort: Culinary + Medicinal Herbs to Grow in the Garden

Guest Blogger: Annie Wegner LeFort, owner and founder of EatMoveMKE, teaches cooking and yoga classes in the Milwaukee area, organizes hikes and local dinners, and offers both private and group Health Coaching services. Learn more at eatmovemke.com.

To learn more about how to enjoy herbs, join Annie’s class “Using Culinary Herbs” on Friday, April 28 from 6-7:30pm. For more info, contact her at annie@eatmovemke.com.

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Spring is in the air. Daylight is longer, the snow is (hopefully) gone, shoots are popping out of the ground, and the temperatures are feeling more mild. This time of year I get excited about all things outdoors from farmers’ markets to wild foraging hikes to hanging laundry and gardening. Especially gardening!

Another sign of spring is chives beginning to poke through the soft soil of the garden. They are always the first to emerge in my culinary herb collection followed closely by sorrel, mint, and lemon balm. I grow at least a dozen culinary herbs in my garden adding oregano, various types of basil, parsley, chervil, sage, thyme, cilantro, dill, chamomile, lovage, borage, and lavender to the list over the years that I’ve maintained my urban homestead.

I use these herbs both fresh and to prepare seasonal cooked dishes and homemade preserves and also dry or freeze them for use in cooking year-round and to create custom tea blends. My cooking style is rooted in low-waste or no-waste, which moves me to use not only leaves and blossoms, but the stems and sometimes the roots as well.

Many of the herbs I grow are perennials, herbs that come back on their own each year. These herbs such as oregano, lemon balm, mint, and sage can be wildly abundant so it’s important to be mindful of where you plant them and stay diligent about culling them each season if you don’t want to them to take over your plot.

Herbs that I plant each season are different varieties of basil, chervil, and dill. A few starts purchased from the local farmers market or family-owned garden center usually give me plenty of flavor for a whole season.

Herbs like parsley—both flat-leaf (aka “Italian parsley”) and curly leaf—are biennials, which means that they will provide wonderful leaves the first year and go to seed in the second season.

I also have plentiful herbs like borage and chamomile that start as “volunteers”, plants that come up in the garden with no effort on my part. They germinate from seeds dropped by flowers in the previous years.

And lastly, the cilantro in my garden is planted in “successions”, which is the practice of seeding crops at certain intervals (ie 7 to 21 days) in order to maintain a consistent supply throughout the season. Cilantro doesn’t grow back after it’s cut like some perennials or even the annual basil, which, when harvested from the crotch of a stem encourages exponential regrowth. After cilantro matures, it goes to seed. Harvesting the entire plant (roots and all, if you wish), means that it requires replanting if you want more throughout the season.

To plant annual herbs—starts or seeds—I wait until after the last frost date, which could be end of April to early or mid-May. A frost date is the average date of the last light freeze in spring or the first light freeze in fall and is estimated based on historical climate data, but not set in stone. As a rule of thumb, I seek out starts from local garden centers or growers around Mother’s Day, which is a fun tradition with my daughter. Our hardiness zone in the Milwaukee area is 5b with a growing season around 180 days. It’s a brief six months that we can grow food outdoors with the heart of the season feeling like it starts in late June.

I harvest herbs daily in the summer to use fresh in salads, for cooking, baking, and to dry throughout the growing season. As some herbs will produce more the more that you pick—basil, mint, lemon balm and other herbs in the mint family (lamiaceae)—I harvest heavily and keep the drying process going for herbal tea mixtures and dried backups come winter. The simplest way to dry most herbs is airdrying; wash the herbs and pat dry, strip the leaves off the stems, spread them out on a baking sheet or screen and put them in a dry, sunny spot out of the way of pets. Then, check them every day and toss them for even drying. This low-energy process may take a few days or most of a week. One can also dry herbs more quickly in a dehydrator; that is my go-to method for the end-of-season harvest.

Herbs can also be frozen. Finely chop or puree them, fill ice cube trays or muffin pans with the herbs then top with water. Once the cubes are frozen solid they can be transferred to freezer bags, labeled, and dated. Frozen herbs are great added to soups, casseroles, egg dishes, baked goods, dressings, and dips.

Another favorite way to use herbs in is a variety of pestos. A classis Pesto Genovese contains basil, garlic, Parmigiano-Reggiano, olive oil, and pinenuts. But there’s lots of space for creativity in making pesto beyond basil. My favorite combinations are Sage-Walnut, Arugula-Almond, Mint-Feta-Pinenut, Dandelion Green-Hazelnut, Nasturtium Leaf-and Sunflower Seed, and Carrot Top-Almond. I’ve also made pesto with the leaves of ramps (wild leeks), lemon zest, and sorrel. These pestos are easy to freeze in ice cube trays or muffin pans as well and thaw quickly to use in pasta dishes and spreads or to add to a soup, egg bake, or pizza.

Homegrown herbs make great gifts in the form of preserves—herbal jellies, herbed fruits, and custom tea mixtures. I dry and blend catnip, lemon balm, mint, and chamomile to create a my own bedtime tea mix.

Most of herbs I grow are for culinary purposes, but the medicinal herbs I enjoy cultivating each year are peppermint, comfrey, calendula, and tulsi (holy basil). I also grow elderberries and while they are not an herb, both the blossoms and the fruit can be dried and incorporated into tea mixtures.

Peppermint has cooling properties, can relieve bloating and indigestion, reduce nausea and vomiting, relax muscles, and relieve headaches and menstrual cramps. It is antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory and also aids sleep. Tulsi is a superfood with antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties as well. It can prevent respiratory illnesses and reduce phlegm. It is also known to reduce stress, as it lowers the levels of cortisol, a stress hormone in the body. Tulsi can also reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels in the body.

There are many possibilities for both culinary and medicinal herbs we can grow in Zone 5:

-Agrimony

-Angelica

-Anise hyssop

-Borage

-Calendula

-Catnip

-Caraway

-Chervil

-Chives

-Cilantro/Coriander

-Clary sage

-Comfrey

-Dill

-Echinacea

-Chamomile (depending on variety)

-Lavender (depending on variety)

-Feverfew

-Sorrel

-French Tarragon

-Garlic chives

-Horseradish

-Lemon Balm

-Lovage

-Marjoram

-Mint hybrids (chocolate mint, apple mint, orange mint, etc.)

-Parsley (depending on variety)

-Peppermint

-Rue

-Salad burnet

-Spearmint

-Sweet Cicely

-Oregano (depending on variety)

-Thyme (depending on variety)

-Savory (winter)

Support Your Liver + Gallbladder in Spring

According to TCM, spring is a time of renewal and growth, and is also the time to better support your liver and gallbladder. When the liver and gallbladder are functioning properly, they impact muscles, tendons, joints, eye movement, and vision. Enzymes are produced that increase blood quality, which helps ease chronic illness, nerve damage, and other ailments. A sluggish liver can cause numerous ailments, such as stiffness, pain, constipation, allergies, rash, or irritability. If bile becomes stagnant, issues like jaundice, fever, aches, allergies, headaches, hypertension, rashes, or other inflammatory problems can arise. With an increase in pollution, medical drugs, radiation, pesticides, highly processed foods, and stress in our daily lives, it is more important than ever to monitor liver and gallbladder health to promote overall well being.

Flavors that Support Your Spring Organs

The Wood element governs the liver and gallbladder, and there are certain flavor profiles that stimulate the liver and increase heat, digestion, and enzymatic action in the body. These flavors include pungent flavors like ginger, peppers, strong tea, onion, garlic, clove, and allspice, and bitter or sour flavors like green and matcha tea, lemon, bitter green vegetables, zucchini, guava, pomegranate, green apple, parsley, dill, mint, cumin, coriander, fennel, and black cardamom. Combining 2 or more flavors at a time will increase effectiveness. A really good example of this is enjoying a cup of green tea with ginger and lemon.

Powerful, Cleansing Herbs and Flowers

Common herbs and flowers for spring liver and gallbladder support are aloe vera, coptis, neem, chrysanthemum, burdock, dandelion, hibiscus, tangerine, and rose.

The alkaline inner pulp of aloe can be taken internally to treat digestive cramps, PMS pain, headaches, acne, bad breath, irritability, liver pain, jaundice, allergic reactions to chemicals, and constipation.

Coptis is a bitter wild herb used to treat spring headaches and allergies, as well as kill bacteria and viruses, regulate the immune system, relieve muscle cramps, alleviate certain heart problems, stabilize blood sugar levels, prevent or improve gastric ulcers, alleviate diarrhea, reduce inflammation, prevent clots, correct digestive issues, improve skin conditions, and fight parasitic infections.

Neem is popular antibiotic bitter herb used in Ayurvedic practices to eliminate inflammation and toxins, as well as for treating intestinal worms, leprosy, eye problems, stomach upset, poor appetite, skin ulcers, diabetes, fever, gum disease, liver problems, birth control, and cardiovascular disease. The powdered bark of the neem tree is tasty when added to coffee, and has all the same benefits of the herb.

Chrysanthemum is a flower that can be enjoyed in tea and used for cooling the body. It can serve as a compress on the eyes when they are itchy or tired.

Burdock is a root that can be consumed in tea. The seeds are used to treat digestion and skin conditions. It is a cooling root but is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Dandelion flower is a tonifying and astringent herb that helps treat UTIs, fatigue, liver disease, and loss of appetite and also supports the kidneys and digestive system.

Hibiscus flower can be consumed in a tea to help support the lungs, liver, digestive system, and skin. It is a powerful liver cleanser and aids in eliminating blood stagnation.

Tangerine peel when dried supports the respiratory and digestive system, liver, and gallbladder. Their bitter flavor can be used to treat cough, congestion, loss of appetite, fatigue, and loose stool.

Springtime Rose Liquor

Rose uplifts with its fragrance and is believed to move stagnant liver qi. The below Rose Liquor warms the body and increases circulation to relieve stress and open up your senses in the springtime. A little goes a long way. Try adding a shot glass glass worth right before a meal to help stimulate digestion.

What you'll need:

• quart size jar

• 4 tbsp organic rosebuds (*it is important that the rosebuds are organic since roses are heavily sprayed with pesticides)

• 3 cups of Vodka

• 1/4 cup honey

Combine all ingredients and gently shake to incorporate the honey. Store at room temperature for 3 to 4 weeks and occasionally shake the jar. Once ready, strain and store at room temperature for up to 6 months.

Liver and Gallbladder Flush

Another way to support your liver and gallbladder is with a gentle flush. Flushing helps excrete liver impurities, stimulates bile, and has laxative effects. There are many options, but a simple and gentle flush is made of olive oil, apple juice, and lemon.

Liver Flush Recipe:

• add 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil to a glass of unfiltered apple juice

• add lemon to taste

• drink once daily

Detoxing Green Smoothie

Spring is the best time to start incorporating more Yang and uprising foods after a heavy winter (think: light and fresh foods, like smoothies). The health benefits of this smoothie come from the nutrients in the dark leafy greens. Leafy greens have chlorophyll, which helps purify blood, they aid in improving immune function, they promote healthy intestinal flora, aid digestion, improve liver and kidney function, and clear congestion in the lungs and intestines.

Holly’s Green Smoothie Recipe (From Healthy Green Kitchen):

• 1/2 inch piece fresh ginger peeled

• 1/4 lemon skin and all

• 1-2 cored apples

• 5 stalks kale stems removed

• flesh from 1 avocado

• pinch of celtic sea salt

• dash of water

Using a high speed blender, blend until super smooth.

Resources:

“How To Detox your Liver and be Ready for Spring with Traditional Chinese Medicine”. Retrieved from https://www.academyhealingnutrition.uk/blog/how-to-detox-your-liver-and-be-ready-for-spring-with-traditional-chinese-medicine.

“Spring Cleanse with Chinese Medicine”. Retrieved from https://www.pohalaclinic.com/blog/spring-cleanse-with-chinese-medicine.

“Spring Eating Tips Inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine”. Retrieved from https://www.healthygreenkitchen.com/spring-eating-tips.html.

“Springtime Rose Liquor”. Retrieved from https://www.thewayofyin.com/blog/2020/1/31/springtime-rose-liquor.