Allergy Tea Remedy

Like many, this time of year always brings out my outdoor allergies. I have had allergies for the past five years and have hated every minute, from itchy eyes, heavy head, stuffy nose, scratchy throat, and sneezing. Ugh! The norm for most Americans is to treat their allergies with over the counter medications, like Zyrtec, Allegra, Claritin, etc. My drug of choice was Zyrtec. I think I liked it more for the miniature bottle then the effectiveness.  It was not cheap either, running me $18 for a 24ct. and lasting me less than one month into allergy season.

In order to challenge the norm of allergy medication I (skeptically) tried a homeopathic remedy inspired by the site The Farmacy .  To kill two birds with one stone, I combined a cold remedy with an allergy remedy making the perfect concoction. This time of year it is always hard to figure out which of the two you are fighting anyway.  To my surprise, it actually worked! To think, all of these years I refused to try anything that I couldn't find at a pharmacy. Don't get me wrong, you can find a lot of wonderful things at a pharmacy, but for me this is no longer one of them. I am two weeks (and counting) symptom free during the worst weeks for outdoor allergies.

I found the ingredients at +Kimberton Whole Foods and my local farmers market.  For under $20 I got enough ingredients to make ten pitchers of tea, which will last me way past allergy season. Give it a shot and let me know what you think:

Ingredients:

2 cups - Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar 

2 tbsp. - Lime Juice

5 tbsp. - Bee Pollen

1 tbsp. - Ground Ginger

1/4 cup - Local Honey

5 bags - Traditional Medicinals Echinacea Tea medicinal

1 gallon - Water           

 

Directions:

1. Boil Water
2. Steep 5 bags of Echinacea Tea in 4 cups of water for 15 minutes
3. Pour tea into gallon pitcher
4. Add Apple Cider Vinegar and Lime Juice
5. Add Local Honey and stir until dissolved
6. Add Bee Pollen and Ginger
7. Stir vigorously until Bee Pollen and Ginger have dissolved.
8. Store in fridge
9. Stir first and drink daily

Enjoy!