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Hello friends! I am Megan, also known as A Rooted Mama and owner of Moonshine Botanicals. You may remember me from the previous blogs I wrote for VitaSoul. I have a heartfelt love for herbs and ‘folk medicine’, crafted in small batches with carefully sourced herbs and botanicals that carry the story, energy and tradition of the medicine our ancestors would have made. I am very blessed to be sharing here again with you all – if you would like to read the previous two blogs I wrote they are; An Invitation to Whole Body Wellness and An Invitation to Seasonal Health.
I don’t think there is a single person that is unaffected by allergies in some way or form and most will agree that they are annoying at best and debilitating at worst. We will be tackling Hayfever and Sinus in this blog. Can I tell you a secret? You don’t have to suffer! That’s right – those over the counter allergy products that we use as a band-aid to keep us functioning, are just that, a band-aid and while they have their place, it shouldn’t be everyday. By stifling our bodies natural defenses and suppressing them – we aren’t listening to our bodies and thereby we can’t come alongside and give them the support they desperately need.
Believe me, I get it, we went through it all. Working through allergies was a vital and pivotal part of my daughter’s healing journey. My husband and I popped the over the counter stuff like smarties to get through the day and we had the streaming, itchy eyes, itchy ears and throat, runny nose and it was horrible! After being on our health journey for a year or two, I was still doing the allopathic hayfever meds. I woke up one day and asked myself: ‘Why, there must be a better way?’ and there was! So in this blog I will reveal the secret that no one told you about, and you don’t have to suffer!
What is Hayfever?
Hayfever is caused by an allergic response to outdoor allergens like pollen, and it is really important to to support the whole body, we also need to keep mucous moving to prevent stagnation and infection. Often, if we don’t support the body we then start to experience sinus symptoms, like swollen nasal passages and the painful sensation of ‘pressure’ on the front of the face.
Love your Liver!
Did you know that the liver plays a substantial role in reducing the effect a potential allergen will have on the body? Our liver purifies and filters about two quarts of blood per minute, extracting most viruses, bacteria and environmental toxins, before recirculating healthy blood through the rest of the body. So it makes sense that our first point of call would be to love our livers! The Moonshine Botanicals Liver Tincture will clean your liver and blood – with a range of beautifully supportive herbs including Milk Thistle and Dandelion. This will put your body in the best position to manage its allergen response.
Product featured: Moonshine Botanicals Liver Tincture
Supporting Allergies Naturally
The very first thing I transitioned our family to, was homeopathic allergy support, and it made such a difference! The incredible thing about homeopathy is that the body doesn’t become dependent on it. It helps your body to adapt. We started off taking it daily and each year we were able to take it less and less, we now only take it 1 – 2 times a week. It is also so gentle and safe, so it works well for kids too. I created the Moonshine Botanicals Homeopathic Hayfever Remedy because of these amazing results. Now it is music to my ears when my clients message me in disbelief that the solution was as simple as using the remedy, after YEARS of suffering.
Product featured: Moonshine Botanicals Homeopathic Hayfever Remedy
I also love the Similisan Range of products – they are also homeopathic, wonderfully supportive and very effective. Their Allergy Eye Relief is so wonderful for those itchy, uncomfortable eyes, so I am never without it in my medicine kit. They also have Hayfever Relief which is a nose spray that really helps with the nasal irritation that goes hand in hand with hayfever.
Products featured: Similisan Sinus Relief Spray, Similisan Allergy Eye Relief & Similisan Hayfever Relief
What To Do When Sinus Congestion Strikes
When sinus congestion strikes (whether by allergy or a cold) my first point of call is my Moonshine Botanicals Sinus Tincture – it packs a punch and works quickly. It helps keep things moving, also resolves an annoying post nasal drip, contains mucous thinning herbs and also has soothing anti-inflammatory herbs. I have many clients who are never without a spare bottle and for good reason.
Product featured: Moonshine Botanicals Sinus Tincture
When you need quick symptomatic relief while your tinctures kick in, a quick spray of the Similisan Sinus Relief Spray delivers targeted relief quickly and efficiently. A great product to have in your toolkit, and we love to use it before bed so that you get a good night’s rest while your body works on its healing process.
Products featured: Similisan Sinus Relief Spray & Similisan Allergy Eye Relief
One of my favourite health hacks is to use the Moonshine Botanicals Immune Roller over the throat area and the Moonshine Botanicals Breathe Roller over the sinuses and behind the ears, then to use a Rose Quartz Roller and gently drain the sinus and ear area. It is wonderfully soothing and you can feel the mucous moving along, this is also really great to do for children who are congested and uncomfortable.
Products featured: Moonshine Botanicals Breathe Roller, Moonshine Botanicals Immune Roller, & Rose Quartz Roller
Some other ideas to clear sinuses are to do a sinus steam with essential oils like Eucalyptus and to put a drop in your shower to create a Eucalyptus shower steam. You can also apply warm compresses over the face area to soothe inflammation and be sure to use a nebuliser with some saline if you feel you need some extra assistance with thinning of mucous.
Products featured: Moonshine Botanicals Breathe Roller, Moonshine Botanicals Immune Roller, & Rose Quartz Roller
Salex Nasal Rinse or a Netti Pot are also wonderful tools to have at home to flush your sinuses and prevent mucous from stagnating. Very helpful to be able to make your own saline solution for a nasal rinse, here is an easy recipe:
Mix 3 heaped teaspoons of salt with 1 teaspoon of baking soda and store in a glass jar. Add 1 teaspoon of the mixture to 1 cup of lukewarm distilled or boiled water. Use less to make a less concentrated salt solution if you experience burning or stinging.
Extra Support
Quercetin is known for its antioxidant activity in radical scavenging and anti-allergic properties characterized by stimulation of immune system, antiviral activity, inhibition of histamine release, decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines, leukotrienes creation, and suppresses interleukin IL-4 production. It is a flavonoid, which is a type of compound naturally found in plants and plant foods, that inhibits the release of histamine from your immune system, thereby reducing side effects such as itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, and sinus congestion. It is a really great tool to have on hand to support the body through allergy season.
Products featured: Viridian Quercetin, Heart of Cultures Vitamin C & Kaizen NAC+
We are never without Kaizen NAC+ in our medicine cabinet, it helps your liver to produce glutathione, which is a powerful natural anti-inflammatory substance. N-Acetyl-Cysteine also helps to clear up excess mucus in the lungs and sinuses.
I think by now everyone knows how much I really really love Heart of Cultures and that their Vitamin C is my preferred Vitamin C as it is a whole food form – you only have to open the lid to smell how beautiful and natural the product is.
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant and protects your cells from damage, it reduces the severity of allergic reactions and helps your body to fight infections. When taken during allergy season it can slow down the overreaction of your body to environmental triggers by decreasing your body’s histamine production. So be sure to load up on all that whole food goodness!
So the secret is out – you don’t have to suffer!
I hope that this information will be a puzzle piece that clicks into place for you and your family’s health. I hope it encourages you to put down the band-aid and give these simple, cost-effective solutions a go. I think you will be surprised and inspired!
Yours in love and health,
Product Photography & Styling by Project Flash Photography
Disclaimer: Each person’s physical, emotional, and spiritual condition is unique. The information in this article is intended for your educational use only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your doctor for matters pertaining to your specific health and diet. The author of this article is not held responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use or misuse of any information, suggestions or procedures described herein. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition and before undertaking any diet, supplement, fitness, or other health program.
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