Allergies making you miserable? Find relief and healing with this easy, homemade honey Ginger Allergy Relief Tea and get my 5 tips for minimizing the effects of allergies.
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PLEASE NOTE that Iβm not a doctor, and have no medical training. This post is entirely based on my own personal research and opinions.
Allergic to life.
For as long as I can remember, Iβve been one of those people who was allergic to practically everything. Dust, tress, cats, weeds, flowers, flours, coffee, strawberries, dogs, hay, lettuceβ¦ You name it, I feel like Iβve probably reacted to it in some way at some point in time.
Due to the sad state of my immune system, croup, eczema, chronic sinus infections, bronchitis, asthma, and headaches have plagued the majority of my life. Iβm not trying to whine or complain, Iβm just stating the facts. And theyβre not fun facts.
For all of you who suffer through allergies, be they seasonal or not, I thought Iβd share my yummy (at least my family likes it) honey ginger allergy relief tea, plus a few of the things that help me get through the rough patches and keep my allergic reactions at a minimum.
#1 βΒ Cut back on the grains.
Sadly, I donβt just mean gluten containing grains. Even gluten-free grains like rice, corn, and oats are hard on your digestive system, and therefore also on your immune system. Even though I love my muffins and bread, I can definitely tell a difference in the strength of my immune system when I cut out grains. Not only to I not get sick as often, my seasonal allergies are remarkably easier.
If you have any sort of allergies at all, I strongly suggest you check out the GAPS Diet. Itβs a strict, gut-healing diet, and seriously has been a godsend for me and my family.
About two years ago, my family of 6 (at the time) did the GAPS and found immense healing. Even though we were only able to stay on GAPS for about 6 months, I was able to take my list of around 30 allergies down to about 10, and keep it generally in that area.
If you are in the same boat as me and canβt really afford to eat only meat and veggies like the GAPS Diet requires (I wish I could!), cutting back on as much grain as possible will definitely still help.
Need help eating grain-free? Here are some of my familyβs favorite meals:
- Summer Squash Zoodles with Chicken Sausage Alfredo
- White Chicken Chili in the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker
- Meatloaf Sliders
- Stuffed Italian Meatballs
- Beef & Kale Soup in the Instant Pot
#2 β Stay hydrated.
And I donβt mean drink another cup of coffee. Actually, when youβre wrestling with allergies, caffeinated drinks should not be on your list of helpful things to consume. Neither should alcohol, since itβs also considered to have diuretic affects. This basically means that it causes your body to lose water, or the ability to retain the water you drink, therefore causing dehydration.
Thereβs no doubt about it, water is vital to life. And not only do we need it to stay alive, we need it to stay alive well. Water flushes out toxins in our bodies, and helps to thin out mucus from overactive sinuses, making it easier to expel it all, and relieving congestion.
Of course, this allergy relief tea should be on your list of hydrating drinks, as wellβ¦
via GIPHY
#3 β Stay faaaar away from sugar.
βYouβre a monster, Mr. Grinch
Your heartβs an empty hole
Your brain is full of spiders
Youβve got garlic in your soul, Mr. Grinch
I wouldnβt touch you with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot poleβ
In this excerpt from How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss couldβve been describing how I feel about sugar. Except for the garlic part, βcause garlicβs amazing, yβall. But honest and true, everyone and their mom needs to stay as far away from sugar as possible, since any amount of sugar will lower your immune system. And if you have allergies, you need your immune system as strong as possible. Not that you donβt need a strong immune system otherwiseβ¦ You know what I mean.
That being said, I donβt mean stay away from sweeteners. Dates, raisins, apples, bananas, stevia, local honeyβ¦ these are all fine for you. In fact, honey isΒ a good thing to add in to that hot cup of herbal tea youβre gonna brew at the end of this post. Itβs full of vitamins and minerals,Β hasΒ large amounts of good-for-youΒ bacteria and is anti-fungal, and probiotic.Β
If youβre looking for a good bunch of treats that are free of refined sugar, here are a few of my favoritesβ¦
- Paleo Salted Walnut Butter Blondies
- Molasses-Free Gingerbread Cut Out Cookies
- No-Churn Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream
- Perfect Paleo Chocolate Cake
#4 β Salt water.
Salt water is really amazing. Some people swear by drinking it (soleΒ water, anyone?). My husband is sure the using it in a Neti Pot helps him during allergy season. I canβt get a Neti Pot to work (Iβm weird, βcause it shouldnβt be that complicated), so I opt for gargling and rinsing with warm salt water.
No matter how you get the salt water into your system, it will benefit you. Salt naturallyΒ increases circulation, eases sore throats, and reduces inflammation, whileΒ its minerals help your body naturally detox.Β Just make sure the salt youβre using is not regular olβ table salt! I repeat DO NOT USE TABLE SALT. Itβs pretty much devoid of everything useful, even if it has iodine added. Make sure the salt your using has a little color. Grey or pink salts, such as Himalayan salt and realΒ sea salt, contain magnesium, calcium, potassium and overΒ 60 other trace minerals. Quite the boost for your immune system.Β
#5 β Honey Ginger Allergy Relief Tea
Ginger
WithΒ anti-inflammatory benefits thatΒ rival those of NSAIDs, ginger not onlyΒ helps to lower the risk of infections,Β it also helps break down toxins buildup in your organs. Ginger root isΒ also known to cleanse the lymphatic system, which is basically our bodyβs sewage system.Β
If your allergies are causing an overproduction ofΒ phlegm, ginger will help break it up, easing your congestion while giving your immune system a boost.
Lemon
All citrus areΒ high inΒ vitamin C, which helps boost your immune systemΒ and fills your body with antioxidants.Β Lemon especially helps to loosen mucus so that your body can easily eliminate it.
Apple cider vinegar
If youβre even a little crunchy, you probably know that apple cider vinegar has a million + 1 uses. But did you know that it helps to break up and reduce mucous in your body, keepingΒ your sinuses clear? Its antibacterial propertiesΒ are also useful for sore throats and keeping infections away. (Hereβs the acv I like.)
Honey
Full of vitamins and minerals (niacin, thiamine, pantothenic acid,Β riboflavin,Β vitamin C & B6, calcium, and iron, to name just a few),Β honey is also full of friendly bacteria, making itΒ anti-fungal, and probiotic. To get the most benefits from your honey, make sure that itβs local and raw, if possible.
In the recipe card Iβve linked to some of the products from my affiliate partners that I like to use. Purchasing through these links wonβt cost you anything extra. Thanks! π
Honey Ginger Allergy Relief Tea
Free from grain, gluten, eggs, dairy, and refined sugar.
Ingredients
- 2 1-inch chunks of fresh ginger (peeling optional)
- 2 slices of fresh lemon
- 1 tablespoon organic, raw apple cider vinegar
- 1-2 tablespoons raw local honey
- 1 quart filtered water
Instructions
In a medium-sized saucepan, bring water to boil.
Add ginger root, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Turn off heat, then add in remaining ingredients.
Let steep for 5-10 minutes.
Drink warm or cold.
Bonus tip!
Keep a cleanΒ house.
Iβve gotta admit, this one is hard for me, but it definitely deserves an honorable mention here.Β Living with 8 people in one little houseΒ means that I have a hard time keeping the stuff out, and keeping the stuff thatβs here clean and tidy. But I know how important it is for my allergies (and sanity) to be dust and clutter-free.Β Dust is one of the most common allergens out there. If you struggle with it like I do, then a clean, minimalistic house is going toΒ be your best friend. The less you have, the less there is to trap dust and other allergens. Also, the less you have, the less there is to clean, which is always a plus.
Iβve also learned from experienceΒ that carpet is bad for allergies. It traps dust and other allergens and β no matter how much you vacuum β it is hard to keep clean. (Vacuums also have this bad habit of stirring up the dust anyway.) If you have the ability to go carpet-free, do it β for your health.
In the endβ¦
All allergies begin in your gut. If your gut isnβt happy, you wonβt be either. If youβve never taken steps to heal your gut , you should start there (here areΒ 5 steps you can take now!). Adding in fermented foods that are full of probiotics (like sauerkraut or yogurt) and homemade bone broth to your diet are easy ways to help get your gut on the right track. And donβt forget to check out the GAPS Diet... It might just change your life.
Already got yourself a cold or sinus infection? You should still be drinking this allergy relief tea, but also check out these helpful recipesβ¦Β
- 20+ Homemade Remedies for Colds & Flu
- Herbal Immune-Boosting Sore Throat Tea
- Easy Immune-Support Tincture
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All of these tips are SO super helpful. I deal with seasonal allergies in the spring and I am definitely making note of some of these that I haven’t paid attention to in the past. And I totally believe in local honey as being helpful to combatting allergies.
Thank you, AmyI hope they really do help you as much as they help me. π
This tea looks like it cures much that ails you. I have been cutting back on grains too and it does make a difference. This tea would also help with colds I imagine.
It is amazing the difference not eating so much grain makes. And yes, this tea is good for a great many things. π
This tea sounds like a game-changer! I’ve heard about all the benefits of drinking fresh ginger -especially during this time of year. But I’ve never tried it! Thanks for sharing this recipe π
Glad to share, Tara! You should definitely give the tea a try. Even if you don’t suffer from allergies, it’s a good immune-booster!
I basically drink this every morning – minus the honey and garlic. All of a sudden last year, I started getting allergies to a ton of stuff too. I’m 40 and have never had allergy problems before. Ugh! It sucks! Not sure what the deal is now, but I feel like my morning and nighttime routine have tripled due to these crazy allergies. Thank goodness for this healthy “tea”!
So sorry to hear that, Jenn! Allergies can seemingly come from out of nowhere, and it’s so frustrating. π I hope you find this tea and these tips helpful!
I wish that I would have had this recipe a couple of weeks ago, but I have it now and will keep it for later! I had terrible allergies between the holidays! Thanks.
Oh, sorry! I hope you find it helpful in the future! (Though of course it’s best to not need it! Haha.)
Thank-you for sharing your experience. I agree–the GAPS diet is very helpful. Yes, sugar has a negative impact on the immune system. I am sharing your post on Facebook.
Thank you so much, Carol! I’m glad to share in the hopes that it helps others. π
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iphone 3gs! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward
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Glad you’re enjoying the posts!
I love so many of the tips you shared. I also have to reduce sugar down to barely nothing (for me this includes fruit!) to keep my allergies at bay plus I also avoid caffeine and alcohol. I love to make ginger tea at home too!
Aw, sorry you can’t do fruit either! It’s amazing how much sugar affects your immune system, eh?
I have the hardest time keeeping things clean and I know it messes with my allergies…one small one bedroom apartment plus a toddler does not help!
I totally understand! Kids = too much stuff. Haha. It’s a constant struggle.
This sounds like a perfect allergy elixir!
Thanks, Rebecca! It is. π
Sorry to hear about all your allergies! I have some, but not all year-round. Drinking water really does help, and I love your tea recipe! I love ginger and lemon in my blended kale juice (with just a little apple for a hint of sweetness). Thanks for sharing all your tips!
Glad to share! Glad to hear you don’t struggle with year-round allergies, too. π
What an informative post on self-care. We all struggle with allergies so I’m eager to try the herbal tea. I will be looking into the GAPS diet — first I heard of it.
I hope you find some relief, Pamela! The GAPS diet is amazing, but it is very hard.
I never really thought of ginger tea for allergies but it makes sense. Love your tips.
Thanks, Anna! It’s great to have such an easy option available.
This tea is BEAUTIFUL! I love all your tips, and am seeing how sole goes for me right now, just started yesterday!
Thanks so much, Megan! I hope sole helps you. π
It’s still a little early for allergies here in the north, everything is still super frozen! But, we find being proactive with allergies, and being proactive is our best defense! These remedies will definitely be helpful in the months to come as everything starts to thaw! Thanks!
You’re so welcome, Kelsey! That’s definitely one of the downsides of living in the south. It’s never cold enough to kill off all the allergens. π
All my favorites, I make something similar to sip on when I’m feeling sick!
They are amazing ingredients, aren’t they?
These are really wonderful tips! #3 is so important and really helps a lot. Love the tea recipe too.
Thanks so much, Emily! Yes, #3 is what really does me in. :p
Great info! I’ll be making this for my husband!
Thanks, Marjorie! I hope it helps!
I can feel you! I am allergic to dust so whenever I’m cleaning the house, I have to wear a facemask because if I don’t, I’ll have colds and cough, leading to asthma the next day.
YES! Iβm exactly the same way. Itβs awful. ?
My husband is also allergic to almost everything so found this post really helpful! Thanks!
You’re so welcome, Julia! Life with allergies is awful, I hope he can utilize some of these tips!
This is really helpful! Thank you so much for the tips!
You’re welcome, Toni!
It’s that time of year when allergies are here. Thank you for the tips and awesome tea recipe. It really helps with allergies and tastes great too!
I’m so glad it helps you, Alison!
These are great tips to help alleviate allergies and also promote gut health. Thanks for sharing!
You’re so welcome, Courtney!
I have been feeling under the weather, so I tried this tea last night. It was perfect! Thanks so much for sharing!
You’re so welcome, Tayler! I’m so glad it helped. π
such a great idea – when the leaves around here start falling, my oldest gets drippy so i’ll try this!
I hope it helps her, Renee!
How helpful that you discuss how grains can affect your digestive and immune systems. My son has been having some allergies for the last couple of months. I will find a good allergy treatment for him in our area.
I hope your son feels better soon!
These are great tips to help us all and also promote how essential to have a healthy lifestyle nowdays. Thanks for sharing!
You’re so welcome!