We all know allergy season is the pits. One day you wake up and it’s beautiful outside, and the next thing you know, you’re sneezing up a storm and leaking like a faucet. Before you pop a Benadryl and snooze the day away, there are natural alternatives that may help relieve allergies. A great remedy to try is tea!
Before diving into the best tea for allergies, it’s important to understand WHY we get them. So, let’s look at allergies and the 10 best herbal teas to help you find relief this summer.
To start, allergies are an immune system response to a foreign substance. For example, when you encounter pollen or dander, your immune system reacts by producing antibodies that tell your body that it’s encountered a harmful substance. This is when your body hits you with sneezes, hives, and other unpleasant issues.
It should be no surprise that allergies are unpleasant. Typically, you’ll be hit with allergies in the spring depending on the climate you live in. In some areas such as the Midwest, they can be far worse than others. This is why we want to relieve the symptoms as soon as possible, and herbal tea can help.
Herbal Tea to Relieve Summer Allergies
Now that we know a little bit about allergies, let’s talk about herbal teas that may help. Most of these herbal teas can be drunk on their own, or in a blend. Depending on what you’re looking to achieve, you can combine different ones to get the exact relief you need.
1 | Ginger Tea
It should come as no surprise that ginger has made the list. Ginger root is renowned for having medicinal properties that help combat nausea and other health problems. When it comes to seasonal allergies, ginger works as a natural antihistamine that will help reduce inflammation in the nose. So, ginger tea should help if you’re dealing with congestion.
2 | Green Tea
While not an herbal tea, green tea gets an honorable mention. Whenever it comes to tea with healing properties of any kind, green tea is going to make the list, of course. Green tea is rich in antioxidants, so it’s a great addition to any diet. Antioxidants are also excellent at providing anti-inflammatory relief.
3 | Berry Tea
Along with green tea, berries are rich in antioxidants, specifically the antioxidant quercetin. Quercetin is a plant pigment otherwise known as a flavonoid. It has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce swelling and help with allergies. When you feel pollen start to invade your life, try brewing a cup of herbal berry tea to nip those allergies in the bud. The best berries for herbal tea are going to be blueberry or elderberry.
4 | Peppermint Tea
Peppermint isn’t only for candy canes. The mint in the herbal tea can act as a decongestant and clear out your sinuses. This is because the menthol in peppermint tea will shrink swollen membranes to make it easier to breathe. Feeling stuffy? Have some peppermint tea!
5 | Licorice Tea
No, we’re not talking about Twizzlers here. Licorice root from the licorice plant is actually used in traditional Chinese medicine because of its healing properties. Licorice has an anti-inflammatory and antihistamine effect, so teas with this ingredient will be good for allergies.
6 | Turmeric Tea
Turmeric is another well-known natural remedy that you can drink as an herbal tea. It’s a natural antihistamine like many of the other herbal teas we’ve discussed. Turmeric is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties and can aid in slowing down your allergy symptoms. Along with herbal tea, you can take turmeric supplements daily to help combat allergies.
7 | Rooibos Tea
When it comes to herbal tea for allergies, Rooibos takes the cake. Its anti-inflammatory properties can reduce congestion, and it’s full of vitamin C, which will help with watery eyes. Rooibos is also full of quercetin, which can calm down allergic reactions such as hives. Brew herbal rooibos and add milk and sugar for an herbal latte if you like black tea.
8 | Stinging Nettle
Stinging nettle is an ingredient you’ll find in many healing herbal tea blends. Nettle is a plant rich in anti-inflammatory properties, making it good for those with arthritis. You typically won’t find nettle as a standalone tea but blended with other ingredients to mask the taste. If you want to try stinging nettle tea on its own for your summer allergies, you can buy your own and brew it to see what it tastes like.
9 | Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is part of the mint family, which makes it a very aromatic and flavorful herb. Like peppermint tea, the mint helps with respiratory issues that people experience when they have summer allergies. Lemon balm also promotes relaxation, so sit back and relax with a cup of lemon balm tea. Your allergy congestion will clear up in no time.
10 | Tulsi/Holy Basil
Holy Basil is similar to the basil you’ll find in a Caprese salad. This type of basil, however, has medicinal properties that can help with summer allergies. Holy basil is also known as Tulsi, Tulasi, and Queen of the Herbs. Holy basil is also considered an adaptogen, which means it can help you combat stress as well as inflammation. As for your allergies, Tulsi teas will help you cough up the phlegm that’s been in your throat all allergy season.
Allergies are never fun. Summer should be full of fun and sun, not snotty tissues! Herbal teas are an excellent alternative to using antihistamine medicines that can make you drowsy and even more miserable. Try a blend of some of these herbal tea options to start soothing your allergies the second you feel the first sniffle.