Herbs For spring and its Challenges: Allergies, Ticks, Detox and the Liver

For me Spring is the ultimate reminder of cycles, the energy of birth and rebirth, and renewal. Nina Simone’s song Another Spring is the epitome.

Spring is the resurrection, as everything comes into being once again after the deep internal sleep of winter. My spirit lifts and energy rises like the sap in the trees. The cold nights tried to kill my onion and artichoke seedlings but the next day's warmth gave them a second chance.

Herbs can help us navigate this time of change
Are you edgy or irritable or anxious and depressed, plagued by allergy symptoms every spring? Now that we are outside and the ticks are looking for blood are you nervous or afraid of getting bitten, do you need to clear out meat and salt and sedentary living from a winter by the wood stove. Let's take a look at each of these situations and how herbs can support us.

FRUSTRATED, STIFF, IRRITABLE, ANXIOUS AND DEPRESSED, bothered by little things?
If so these typical liverish symptoms are exacerbated in the Spring. A few small food, herb and lifestyle changes can support us now.

The simplest is lemon juice in your water bottle or even some warm or hot lemonade with fresh lemon juice and a little maple syrup. This moves the stagnation in the liver and gall bladder and soothes the stuck mood the organs produce when they are not working well. Herbs like Dandelion root, Burdock root, Yellow Dock root, are all helpful. In fact, that was the motivation behind drinking traditional root beers at the end of winter with these early dug roots. Schizandra can lighten the mood as well with its sour taste just like lemons.

A lighter diet with less meat, eggs, and salt, include fresh spring greens like dandelion greens, Chickweed and steamed nettles when they emerge are helpful. Eat lighter, feel lighter. Try our LIVER SUPPORT FORMULA on its own or as an adjunct to the rest of your plan.

TICKS!
Prepare for tick season with permethrin dipped clothing and cedar sprays like Cedarcide brand Tick Shield. I've tested it on live ticks and they are repelled by it. Rose Geranium is expensive and much less effective. Deet works but smells vile and is relatively toxic in my thinking.

Also, Blue Crow Botanicals' TICK BITE FORMULA can support your body against the pathogens that ticks may carry. So if you are bitten your immune system is ready and waiting to thwart illness. Take at least 4-6 droppers a day as prevention. Take 9-15 droppers if bitten and DO keep the tick. Resist the urge to throw it in the toilet. Just put it in a zip lock if you find it and send to UMASS Tick Report Lab and they can tell you exactly what diseases the tick is carrying and also if it has fed on you making it more likely there was transmission. Remember that even if a tick is infected that does not mean they have transferred the pathogens to you. But treat anyway!

ALLERGIES
There are potent herbs for working with allergies. Reishi is the King of herbs here in that one of its many healing properties is to lower histamine surges. It also is a powerhouse for immune support. Nettles are very helpful anti-inflammatory that lessens allergy reactions and Goldenrod is high in quercitin,  Horehound thins mucous and helps eliminate it. Our ALLEREZE Formula contains them all. Start using before spring with its pollen is fully emergent and continue through the season. Consistent use from season to season may lessen reactivity.

DETOX
Springtime is a popular season for detox, cleanse and renewal. There are many styles of detoxing and it is important to find the best for your constitution and condition. Consulting with someone who is versed can alleviate you having a strong kick back into a chocolate cake from being too extreme or to make sure you are effective, if you think you need that. You can just eat a clean diet, do some sweating and deep breathing and use our very strong tasting DETOX FORMULA. It is a good lymph drainer, eliminator, and all systems cleanser. Try to use for 5-10 days, take a break and do again if you feel there’s more.

Springtime gives us a great opportunity to work with ourselves and prepare for the most active times of year. Plan your renewal, from mini to grande and reap the fruits of a reboot.