Win the Seasonal Allergy Battle Naturally!

I grew up battling seasonal allergies on and off most of my life & remember many spring/summer seasons having the typical red/itchy/watery/swollen eyes, sneezy/runny nose…pretty miserable looking back on it! My mom suffered from seasonal allergies as well, so I assumed they were somewhat normal and I just dealt with it. Thankfully, these last 5 years it has been a blessing to have allergy symptoms pretty much vanish!

Although, my 10-year old daughter has the same seasonal allergy predisposition, so we have been ears to the ground to help relieve her symptoms naturally.

The last 2 spring seasons we have gathered information and incorporated herbal remedies, natural supplements, and guided her to pay close attention to how foods make her feel…all in the hopes to assist her bodies innate ability to balance.

So far this 2019 spring season she is symptom free!

Below you will find the information gathered from my research; talking to local chiropractors, other concerned/educated moms, and some of my favorite resources/teachers in case it is helpful to you.

If possible, start about 6-8 weeks before the trigger allergy season hits: (tree pollen: spring, grass pollen: summer, weed/ragweed pollen: fall)…

• D-Hist: (which includes the below listed: stinging nettle leaf, quercetin, N-acetyl cysteine, bromelain) OR

  • Freeze-Dried Stinging Nettle: 300mg 2-3x times daily

  • Quercetin: 500mg daily

  • N-acetyl cysteine (NAC): 300 to 900mg, 3x daily

  • Bromelain: 1,000mg daily

• PA-Free Butterbur: 75mg 2x daily

• LOCAL Bee Pollen: Start taking 6 months before trigger allergy season. Start off with a 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon local pollen & add a tiny amount daily to very slowly work up to 1-3 tsp daily. {If you are local to the Kansas City are, Jordy’s Honey offers local bee pollen at the Overland Park Farmer’s Market}.

• Immunomodulating Herbs: Astragalus Root, Reishi Mushroom, Elderberry - found in our Slow Cook Chai

• Foods with naturally occurring Quercetin: Elderberry & other common foods

• Eliminate mucous producing foods; gluten and dairy are common triggers

• Lean towards plant-based/pescetarian foods

To limit/reduce exposure to pollen in the environment:

• Saline nasal irrigation daily. NasoPure brand is our favorite for the kiddos.

• Shower before bed to wash out the pollen from your hair & skin

• Wash bedding more frequently

• Keep windows and doors closed when pollen count is high

Please note: Many of these suggestion above have helped our family. This is only our unique experience, please talk with your health care practitioner before adding any of these ideas to your regime.

Resources:

• https://avivaromm.com/remedies-seasonal-allergies/

• https://www.drfuhrman.com/library/health-concerns/1/allergies

• https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/organic-allergy-relief.html

• https://draxe.com/bromelain/

• https://www.orthomolecularproducts.com/natural-d-hist/

It has been a joy to watch my daughter outside taking in the transition to spring time without any allergy symptoms!

Elderberry :: Frequently Asked Questions

Do you take bottles back to reuse?

It is so thoughtful to hear the offers to recycle the Elderberry bottles back to us! I really wish we could. At this point we don't have the means to clean and safely reuse the bottles. Although, they work great for re-purposing to store salad dressing and sauces. :)

---

How long is the bottle “fresh” if kept refrigerated?

The Elderberry will stay fresh in the refrigerator for approx 90 days from date opened. If you will not finish the bottle before that period of time, you could pour serving size amounts in ice cube trays and freeze to extend the shelf life.

---

Is Elderberry safe for my little one?

Elderberry is safe for littles, although Mindfully Made Elderberry does have raw honey, so would not be recommended under 1. If mama is breastfeeding, the benefits of Elderberry will pass through mother's milk without the risk of botulism.

---

Is it safe to take Elderberry while pregnant?

There isn't evidence of specific contraindications for taking Elderberry while pregnant. Although, clinical pharmacology (and subsequent lists around the web) state Elderberry as possibly unsafe for pregnant or lactating women because (like many botanicals) there is lack of research and insufficient evidence of safety, that is where the exercise of caution comes in. Looking back on the history of use, elderberry has consumed safely in the diet of many cultures for a super long time (and traditionally used to increase milk supply in nursing mamas). All that to say, ultimately it is up to the mama and what she feels is best and meets her comfort level. To be conservative, it can be taken only while symptomatic during pregnancy.

---

How does the ‘Subscribe & Save’ option work?

Save 5% by receiving elderberry on your doorstep every month or two! Your account will be created during the check out process & your subscription will renew automatically at the frequency you select. You will have access to view and manage your subscriptions anytime. Manage your subscription & shipping information by signing into your account, "sign-in" from the navigation menu.

---

What amount of Elderberry do I take & how often?

Elderberry can be taken throughout cold and flu season to up-regulate the immune system. It is also great if symptoms arise. There is a significant amount of fresh pressed elderberry in each teaspoon; 3100mg. As a preventative, adults take 1 - 2 tsp daily and little's (1 - 12 years old) take 1/2 - 1 tsp daily. At symptom onset or known exposure, take the same small amount with increased frequently of every 2-4 hours, up to 6x's daily.

---

How many servings are there per bottle?

Each 13.5 oz bottle has 81 x 1 teaspoon servings.

Each 7 oz bottle has 42 x 1 teaspoon servings.

---

More Elderberry product details here.

Have a question we missed? Don’t hesitate to shoot us a line here.

Elderberry Benefits

*Post originally written on August 11, 2016.*

I love getting out on the local nature trails this time of year to spy new patches of elderberry shrubs…which can be spotted all across Kansas and Missouri. With their above eye-level clusters of deep purple berries hanging the American Elderberry are difficult to miss. Even our neighborhood walking trail has a nice little picking spot. We don’t have to go much more than 1/2 mile to get several grocery sacks full right here in the city!

The kids really enjoy the hands-on experience of cutting the clusters off the shrub. I want to normalize the use of plants as food and medicine in our family and this is such a fun activity to do just that! And, as you can see from the video from last years de-stemming below, they are into it (almost) as much as I am! 

It has been a real pleasure to share information on the almighty elderberry these past couple years through private classes and workshops. I love the preparation that goes into these workshops and really geek-out on all the research. It is so fun to learn all the reasons the elderberry has been used in traditional herbalism long before the double-blind placebo studies showed us scientific proof.  So, what are the benefits of the elderberry and why would someone use it?

Found this video of Anna showing Luke how to de-stem elderberries last week! Love having little helpers - makes elderberry juice making even MoRe fun! #kidsinthekitchen #naturesmedicinecabinet #elderberrytime

12 Likes, 3 Comments - Mindfully Made (@mindfullymadeforyou) on Instagram: "Found this video of Anna showing Luke how to de-stem elderberries last week! Love having little..."

• High In Flavonoids – The highest concentration of the flavonoid anthocyanin are found in black elderberries, nearly double the amount found in any other fruit.

• Regulates Immune Response – Anthocyanins regulate the immune response by boosting the production of cytokines 10-fold. Cytokines are unique proteins that acts as messengers to help regulate immune response, telling the body when to fight and when to rest.

• Stops The Spread Of Cold and Flu – Antivirin is in proteins of the black elderberry and it stops the spread of the flu virus. This compound prevents the flu virus from invading the membranes of healthy cells.

• Prevents and Treats Colds – Elderberry is one of the most effective herbs for preventing and treating colds and upper respiratory infection. Elderberry is approved by the German Commision E for coughs, bronchitis, fevers, and colds. It also may be good for hay fever, sore throat and sinusitis stuffy nose.

• Anti Inflammatory – Elderberry extract has been shown in studies to reduce inflammation. Elderberry reduces inflammation for aches, pains and fever.

• Reduces Oxidations Of LDL Cholesterol – Oxidation leads to atherogenesis (plaque growth) contributing to cardiovascular disease.

• Good General Blood Purifier – Elderberry contains triterpene, a substance that has been shown to demonstrate liver cleansing action.

I was just a little excited to meet Rosemary at The Mother Earth News fair in 2012.

Interested to learn more? Check out one of my favorite traditional herbalists, Rosemary Gladstar, shares more about the elderberry.

The elderberry is extremely useful and a must have staple for immune support. You can learn how to make several elderberry preparations an All Things Elderberry Workshop or purchase Mindfully Made FOR You Elderberry Juice.