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Thank you, and thanks for the herb sources - the last one is new to me. I really have no idea. So many diverse things bloom in Florida winters. Symptoms seem to be made worse with temperature changes, as well, and started this year with the 30-40 degree swings from day to night in mid-January. I’m sensitive to those, even though nighttimes are warmer now, and even indoors - going from a warmer to a cooler room, or passing under a direct AC draft, will often get me coughing, sneezing, or breathing heavily and not deeply while trying to hack up the post-nasal drip in my throat. I’m having to sleep in catnap-like shifts whenever I can, usually only 2-3 hours at a time before abruptly waking with issues. Even the simple act of eating will stir the mucus up. I breathe nebulized H2O2 or oils in steam, and drink lukewarm or hot herbal concoctions with honey and lemon, but they only offer temporary relief. Symptoms usually disappear after 8-10 weeks, but I’m so freakin’ tired of it all already! I can’t remember another season this bad.

One thing that can help with seasonal changes and adverse reactions is a mono diet or fast of some kind. Something sustaining that can be done for a a week or so. The best is kittrie, or mung dahl and rice. I may have recipe up the thread or if you or anyone wants it, I will dig up and post. It is used in Ayurvedic hospitals in India as a healing, detoxifying and health restorative diet. I’ve done it myself many times.

Also there are a couple of herbs that can help calm down/support the immune system; as allergies are in a sense the immune system going sort of haywire. I take this herb daily as it has many uses. Can be purchased at Banyan Botanicals or Vadik Herbs, I don’t think Starwest has ever had it. It is one of my favorite herbs, plus it doesn’t taste horrible. The best way to take herbs, if one can, is put a dose in a cup, pour hot or warm water and stir, let cool to lukewarm or room temp, stir again and bottoms up. Honey can be added if desired.

Guduchi can be taken 1 t. per dose as a sort of mild maintenance for helping immune system and vitality. I think I may increase it.
For serious conditions, can take 1 oz a day.

Some of its benefits:

Anti-inflammatory
Helps reduce excess heat in the body (like burning sensations, rashes, etc)
Blood purifier
Builds ojas (basic immune/vitality)
For fever and convalescence
Helps digestive disorders
Good for chronic fevers such as with malaria
Cancer treatment including strenghtening during treatments
Edema
Kidney disorders and stones (there are more effective herbs for stone treatments)
Viral and bacterial infections
Useful in skin diseases

Guduchi

Pinging the list - info on allergies in this comment and above.

Some more on allergies. I was looking in my “purple book” where I write down everything I make and was reminded of this EO blend I’ve made for a few people with allergies; some quite severe. Put in a bottle, mix, top off with more Eucalyptus if desired. Usually I write what size bottle but neglected, most likely a 1 oz bottle. Amounts are not carved in stone; Calamus is a very useful EO that many people may not be familiar with, it is helpful not just for allergies but mental acuity as well.

The numbers are drops, as from an eye dropper or dropper bottle.

Allergy Relief
20 Calamus
20 Peppermint
40 Eucalyptus
40 Coriander
20 Sage
40 Wintergreen
30 Camphor
30 Allspice
30 Basil
20 Ginger

Use in inhalations, diffusers, sprinkle on clothing, pillows, use imagination. Not for direct skin use.

Nettle tea helps eliminate excess mucus anywhere in the system, is detoxifying, helps remove excess water from the body, and other uses.

Mix equal amounts powdered licorice, ginger and tumeric. Use 1 t. in a cup of hot water, when drinkable temperature add 1 t. honey, can take 3 cups a day. Good for allergies.

Also eat as much fresh cilantro as possible. Even blend up, strain and drink, or if you have a blender that makes it drinkable, no need to strain. Excellent for allegies.