ROOT MEDICINE SEASONAL ALLERGY HONEY ELIXIR

This is a recipe from a workshop I taught called: HONEY ELIXIRS FOR SEASONAL ALLERGIES where students were guided on how to prepare root medicine in a honey base. After preparing the honey elixir, students made an herbal tea blend to help with sinus congestion, where they then had the option to add their honey elixir.

Symptoms of hay fever are sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, watery eyes, itchy eyes and nose, and headache. Hay fever is often seasonal (when pollen is in the air), but if constantly exposed to an offending substance (e.g., pet dander), symptoms can last year-round.

You will need raw local honey, and the following: 

1 T. Dried Elder Flower (not elderberry)

1 T. Dried Echinacea Purpurea

2 T. Fresh Ginger Root 

2 T. Fresh Horseradish Root

METHOD

1.    Boil water in the bottom of a double boiler

2.    Measure 6 oz. raw honey in a measuring cup and add it to the top of the double boiler

3.    Add herbs and roots to honey and stir well.  

4.    Cover and heat mixture over low heat for at least 1 hour.  Do not allow temperature to rise above 110 degrees. 

5.    Let elixir cool slightly.  Pour honey through fine strainer or cheesecloth into clean, dry, warm jar. 

Elder Flower (Sambucus nigra, S. canadensis, S. carulea)

Useful Actions: anti-inflammatory, astringent, anti-catarrhal, decongestant, relaxing nervine

Rose Petals & Hips (Rosa species)

Useful Actions: cooling, astringent, anti-inflammatory, decongestant, nervine

Garden Sage (Salvia officinalis, Salvia spp)

Useful Actions: astringent, anti-catarrhal, carminative, grounding nervine

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Useful Actions: astringent, nutritive, anti-histamine

Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

Useful Actions: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-histamine, anti-allergenic