Some of y'all are scratching right now, aren't you?

It might not really last for seven years, but it sure can feel like it. 

Winter fades away, the bees come out, and stuff starts blooming. And for lots of people (approx 20% of the US population), this means their skin starts itching, their eyes start swelling, and their noses start sneezing and wheezing.

Allergies.

We have one in our home who has atopic dermatitis (aka eczema) this time of year every year. I know that as soon as the first blooms appear, I'm going to hear these words: "Mommy. I'm itchy."

Even a soap making family has skin problems from time to time.

Keep in mind also that "Exposure to environmental sources is to blame, including chemicals and pollution (indoor and outdoor), highly processed low-fiber diets, overuse of antibiotics and stress." (Healthnotes Newswire [August 18, 2005])

Thankfully, we have a solution! Aside from our ultra moisturizing, unrefined shea butter (for the itch, not to be applied to broken skin or open wounds!), good soap (We recommend our Plain Jane Shea Butter Soap), and a good clean diet,  nature has opened up her hands generously and provided us with...

Stinging Nettle.

That's right. It stings. But only when fresh. Once it's been dried and encapsulated, you can swallow it. Or if it's been dried and ground up you can drink it as a tea (or add it to your shampoo). The more stuff blooms, the more we do of both for our wee little itchy ones. 

(Urtica dioica, aka Stinging Nettles. Photo courtesy of wikipedia.) 

Nettles can be:

• Applied externally
• taken as an infusion or tea or tincture
• cooked and eaten
• swallowed in a capsule

Nettles are:

• a natural anti-histamine (see this link for other natural antihistamine herbs as well)
• rich in vitamins A, C, iron, potassium, manganese, and calcium.
• a galactagogue, meaning that it stimulates milk production in mammals
•  is used in shampoo to control dandruff and is said to make hair more glossy
• great for pregnant women to consume daily and in large amounts! (Please do!)
• immune boosting

Our favorite way to ingest Nettle is by making a strong tea and adding orange or lemon slices to it.

During allergy season, we also buy the 365 brand of Nettle Capsules from Whole Foods Market and my itchy people take one capsule with every meal. Before we discovered this we were nearly driven insane by the itch! It works as our family's best defense against allergies.

Nettle is by and large one of my favorite most favorite herbs/foods. Every natural home should be familiar with and well stocked in Nettle!

Make it a part of your regular diet or supplement intake!

Additional Resources:

PDF on Allergies and Immune Support

Herbal Reference and Products from Gaia Herbs

Much Love and Wishes for an Itch Free Spring,

CM