Tea for Allergies You Should Try This Fall

tea-for-fall-allergiesAfter a long, hot summer, the cooler, crisp temperatures of early fall can come as a welcome relief. But with the changing leaves and cooler temperatures comes a less than welcome visitor, fall allergies.

Fall Allergies

The onset of fall is especially difficult for those who suffer from allergies to mold and ragweed. But it’s not just those allergies that come with the fall season. There’s also hay fever, a term used to refer to symptoms of late summer and early fall allergies; pollen allergies that are stirred up by raking leaves, and much more.

For some rare and severe cases, fall allergies can result in trouble breathing and life-threatening anaphylaxis. But even though most of the time symptoms are not dangerous, they can still range from irritating to distressing. Common fall allergy symptoms include:

  • Watery, itchy eyes.
  • Runny nose.
  • Nasal congestion.
  • Sneezing.
  • Headaches.
  • Skin rashes or hives.
  • Dry, itchy throat.
  • Allergic rhinitis.
  • Worsened asthma symptoms (for asthma-sufferers).

If you have one or more of these symptoms, you’re no doubt looking anywhere you can for relief. One place to start to help relieve your symptoms of fall allergies is tea.

Here are some suggestions for tea for allergies you should try this fall.

Tea for Allergies You Should Try This Fall

Green Tea

Green tea contains the antioxidant EGCG, which may help stop your body from producing an immune response to allergens like pollen, dust, and pet dander. Lester A. Mitscher, PhD, a professor of medicinal chemistry at the University of Kansas and author of The Green Tea Book: China’s Fountain of Youth, suggests that steeping two or three cups of green tea a day could help boost your body’s defense against allergens.

Research has found that certain types of green tea can inhibit the release of histamine. One study found that green tea intake during the peak of pollen season demonstrated significantly reduced instances of allergy symptoms, particularly nose blowing and eye itching. 

Rooibos Tea

Rooibos tea is another great source of antioxidants. Along with that, some researchers believe that rooibos tea has antihistamine properties, thanks to quercetin and a bioflavonoid contained in rooibos. Because quercetin blocks the release of histamine, it may help to inhibit symptoms like congestion, runny nose, and sneezing.

Herbal Tea

Herbal tea is not technically tea, as it does not contain any tea leaves. Instead, it refers to any beverage made from steeping an herb, or combination of herbs, in boiling water. These beverages are prepared and ingested as tea, and can contain many potential health benefits, depending on the herb used.

Some herbal teas that are popular in the natural treatment of allergy symptoms include:

  • Lemon balm.
  • Stinging nettle.
  • Chamomile.
  • Butterbur.

When you’re looking for the best tea for allergies you should try this fall, start with these teas and tea spice blends from NOW Foods, TeaSource, and Oregon’s Wild Harvest.

NOW Foods – Better Off Red Rooibos Tea

There’s no better way to enter fall than with a delicious cup of Better Off Red Rooibos Tea from NOW Foods. This caffeine-free tea is packed full of natural polyphenols and flavonoids and comes with a delicious natural blush of vanilla-citrus flavor. Rooibos tea is rich with antioxidants, such as aspalathin and nothofagin, and minerals, including:

  • Calcium.
  • Magnesium.
  • Manganese.
  • Zinc.
  • Iron.

TeaSource – TeaSource Chai Spice Blend

Nothing says welcome, fall better than a warm chai spice blend. And when it comes to chai spice blends, there’s no beating TeaSource Chai Spice Blend from TeaSource. This is a blend of spices meant to be added to your favorite tea – not a tea itself. It includes the rich spices of classic chai, such as cardamom, ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. While this would traditionally be a warm addition to your favorite black tea, feel free to add it to your favorite tea to battle the chill of fall (and the allergies that can come with it). 

Oregon’s Wild Harvest – Lemon Balm Cut & Sift

Lemon Balm Cut & Sift is a delicious herbal tea from Oregon’s Wild Harvest containing one ingredient alone: Certified Organic Lemon Balm Leaf. Simply add ¾ of a teaspoon of this organic blend to boiling water, steep for 5 minutes, and then enjoy hot or cold, all through the fall (and winter, spring, and summer, too). 

What’s your favorite tea for dealing with fall allergy symptoms?