In this article:
Reduce and remedy your dog’s environmental allergies with DIY natural, herbal treatments…
- Local Wild Flower Honey, Mullein, Nettle, Rooibos Tea and by;
- Supporting your dog’s immune system with a good diet to enable the body’s natural ability to offset/fight allergies.
Part 1 – Healthful attributes, benefits of honey, mullein, nettle, rooibos tea in treating allergies;
Part 2 – DIY treatments for allergies using honey, mullein and nettle;
Part 3 – Boosting you dog’s immune system in tandem with the DIY allergy treatments.
Part 1 – Attributes, Benefits of Honey, Mullein and Nettle
Honey
If your dog suffers from allergies caused by pollen in the environment you can use locally produced, unpasteurized natural honey to inoculate your dog against locally occurring pollen.
- Honey contains minute amounts of pollen;
- The amount of pollen contained in honey is negligible enough that when consumed in a proper dosage will not cause an allergic reaction;
- Honey, when ingested in the proper amount acts as an antibody or vaccine, inoculating the system against pollens that cause allergies.
- When your dog ingests a small amount of the honey over a period of time your dog’s system builds up a tolerance for the pollens that arrive in allergy season.
The honey must be:
- Locally produced by bees within a 50 mile/80 km radius of where you live;
- A wild-flower blend;
Do not use:
- Processed, pasteurized, mass produced commercial honey as it does not have the health benefits of locally produced natural honey.
When to start:
- It is best to start a regime of daily dosage at least one month prior to the start of allergy season.
- This allows time for the development of the natural inoculation provided by the honey.
- Honey, unlike sugar - does have health benefits for your dog, but it should always be used within a safe dosage as provided further below.
Cautions:
- Make sure that you read section 10.0 of this article - it will provide you with cautions for the use of honey.
Make sure you read this article as it provides complete information on honey, including...
- History of Honey - As a Food and Medicine
- Health Promoting Properties of Honey
- Health Benefits of Honey - Prevent, Treat, Remedy Illness
- Defining and Understanding the Different Types of Honey
- How to Select a Quality Honey
- How to Store Honey - Retaining Quality
- How to Add Honey to Your Dog’s, Cat’s Diet
- Daily Dietary Dosage for Honey
- Cautions and Interactions
Mullein
Mullein inhibits some specific body processes which cause inflammation and can sooth inflamed mucous membranes thereby helping to provide relief from respiratory discomfort associated with environmental allergies – runny nose and eyes, difficulty breathing, etc.
- Mullein is useful in reducing the symptoms of allergies due to its qualities as an:
- Anti-inflammatory;
- Demulcent (soothes inflamed skin or mucous membranes);
- Expectorant.
Cautions
- Mullein leaves - noside effects or interactions;
- If you are harvesting the mullein leaves yourself:
- Be aware that the little hairs on the leaves and stem of the plant can cause temporary stinging and irritation via dermatitis (inflammation of the skin);
- You may want to wear gloves while harvesting.
- Mullein seeds are the only part of the plant that are toxic (the seeds contain rotenone – a natural pesticide) – do not allow any of the seeds to be mixed in with the leaves you are harvesting.
Nettle (Stinging Nettle)
Nettle is nutrient dense and a great immune system booster; nettle is also a powerful anti-inflammatory.
Commonly used as a relief for pollen related allergies...
- Nettle inhibits the release of histamine.
- Nettle root increases production of T cells – which is vital to controlling allergic reactions;
- Nettle mimics the action of anti-histamine allergy medications (such as Benydryl);
- Nettle provides respiratory relief without the side effects of conventional chemical based anti-histamines;
- Skin conditions such as eczema and hives;
- Nettle is also used to relieve the inflammation of arthritis and aid digestion.
- Make sure to pick the leaves in the spring before the plant flowers;
- After flowering the content of silica in the leaves rises, making the leaves difficult to digest. Nettle root can be harvested in the fall;
- Wear gloves when harvesting the leaves as touching the spine (stem) of the Nettle plant causes temporary stinging via dermatitis (inflammation of the skin – hence the name ‘stinging nettle’).
Nettle is an:
- Anti-inflammatory;
- Astringent;
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