- 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.
- 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 pollen 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 pollen that arrive in allergy season.
- Locally produced by bees within a 50 mile/80 km radius of where you live;
- A wild-flower blend;
- Processed, pasteurized, mass produced commercial honey as it does not have the health benefits of locally produced natural honey.
- 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.
- Make sure that you read section 10.0 of this article - it will provide you with cautions for the use of honey.
- 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 is useful in reducing the symptoms of allergies due to its qualities as an:
- Anti-inflammatory;
- Demulcent (soothes inflamed skin or mucous membranes);
- Expectorant.
- Mullein leaves - no side 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 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’).
- Anti-inflammatory;
- Astringent;
- Diuretic;
- Nutritive (Nettle is high in calcium, chlorophyll, iron, and vitamin C which increase the body's red blood cell count).
- Bacteria needs iron to spread;
- Nettle is high in iron:
- So do not give your dog nettle when your dog has a bacterial infection;
- Nettle may interfere with prescription medications for: diabetes, high-blood pressure and NSAIDs.
Mullein and Nettle
- Add the honey directly to your dog’s food once a day, or;
- Mix the honey with some plain yogurt or cottage cheese, etc.;
- Add the resulting mixture to your dog's food once a day.
- ¼ tsp for every 20 pounds of body weight
You can also sprinkle some cinnamon on top of the honey, or;
Daily Dosage of Cinnamon
- ½ to 1 tsp/day
- Take a handful of dried or fresh mullein leaves and flowers;
- In a pot, simmer the mullein in one quart of water;
- Cover the pot and heat the mixture for about 35 minutes;
- After 35 minutes filter the solution twice:
- First through a sieve and, then:
- Through a piece of clean cloth;
- While the infusion is still warm, (optional) add two tablespoons of the local honey;
- Allow the infusion to cool;
- Add the cooled infusion to your dog’s food once a day in accordance with the dosage provided below;
- You can mix the tea with some plain natural yogurt, cottage cheese, olive oil, etc.
- Boil water and then steep the tea in a teapot as you would normally prepare tea;
- While the tea is still warm, add two tablespoons of local honey;
- Allow the tea to cool;
- Add the cooled tea to your dog’s food once a day in accordance with the dosage provided below;
- You can mix the tea with some plain natural yogurt, cottage cheese, olive oil, etc.
- Small dog 1/8 cup
- Medium dog 1/4 cup
- Large dog 1/2 cup
- Simply mix 1 part of the infusion to 8 parts of water;
- Provide a fresh bowl on a daily basis.
Infusion of Nettle
- Take a handful of dried or fresh Nettle leaves;
- In a pot, simmer the nettle in one quart of water;
- Cover the pot and heat the mixture for about 35 minutes;
- After 35 minutes filter the solution twice:
- First through a sieve and, then:
- Through a piece of clean cloth;
- While the infusion is still warm, (optional) add two tablespoons of the local honey;
- Allow the infusion to cool;
- Add the cooled infusion to your dog’s food once a day in accordance with the dosage provided below;
- You can mix the tea with some plain natural yogurt, cottage cheese, olive oil, etc.
- Small dog 1/8 cup
- Medium dog 1/4 cup
- Large dog 1/2 cup
Infusion of Nettle and Rooibos Tea
Rooibos Tea contains anti-allergy properties and can be real aid in treating allergies and related skin problems, asthma, etc. To understand more about the many benefits of Rooibos Tea here.
- Take a handful of dried or fresh Nettle leaves;
- In a pot, simmer the mullein in one quart of water;
- Cover the pot and heat the mixture for about 35 minutes;
- After 35 mintutes, add two Rooibos Tea Bags to the heated mixture;
- Then filter the solution twice:
- First through a sieve and, then:
- Through a piece of clean cloth;
- While the infusion is still warm, (optional) add two tablespoons of the local honey;
- Allow the infusion to cool;
- Add the cooled infusion to your dog’s food once a day in accordance with the dosage provided below;
- You can mix the tea with some plain natural yogurt, cottage cheese, olive oil, etc.
- Small dog 1/8 cup
- Medium dog 1/4 cup
- Large dog 1/2 cup
- Simply mix 1 part of the infusion to 8 parts of water;
- Provide a fresh bowl on a daily basis.
with DIY Allergy Treatments
- His/her immune system is compromised because of:
- Poor diet, i.e. your dog is on a diet of commercially prepared dry dog food containing grains, toxins and carcinogens such as ethoxyquin found in fish meal, etc.);
- Over inoculation;
- Chemical-based parasite preventatives such as heart worm preventatives and flea and tick preventatives, etc.
- Chemicals in household cleaners;
- Over-exposure to antibiotics – use natural, herbal, homeopathic remedies whenever possible for ear infections, diarrhea, etc.
- Toxins and carcinogens in dog toothpaste, dental chews and shampoos
Holistic Wellness and Behaviorist Services
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Article and graphics by Karen Rosenfeld
A wealth of practical, wholesome information, well researched and presented.
ReplyDeleteHi Karen, great information! I do however have a question about the Nettle and Rooibos infusion.You said the nettle leaves should be picked in spring, but it is now August and my 8 year old white male golden retriever is having allergy problems. His skin is bright pink from head to tail with small rashes on different parts of his body and he is in dire need of some type of anti-inflammatory. Can I use dried nettle leaves? He has been on your food recipe for a year now and is doing great otherwise.
ReplyDeleteYes, dried nettle leaves, cut and sifted or powdered organic or wold-crafted are fine to use.
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