Spring Sneezes & Herbal Teas: A Chinese Medicine Approach to Hayfever with Local Plants

Ah, hayfever season — the time of year when flowers bloom, bees buzz, and many of us can’t stop sneezing. For those with seasonal allergies, spring can feel like a foggy blur of itchy eyes, runny noses, and antihistamine fatigue. But as practitioners of Chinese Herbal Medicine, we have a whole toolkit of ways to support ourselves, our families, and our patients — not only from ancient texts, but also from the hedgerows and gardens right outside our doors.

Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) is strongly evidenced to improve hayfever symptoms and strengthen the immune system by modulating inflammatory responses, balancing the immune system, and supporting respiratory health.
Here are a few key studies to explore if you’re curious:

• Effect of Chinese herbs on seasonal allergic rhinitis
• Chinese herbal formulas for allergic rhinitis: A systematic review
• Immunomodulatory effects of traditional Chinese medicine

In the UK, we’re also blessed with a landscape full of healing plants — many of which have natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties. Combining our understanding of Chinese energetics with local herbs adds a rich and sustainable layer to our practice. Below are a few of my favourites to forage, brew, and recommend this season.

The Chinese Medicine View of Hayfever

In Chinese Medicine, hayfever is typically seen as an invasion of Wind — often Wind-Heat or Wind-Cold — affecting the Lung system and Wei Qi (defensive energy). A weakened Spleen or Lung Qi can also make someone more susceptible to seasonal triggers, while lingering Damp or Phlegm can contribute to congestion and sinus symptoms.

Common formulas we might turn to include:

• Cang Er Zi San – for nasal congestion and sinus pain
• Yu Ping Feng San – to strengthen Wei Qi and prevent recurrence
• Xiao Feng San – if itching and skin symptoms are present

But when we add local herbs into the mix, especially ones we can grow or harvest ourselves, we deepen the relationship between people, plants, and place.

UK Herbs You Can Forage for Hayfever — with TCM Wisdom

Here are six fantastic UK herbs you can forage or grow to support hayfever symptoms — each with their own energetic properties and uses in both Western herbalism and Chinese medicine.

🌿 Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Western use: Natural antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, supports the respiratory system.
TCM energetics: Cooling, slightly drying, moves Blood, resolves Wind-Heat, supports Wei Qi.
Immunity impact: Nourishes Qi and Blood, helps clear allergic inflammation.
Tea tip: Pick fresh young leaves (wear gloves!), rinse, and steep 1 tablespoon per cup in hot water for 10–15 minutes.

✨ Fun fact: The Romans used to stuff nettles in their armour to warm the skin, relieve pain, and fight inflammation — it was their version of a mobile pharmacy!

🌿 Broadleaf Plantain (Plantago major)

Western use: Soothes mucous membranes, anti-catarrhal, supports tissue repair.
TCM energetics: Cooling, detoxifying, clears Heat, transforms Phlegm.
Immunity impact: Useful for Lung Heat and mucous congestion.
Tea tip: Steep 1 tsp dried or 1 tbsp fresh leaf in hot water, cover, and infuse 10 minutes.

🌿 Baikal Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis)

Western use: Potent antihistamine and anti-inflammatory.
TCM energetics: Cold, clears Heat and Damp-Heat from the Lungs and intestines, calms irritability.
Immunity impact: Supports Lung health, cools allergic Heat.
Tea tip: Use dried root slices — decoct gently for 20 minutes. Or use powdered extract in blends.

🌿 Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis)

Western use: Reduces eye inflammation and nasal discharge.
TCM energetics: Slightly bitter and cooling, clears Liver Heat, astringes fluids.
Immunity impact: Soothes red, itchy eyes and supports upper respiratory tract.
Tea tip: Infuse dried herb and drink or use cooled tea as a compress for irritated eyes.

🌿 Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

Western use: Soothes sore throats, modulates immune response, anti-inflammatory.
TCM energetics: Sweet, neutral or slightly warm, tonifies Qi, harmonizes other herbs, clears Heat and toxicity.
Immunity impact: Supports Spleen and Lung Qi, reduces allergic inflammation.
Tea tip: Add a slice or a pinch of root to your blends — it makes everything taste smoother.

🌸 Elderflower (Sambucus nigra)

Western use: Diaphoretic, anti-catarrhal, supports immune response.
TCM energetics: Light and pungent, promotes sweating, releases Wind-Heat.
Immunity impact: Clears nasal congestion, supports Wei Qi in early stages of invasion.
Tea tip: Combine elderflower, nettle, and plantain for a gentle, aromatic allergy-relief tea.

How to Make a Herbal Tea (Infusion)

Here’s a simple recipe format to share with patients or use at home:

Basic ratio:

• 1 tsp dried or 1 tbsp fresh herb per cup of boiling water
• Cover and steep 10–15 minutes
• Strain and sip 2–3 times per day during hayfever flare-ups

Optional: Add a teaspoon of local honey once the tea has cooled slightly — not only for taste, but for its own allergy-soothing properties.

Foraging with Care: Ethical and Safe Harvesting

It’s a gift to be able to pick medicine from your local hedgerows — but with that comes responsibility.

• Only take what you need (leave plenty for pollinators and the plant’s health).
• Avoid foraging from roadsides or sprayed areas.
• Use a plant ID guide or app like PlantNet or Seek to stay safe.
• If you’re harvesting roots or bark, make sure it’s from your own land or with permission.

Personal Reflections

Learning about the benefits of what many only think of as weeds has given me a new respect and appreciation for them. I love growing these herbs in my garden now — and so do my chickens! Watching them scratch around the nettles and plantain feels like a shared ritual of seasonal care.

Your Turn — Let’s Share Herbal Wisdom

Do you use any local herbs to support yourself or your patients during hayfever season?
We’d love to hear about it! Come and join the conversation in the AAC – Herbal Advisory Group Facebook group if you haven’t already — it’s a lovely space to swap clinical tips, formulas, foraging stories, and herbal inspiration.