If you spend most of spring doing a slow-motion impression of someone who got hit in the face with a bag of pollen - this one's for you.
Allergy season is no joke. And while we're big believers in working with your body rather than against it, we also know that "just push through" isn't actually helpful advice when your eyes won't stop itching and your sinuses have declared war.
So here are a few of our favorite tips - some practical, some herbal, some a little unconventional - that have genuinely made a difference for our team here on the farm.
1. Shower at Night
This one sounds simple because it is — but it's also the tip that tends to get the most surprised reactions when people actually try it.
Throughout the day, pollen, dust, and other airborne allergens cling to your hair, skin, and clothing. If you shower in the morning and go about your day, you're essentially carrying all of that into your bed with you at night - which means your body is dealing with allergen exposure even while it's trying to rest and recover.
Switching to an evening shower (or even just a thorough face wash before bed) lets your body reset. You wake up to clean skin, a clean pillow, and a little less inflammation to start the day.
Not an evening shower person? Even washing your face and rinsing your hair at night can make a noticeable difference.
2. Bring Activated Charcoal Into Your Shower Routine
This one works because of something interesting about how activated charcoal actually functions.
Most people hear "charcoal" and assume it absorbs things - like a sponge. But activated charcoal actually adsorbs, not absorbs. The difference matters: instead of soaking things in, it attracts particles to its surface like a magnet, trapping them so they can be rinsed away.
When it comes to pollen and other environmental debris on your skin, that magnetic action means those particles get lifted and carried off - rather than sitting on your skin barrier and continuing to trigger a response.
Our Activated Charcoal Goat's Milk Soap is what Eileen reaches for during allergy season, morning and night. It deep-cleans without stripping, because the goat's milk in the formula keeps the bar gentle enough for daily use — even on sensitive, reactive skin. If you're really feeling it, pairing it with our Activated Charcoal Detox Salt Scrub a few times a week can help clear away more buildup from the week.
3. Try a Nettles Long Infusion
This is Eileen's favorite allergy season ritual right now, and one she's been bringing to the team here at the farm.
We recently started a little herb club - once a month, we try a different long infusion together. Last month was oat straw. This month, we're doing nettles. And if you've ever dismissed nettles as just a common weed, the research on them for allergy support might change your mind.
What is a long infusion?
A long infusion is essentially a very strong herbal tea - but steeped for hours instead of minutes. You add dried herbs to boiling water, cover the pot (to keep the volatile oils in), and let it steep for four to eight hours or even overnight. The result is a deeply concentrated infusion that pulls out significantly more of the plant's minerals and active compounds than a standard tea steep would.
It's one of the gentlest ways to work with herbs, but also one of the most potent.
Why nettles for allergies?
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) has been studied for its ability to naturally modulate the body's histamine response. Unlike antihistamine medications, which block histamine receptors after the fact, nettles appear to work more upstream - inhibiting some of the inflammatory pathways involved in the allergic response in the first place.
There's solid research behind it, too. A randomized double-blind study published in Planta Medica found that freeze-dried stinging nettle was rated moderately to highly effective by participants for allergy relief. Other research points to nettles' ability to inhibit several key enzymes involved in producing inflammatory responses. It's not magic - but it's real, and it's gentle.
But honestly? The allergy support is just the beginning.
Even outside of spring season, nettles is one of those herbs that's worth keeping in regular rotation. It's exceptionally rich in iron, magnesium, calcium, and vitamins A, C, and K - making a long infusion one of the most mineral-dense things you can drink. Herbalists have long used nettles to support energy levels, kidney function, and healthy skin - and because a long infusion extracts so much more from the plant than a standard tea, you're getting a meaningful dose of all of it in every cup.
Think of it less like a remedy and more like a deeply nourishing tonic. One that happens to be especially useful when pollen counts are high.
How to make a nettles long infusion:
- Add 1 oz (about 1 cup loosely packed) of dried stinging nettle leaf to a quart-sized glass mason jar (or stainless pot)
- Pour 1 quart of just-boiled water over the herbs
- Cover tightly and let steep for 4–8 hours (or overnight)
- Strain and drink throughout the day, warm, over ice, or at room temperature
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours
The flavor is earthy, green, and surprisingly pleasant - a bit like a rich spinach broth. You can add a splash of apple cider vinegar or a little honey if you'd like.
Aim for 1–2 cups a day during peak allergy season and see how your body responds over a few weeks. You might find that you start craving it!
Where to find dried nettles: Most natural food stores carry them in the bulk herb section, or you can order from a reputable herb supplier. Up for an adventure? Nettles grow in abundance in many areas all over the world - learn how to identify herbs and harvest them ethically with a local herbalist.
4. Support Your Skin Barrier
During allergy season, your skin barrier is often working harder than usual. Inflammation, increased histamine, and constant touching and rubbing can leave skin feeling more reactive, dry, and irritated than normal.
Keeping your barrier supported - with gentle cleansing, consistent moisture, and fewer active ingredients - can make a meaningful difference in how your skin holds up through the season.
If your skin is feeling extra sensitive or reactive right now, it might not be the time for exfoliating actives or trying new products. Keep it simple: cleanse gently, moisturize faithfully, and let your skin do its thing without too much interference.
A Few More Small Things That Help
- Change your pillowcase more frequently during peak pollen season
- Rinse out your nasal passages with a saline rinse, especially after time outdoors
- Check pollen counts in your area and plan high-activity time outdoors accordingly
- Dry clothes indoors rather than on a line outside if you're particularly reactive
Allergy season is one of those things that reminds us how much our bodies are doing every day just to keep us functional and upright. A little extra support - the kind that works with your body's natural processes rather than just masking the symptoms - can go a long way.
We hope these tips make this season a little easier to move through.
References
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Mittman, P. (1990). Randomized, double-blind study of freeze-dried Urtica dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Planta Medica, 56, 44–47. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2192379/
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Roschek, B., Fink, R.C., McMichael, M., & Alberte, R.S. (2009). Nettle extract (Urtica dioica) affects key receptors and enzymes associated with allergic rhinitis. Phytotherapy Research, 23(7), 920–926. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19140159/
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Bhusal, K.K. et al. (2022). Nutritional and pharmacological importance of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.): A review. Heliyon, 8, e09717. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9253158/