Tonic Herbs for Spring Health

Spring has arrived and that means two things: a lot of people are dealing with seasonal allergies and spring tonics are on my mind. I’m sure you’re familiar with the former, but you may be asking, “What are spring tonics?” Simply put, a spring tonic is an herbal preparation that helps to awaken, enliven, and nourish the body during the seasonal transition from winter to spring. They can help mitigate the symptoms of allergies, increase energy and focus, and get the organ systems of the body in tip-top shape for the busy season ahead. They are not “cleanses,” which are really a bit of a flim-flam, as the body—unless it is very ill—is quite good at cleansing itself consistently. Tonics are more for nourishing and supporting the body during times of transition and after periods of lethargy. There are a slew of plants currently sold as “tonic” herbs and popped into allergy formulas, parceled out at the local health market. Many of those same plants are now classed as “weeds” and can usually be found for free in your neighborhood, as they are often thought to be undesirable plants and are consequently either picked or poisoned out of garden beds and public places. They are some of our longest-standing allies and, once you can identify them, can come in handy during these seasonal liminalities. (Remember to only wildcraft what you can one-hundred percent identify, forage in a place at least one hundred feet from a main road, and only take what you need. Leave an offering of water or cornmeal for the plant as a sign of reciprocity.) The following are just a few that you may find growing in your area.

Nettle (Urtica dioica): This is hands-down my favorite herb to use for all sorts of allergies, from seasonal to full blown histamine sensitivity, meaning it can be useful in cases of chronic allergies, too. It has been shown to balance and reduce the release of histamine from mast cells by inhibiting mast cell tryptase, thus preventing degranulation of those cells and the ensuing inflammation that allergies incur. Nettle has also been shown to block H1 receptors, which respond to histamine and stimulate mast cell degranulation like over-the-counter antihistamine drugs do (Roschek et al). Nettle is also a plant that nourishes and supports the body in a multitude of ways, helping us to get through tough times and rally our health to better meet illnesses and immune system weakening events like stress. This plant is the ultimate spring tonic herb, though it can be used year-round and the dried leaves make a lovely addition to winter stews. As a Martial plant, think of nettle as a strong, commanding leader that upraises and motivates the body, but doesn’t push too hard. It bolsters the body but does not abuse it. As such, it is gentle enough for use with nearly everyone and has no severe contraindications, making it one of the most useful plants in the herbalist’s repertoire.

Plantain (Plantago major): Also called waybroad and ribwort, plantain is one of the best herbs for cooling the body down, easing inflammation, and getting fluids moving after a long period of winter stagnation, even though it is another Martial herb. Plantain is a good go-to for spring tonic preparations and works well to nourish the body and relieve those wintertime aches and pains. As a mucilaginous herb, it helps to coat the lining of the gut and other mucosa to protect them from allergens and cool existing heat (inflammation) that may exist, even in the joints (Morton). Plantain is so good at relieving heat and pain in hard-to-treat areas that it is one of my favorite remedies for headaches, especially in those who are sensitive to aspirin and for whom more traditional remedies, such as white willow and meadowsweet, do not work. Topically, plantain is also one of the best choices to treat redness and pain resulting from bug bites and rashes, which people may experience more commonly in the spring. Rashes may even arise as part of seasonal allergy symptoms, making plantain a very useful, flexible herb with total body benefit. As a tonic herb, it also provides energy to the body and works well with another of my favorite wayside herbs, cleavers.

Cleavers (Gallium aparine): When it comes to lymphagogues—plants that move lymphatic fluid through the body to relieve stagnation and improve immunity—it is hard to beat cleavers (Lee, Park, and Park). Though its action is gentle and subtle, it is powerful and can help alleviate all sorts of issues that arise from dormant liquids in the tissues of the body, from swollen lymph nodes to edema. It also gets urine flowing (though not as potently as something like dandelion leaf), making it a lovely, gentle option for supporting kidney function and elimination. Cleavers is another cooling plant, though it also has stimulant and energizing properties. Though it is a small, easy to miss plant, it is related to coffee and the seeds and leaves contain a small amount of caffeine. This only adds to its potent support of fluid movement through the body and elimination of waste through urine.

Cota (Thelesperma megapotamicum): One of the regional herbs that grows here in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and has been long used as a seasonal tonic is a plant called greenthread, Navajo tea, Hopi tea, or, most commonly, cota. When gathering the plant, wrap the long stems and blossoms into little nest-like bundles and dry them for a few days. Boil one nest in water until the liquid turns from a golden yellow to a deep, rusty red, then drink with some sort of fat (usually milk). It tastes delightful, almost like a fruity cereal, and helps with immunity, stomach health and digestion, and urination. It enlivens the body and brings a sense of wholeness and peace. One of the primary constituents in this plant is luteolin, the same compound found in the tea plant, Camellia sinensis. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties,making cota a good choice not only for spring tonics, but also for health in general (Siben, Castro, and Faraoni). It can help increase immunity and decrease the symptoms of allergies, easing itchy eyes, runny nose, and inflamed mucosa.

These are only a few of the possible tonic, anti-allergy herbs that may be growing near you, ready for the picking. Take a class from a local herbalist or forager to know more about the herbs in your area, how to identify them, and how to use them…or pick up a field guide made for your area. Remember to never ingest a plant until you can identify it completely and confidently, but, once that happens, feel free to try any and all the recipes that you find or create! Foraging and gathering plants in your area for food and medicine is a fun way of getting your hands in the dirt and really putting your newfound knowledge to use while getting to know the plants more deeply and personally. If you get your hands dirty, you’re doing it right!

Resources

Gardner, Barbi. “Cleavers 101: A Comprehensive Guide to Identification, Uses, Harvesting, and

Preparation.” The Outdoor Apothecary, 13 June 2023, outdoorapothecary.com/cleavers/.

Herbal Academy. “Plantain Leaf Benefits and Recipes.” The Herbal Academy Blog, 25 June

2020, theherbalacademy.com/blog/plantain-leaf-benefits-recipes/.

Lee, Seo-yeon, Seo-yeon Park, and Hee-jung Park. “Immuno-Enhancing Effects of Galium

aparine L. in Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppressed Animal Models.” Nutrients vol.

16,5 (2024): 597. doi:10.3390/nu16050597.

Moore, Michael. Medicinal Herbs of the Mountain West. The Museum of New Mexico Press,

1979.

Morton, J. F. “Mucilaginous Plants and their Uses in Medicine.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology,

vol. 29,3 (1990): 245-66. doi:10.1016/0378-8741(90)90036-S.

Roschek, Bill Jr et al. “Nettle extract (Urtica dioica) affects key receptors and enzymes associated with allergic rhinitis.” Phytotherapy Research vol. 23,7 (2009): 920-6.

doi:10.1002/ptr.2763.

Siben, Braian Alberto, Maria Julia Castro, and Maria Belen Faraoni. “Polyphenols from

Thelesperma megapotamicum and their Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Activities.” Chemistry

Proceedings vol. 3,1 (2020): 122. doi:10.3390/ecsoc-24-08393.