A few times a year, when the kids grow or the seasons change (as they inevitably do), I have to climb into the dark abyss of our attic to find the next sizes of clothes for their capsule wardrobes. Two hours later they all have neatly organized, new (hand-me-down) wardrobes and I’m sneezing like crazy.
Those days remind me of my one remaining allergy — dust. And it is a doozy!
I can power through childbirth no problem (I’ve had enough practice) or push through a 20-mile hike, but dust reduces me to a sneezing pile of grumpiness.
Bieler’s Vegetable Broth to the Rescue
I’ve gotten better about using an air filter when cleaning or switching out clothes in the attic. I also take some allergy remedies and they help a lot. But when the dust or hay fever gets bad, I pull out my go-to recipe for some Bieler’s vegetable broth (and sneak in a few extra allergy soothing ingredients).
What is Bieler’s Vegetable Broth?
I first heard about this vegetable broth in the book Nourishing Traditions. Bieler’s broth was invented by a doctor named Henry Beiler as a medicinal soup to help promote healing and detoxification in the body. Dr. Bieler claimed that this soup would help restore the correct acid/alkaline balance in the body. He speculated that it also helped balance the sodium/potassium levels in the body.
Benefits of Bieler’s Vegetable Broth
I personally love the taste of this vegetable based broth, though it certainly isn’t as flavorful as my favorite garlic soup. The benefits of this vegetable broth are in its nourishing qualities and not its taste. This broth is used in many cleanses and detox protocols. Cancer patients often use it for an easy source of nourishment that is easy on the stomach. I use it to calm down my allergies (see my tip for an add-in below).
I also turn to this recipe during illness. The high vitamin C and K content make it great for supporting the immune system.
This Broth Traditionally Contains
- Zucchini – A natural source of potassium and sodium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6
- String beans – Also a good source of sodium and potassium, as well as chromium, phosphorus, and choline
- Celery – Excellent source of vitamin K, potassium, folate, and pantothenic acid (B vitamins)
- Parsley – A multivitamin in a single plant! Parsley is a great source of vitamin K, vitamin C, antioxidants, and beneficial volatile oils. It is said to be cleansing and nourishing to the body.
And I Often Add …
The true “Bieler’s Broth” recipe contains only the ingredients above and it is wonderful just like that. When allergies hit, I add a few extra ingredients to help calm them down. These are all optional, but add flavor and additional nutrients.
- Nettle – I love nettle and it is one of my natural remedies for allergies. When possible, I add a few leaves of wild harvested nettle to this broth. It grows on our land, so it is easy to find during the warmer months. I also harvest and freeze some for winter months.
- Dandelion – Known as a liver cleansing herb, I like to add dandelion to this broth as well. Dandelion greens seem to help my allergies and are great for the skin. I harvest these from our yard too and freeze some in ice cube trays for winter months.
- Garlic – Adds great flavor, but also benefits the body in many ways.
How to Make Bieler’s Vegetable Broth
This broth is quick and easy to make. Gather the ingredients above and you can make it in under half an hour. Here’s how:

Bieler's Vegetable Broth Recipe (For Detox & Cleansing)
Servings
Nutrition
Notes
What are your remedies for allergies and illness? Share with me below!
I highly suggest you expand your comments about nettle, to explain the burning properties of Stinging Nettle–although the name says a lot already.
We love this recipe. I made it and fed it to my mom when she was dying of cancer and couldn’t eat anything solid. It made me “happy” knowing that I could feed her something nourishing and that she truly enjoyed it. I’ll always remember and treasure these precious last moments I shared with my mom. THANK YOU, Katie!
If I make a lot of this can I keep the rest in the freezer and just microwave when I want some or is that bad? Lovely recipe, the garlic was a nice touch.
All the best from Sweden,
You can make ahead, but I find the taste is better when reheating slowly on the stove
Thank you for the quick reply!
Hi, is there a Paleo version of this for those who need to avoid beans, legumes etc? Would substituting fennel bulb work? That’s really detoxing and cleansing.
If so, how much fennel do you think I should use?
Thanks
You could absolutely substitute that. It sounds delicious!