With Reflexologist Nuria Weaver
Home Remedies for Ragweed Allergy
Ragweed is a common type of plant also called bitter weeds or blood weeds. The scientific name of ragweed is Ambrosia, which is derived from Ancient Greek. The plant is from the family of sunflower called Asteraceae. It is well-known for producing pollens which causes severe allergies. It produces one billion pollen grains and it can go up to 400 miles out in the sea and 2 miles in the atmosphere. The pollen count is largest after dawn.
The apt condition for ragweed is dry, sandy soils, river banks, grassy plains, roadsides, and poor soil structure sites. They grow more in temperate region of South America and northern hemisphere.
Ragweed pollen: In wet season, the plant produces pollen grains in large measure. But as the humidity level rises to about 70 percent, the pollen settles around nearby area. It has been tested that the increase in carbon dioxide will increase the pollen production. From August to September, the plant is completely covered with pollen which is yellow in color.
Ragweed allergy is one of the causes for hay fever. Hay fever is also known as allergic rhinitis that causes allergic inflammation along the nasal airways. When you breathe in ragweed pollens, irritation like sneezing, watery eyes, coughing causes ragweed allergy. People having weak immune system are affected most by this allergy. Although there are no perfect home remedies for ragweed allergy, but people can still use many traditional methods of home remedies to treat the various symptoms of it.
Ragweed Symptoms: Some of the symptoms that may due to the ragweed plant that causes allergy are given below
- Runny and stuffy nose
- Eye irritation
- Sneezing
- Puffy eyes
- Itchy nose and throat that gives a burning sensation.
- Weakness and fatigued.
- Coughing
In some worst cases it can also cause
- Severe allergies
- Chronic sinusitis
- Headaches
- Impaired sleep
- Attacks of asthma
Some home remedies for ragweed allergy
- The best cure is to avoid direct contact with the pollens responsible for causing allergy.
- The best home remedies for ragweed allergies are antihistamine medication. It is found that a substance called quercetin works as antihistamine occurs in many foods like apples, tea, grapes and also in many berries.
- A well-balanced diet can also be taken as one of the home remedies for ragweed allergy. Having foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids can prove to be highly beneficial.
- When going out, wear sunglasses that will help keep pollen weeds away from the eyes.
- Petroleum jelly can also be used as one of the home remedies for ragweed allergy. Put some amount of petroleum jelly around the inner part of the nose, it catches the pollen grains before it gets deep inside your sinus.
- You can also go to places like beaches and shores where there is less amount of pollen flying around.
- Food like bananas, chamomile tea, honey, cucumbers, sunflower seeds and zucchini may contain pollen should be avoided.
- Consuming food rich in antioxidant helps in a great way to treat pollen allergies.
- Breathe in eucalyptus oil that can open clog passages and is one of the simple home remedies for ragweed allergy.
- Red clover wine is one of the traditional methods of home remedy for treating ragweed allergy. Ragweed allergy that can lead to allergy asthma can be treated using red clover. This can be taken in the form of tea.
- Licorice root is used as a cough remedy. It is taken in the powdered form and is anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy. The whole licorice is taken for hayfever. Pregnant and nursing mothers and people suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes, heart diseases, thyroid, and kidney diseases should not have this.
- You can also limit your exposures to the pollens by keeping your doors and windows closed, cutting down ragweed plants around your house, avoid places that grow ragweed plants.
- Buying an air filter can also be one way to remove pollens. Using a high-efficiency particle arresting (HEPA) in a purifier can remove the ragweed pollens.
- ALFALFA, a flowering plant from the pea family can also be used to improve ragweed allergy as it nourishes the immune and nervous system.
Home remedy for Ragweed allergy can always be useful to people who dislikes using medical aid like tablets and pills. Apart from being cost-effective, it also offers less wear and tear of the body tissues.
Ragweed rash: Ragweed allergy can cause a red rash when in contact with the plant. This rash can be small blisters which can be itchy. Within two days of exposure to ragweed the rash develops.
- Calamine lotion can help controlling the rash
- Hydrocortisone cream can also be helpful to control the itchy feeling. The rash heals on its own within two to three weeks.
Though home remedies for ragweed allergy can be beneficial and cost -effective but it is better to consult a dermatologist in extreme cases. You can also take up some measures like those mentioned above as a precaution for the allergy.
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