Are You Allergic To Ragweed?

Katie Waters Page 1 9/10/2005

Copyright 2005 Comtech Research LLC. All Rights Reserved

So you are pretty sure that you are allergic toragweed. How do you stay away fromsomething if you don’t even know what it lookslike? Where can I find a picture of the

offending plant?

This is young commonragweed. It doesn’t lookfiendish, it kind of looks likea carrot top or a fern.

This single plant can sendout 1 BILLION pollengrains. My eyes itch justthinking about it.

I’ve never seen just one plant by itself. Italways has friends with it.

This is what the plant looks like when it isflowering. This is the stage where it causesmisery to allergy sufferers.

As the days grow shorter the ragweed maturesand releases pollen. Pollen counts are highestshortly after sunrise until about 10 am. Thepollen is tiny and can travel up to 400 milesfrom its source. It has been measured in the air400 miles out at sea and 2 miles high in theatmosphere.

Common ragweed grows up to 5 feet tall. It hashairy stems and light green leaves, up to fourinches long. There are 17 varieties of ragweedand one is known as giant ragweed. (See picturebelow of the ragweed almost as tall as the farmbuilding).

Ragweed grows in fields, gardens, roadsides,and unkept places. It is an annual, which meansit only lives for one season. Ragweed flowersare yellowish-green and small. They grow inclusters up to six inches long near the top of theplant. (See above picture.)

Of Americans who are allergic to pollen-producing plants, 75% are allergic to ragweed.People with allergies to one kind of pollenoften develop allergies to other pollens.

People with ragweed allergy may also getsymptoms when they eat cantaloupe andbananas, chamomile tea, sunflower seeds andhoney containing pollen from any of theragweed family, so caution should be usedwhen consuming these items especially duringragweed season when your immune system isalready hyper sensitive. Use caution whensmelling marigolds, or chrysanthemums orpyrethrum insecticide.

Other plants in the Ragweed family include: Sunflower Ragweed, Cocklebur, Marshelder, Franseria(Ambrosieae) Sneezeweed, Marigold, Feverfew(Helenieae) African daisy (Arctotideae) Calendula (Calenduleae) Straw flower (Induleae) Aster, Goldenrod, Groundselbush, DesertBroom (Astereae) Ironweed (Vernonieae) Dog Fennel, Joe-pye Weed (Eupatorieae) Chamomile, Yarrow, Pyrethrum,Chrysanthemum, Wormwood, Sage(anthemideae) Ragwort, Butterweed (senecioneae) Thistle, Burdock (Cardueae) Gerbera Daisy (Mutisieae) Chicory, Lettuce, Dandelion (Cichorieae)

Now you understand why you feel so crummywhen ragweed starts to bloom. Between

Katie Waters Page 2 9/10/2005

Copyright 2005 Comtech Research LLC. All Rights Reserved

ragweed itself and all of its relations it’s awonder we can breathe at all.

Stay in a filtered environment wheneverpossible, where it is air-conditioned or there is anegative ion generator around to help minimizethe effects of the pollen. Remember this willonly last until a killing frost. Then there will berelief. Try and keep a sense of humor. Getyourself a Wanted Poster for Ragweed at:http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/aq/pollen/docs/poster.pdf

Arm yourself with knowledge; be aware of what thepollen count is in your area by going tohttp://www.pollen.com/Pollen.com.asp

Ragweed isn’t all bad; it does actually serve apurpose. It is a good source of food and cover forwildlife. Cottontail rabbits eat the plants, andinsects, such as grasshoppers, eat the leaves. Somebirds which eat ragweed seeds include: MeadowVole, Dark-eyed Junco, brown-headed Cowbird,Northern Bobwhite, Purple Finch, Mourning dove,American Goldfinch, and Red-bellied Woodpecker.

So if your neighbor is cultivating a ½ acre crop ofragweed, and you can’t convince him to mow itdown, maybe you can start a bird preservation areato take care of his crop.

Notice the ragweed is no longer carrot sized. It is almostas tall as this out building.

The other option is to try these tips on ReducingYOUR Exposure to Ragweed Pollen:

Get to the source of the pollen in yourneighborhood. Make certain that your ownproperty is free from ragweed. Enlist thesupport of neighbors to check nearby vacantlots. Participate in any community efforts toeliminate the weed. Report the presence ofragweed to local health authorities.

Avoid being outdoors in the morning hoursbetween 5 and 10 am. When pollen dispersalis peaking.

Control the pollen in the air you breathe athome and work. If you plan to install an airconditioner or dehumidifier, be sure the unithas an appropriate filter. Get yourself agenuine negative ion generator by going tohttp:// www.negative-ion-generators.comYou even get 10% off when you buy twoone for home and one for the office. Theyalso have car ionizers.

Keep the car windows closed during travel,especially in the country.

If possible, spend your leisure time awayfrom lots and fields where ragweed grows.

Go to the beach for a vacation.

Perform outdoor activities immediatelyfollowing a rainfall, when the pollen hasbeen washed from the air.

Avoid hanging laundry outside on the line todry. Pollen will collect on the sheets andclothes and make you miserable. Even if thesheets smell wonderful.

Are You Allergic To Ragweed?

Katie Waters Page 3 9/10/2005

Copyright 2005 Comtech Research LLC. All Rights Reserved

Close up of ragweed plant

Shower and wash your hair before sleeping.This way you don’t transfer pollen fromyourself to the bedding.

Avoid insect sprays, tobacco smoke, airpollution, and similar irritants that willaggravate pollen allergy symptoms.

Avoid certain foods that can compoundragweed symptoms including: honeydew,cantaloupe, watermelon, banana, andchamomile.

Ragweed is rarely seen as a single plant.

Beautiful crop of Missouriragweed.

Now that you know what I look like, defendyourself.