All about flowers & flower arrangingFlower allergies
While there are a relatively small percentage of people who are ultra sensitive to the smell of certain flowers, a very large percentage of the population are affected at some time in their lives by plant allergies. Hayfever- medically referred to as seasonal allergic rhinitis - is an allergic reaction to pollen. Pollen counts are routinely included in weather forecasts these days, which is helpful advance information for hayfever sufferers. Air-borne pollen is to blame, and the finer the pollen particles, the worse it is for people with pollen allergies.
Flowers to avoid are: Most lilies, blossom on flowering trees, freesias, grasses, australian natives (eg Banksias), golden rod (Solidago), single flower baby's breath (Gypsoplila), and daisy type chrysanthemums. Green and white / cream flowers are significantly worse than their coloured counterparts. Generally, pale small flowers cause more allergic reactions.
Flowers that cause the least problems include roses,hydrangeas, begonias, flowers with heavy pollen, tulips, sunflowers, orchids and many true tropical flowers like anthuriums and heliconias. Trumpet flowers are not usually a problem as the pollen is too far down the flower.
Why do flower pollens give us Hayfever?
Normally air-borne pollen passes up your nose, and the mucus facilitates their passage down your throat and either coughed out or swallowed.
There is a theory that the ph of the mucus membranes determines whether one is going to have an allergic reaction to pollen. If the membranes do not have a neutral ph, histamines are released which causes the nasal blood vessels to enlarge, causing fluid to escape through their walls, resulting in a clogged up nose and the inevitable sneezing and itchiness. It is also thought that the smaller pollen particles cause more problems because they stick to the mucous membrane more easily than large ones.
While their are numerous remedies available for hayfever, one of the most effective that I have tried is to irrigate the sinuses with a saline solution. A bit more time consuming than popping a pill, but is a more natural way of dealing with the problem.
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