Gardening Survival Guide for Allergy Sufferers

Book Excerpt: "Vocal Survival Techniques for Singers and Professional Voice Users," by a leading voice teacher

by Rosalie Loeding

When the snow begins to melt and sunny days return, our thoughts turn to spring and the joy of gardening. Allergy sufferers have mixed emotions. Spring also brings sneezing, itchy eyes and rashes. There are a number of strategies that can minimize these hazards. Do not despair, there are many more trees, shrubs and flowers that are more friendly than highly allergenic. I will list plants that cause the most problems and those that cause the least.

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If your allergies first appear during spring the probable culprits are the oak, elm, alder, birch, cottonwood and maple pollens. Other trees to avoid are poplar, sweetgum, sycamore, and pecan.

Late summer and fall allergies are usually caused by weed pollens such as ragweed and molds. The pollen grains are light, so the wind carries them for miles. A single ragweed plant generates a million grains of pollen each day. Goldenrod and dandelion pollen is heavier, so they only cause problems when one is in close proximity to the plants. In other words, if you are allergic, have someone else deal with the dandelions and goldenrod. Don’t use zinnias, cosmos and goldenglow in flower arrangements because they are heavy pollen producers.

Plant your gardening when the pollen count is low – after a rain shower or on a cool, humid, cloudy day when there is little wind. Plan ahead. It might be wise to wear a mask and take an antihistamine before gardening. Remember to drink more liquids because antihistamines are very drying to the nose and throat.

If certain plants cause a rash or itching, wear gloves. If you are allergic to grasses, have someone else mow the grass and stay inside to avoid freshly-mown grass. The most common grasses causing allergic problems are timothy, sweet vernal, Kentucky bluegrass, Johnson grass, and Bermuda grass.

First and foremost, keep your grounds and gardens free of flowering weeds. Better still, have someone else do the weeding. Some flowering weeds are very beautiful, but they are also highly allergenic. The worst of the lot are ragweed, mugwort, cockleweed, dock, English plantain, lamb’s quarter, pigweed, sagebrush, amaranth and Russian thistle. Never bring them into the house. Get them off your clothes before you sit on the couch. Most patients benefit by simple or pulsatile irrigation to remove these pollens from the nose and to lower the IgE of the nose.

The American Lung Association recommends the following trees, flowers and
shrubs as the least likely to trigger allergies:

• Trees: Dogwood, pear, pine, redbud, tulip, crepe myrtle, palm
  and magnolia.
• Shrubs: Boxwood, pyracantha and hibiscus.
• Flowers: Azalea, begonia, bougainvillea, camellia, poppy, iris, tulip and pansy.

It is usually wise to avoid very sweet smelling flowers because you may be sensitive to the perfume. Better to be safe than sorry – do not have bouquets of sweet smelling flowers in your house.

Houseplants are a major source of mold. You may not see it, but it is there. There are many very natural looking silk plants to substitute for live plants. To avoid collecting dust, be sure to regularly vacuum and wipe with a wet cloth.

On the other hand, house plants can serve as air cleaners. Use houseplant natural air purifiers such as the lady palm, areca palm, rubber plant, English ivy, dracaena and Boston fern.

During the early spring and the fall the mold count is higher. In the fall the lovely, colorful fall leaves drift gently down and begin to mold. Do not rake them without a heavy-duty mask. Remember, mold can be airborne. You may not be able to see it and you may not be able to smell it. Keep windows closed during the late spring, summer and fall when plants pollinate: 5 AM and 5 PM. This is when the pollen is prevalent in the air. Drive with your windows closed and the air re-circulated.

In one study in the Journal of Allergy and Immunology, twice a day pulsatile irrigation significantly reduced allergy symptoms by removing pollen and IgE. (Subiza)

If you have allergies to pollen and mold, plan your landscaping to be as carefree as possible and stick to the plants, trees and bushes that are least likely to cause problems.

More excellent articles by Ms Loeding on Voice are at www.ent-consult.com.

First Published: May, 2004
Updated: February 2007

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