Wormwood allergy

Allergy to wormwood is a seasonal disease that can disable the body, give a long-term runny nose and high temperature. Let's consider the causes of allergy to wormwood, how to recognize the symptoms of the disease and how to cure the allergy. Wormwood is a composite plant, silvery-gray in color with a strong fragrant-spicy smell and bitter taste. There are several types of wormwood: common, field and bitter.

The flowering period of wormwood falls on July-September, just in time for the summer heat and vacations. Wormwood grows like weeds along railroads, in wastelands and near fences.

The flowering period of wormwood completely coincides with the flowering period of ragweed, that is, for allergy sufferers this is a dangerous period, during which it is necessary to stay away from vegetation. One wormwood plant can produce up to one hundred thousand seeds, which are carried by the wind over a distance of up to 5 kilometers. Wormwood grows in Crimea, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Western Siberia, but today, you can find an allergenic wormwood bush in any overgrown wasteland or yard.

Despite the fact that wormwood is an allergen, it is used to make medicines. For these purposes, wormwood is collected during the flowering period, that is, from July to September, cutting off only the tops of the plant. The collection of wormwood is taken very seriously, because if you do it a week later, the medicinal properties of the plant will be lost. But why does wormwood become a medicine for some, and a strong allergen for others, which causes severe allergic reactions?

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What causes an allergy to wormwood?

The causes of allergy to wormwood are hidden in the pollen of the allergen plant. All plants are divided into several groups: trees, cereals and weeds. Wormwood is a dangerous herb whose pollen can cause a severe allergic reaction. Please note that in the spring, allergenic pollen is released by trees that bloom, in the summer - by grasses in meadows and fields, and in the fall - by weeds.

The highest concentration of allergenic pollen in the air occurs in the morning. Therefore, almost all allergists advise their patients with allergies to avoid morning walks. It is the high pollen content in the morning that is the reason for feeling unwell at the beginning of the working day and stabilizing the condition by the evening.

Another reason for allergy to wormwood is heredity. Scientists have proven that if parents with allergies have a child, there is a 60%-90% chance that the baby will also suffer from an allergy to wormwood. An adult healthy person with a weakened immune system can also get an allergy to wormwood. Immunity significantly reduces its protective level due to alcohol consumption, smoking, colds, living in unfavorable environmental zones, for example, in industrial cities, where the air is already saturated with harmful gases and oxides that settle on the lungs and not only provoke an allergy to wormwood, but also intensify it.

Symptoms of wormwood allergy

Symptoms of wormwood allergy are very similar to the symptoms of seasonal allergies to other plants. The main symptoms of wormwood allergy are:

• Allergic rhinitis and congestion, runny nose accompanied by clear, liquid discharge. In particularly severe cases of allergy, swelling of the nasal mucosa is possible.
• Conjunctivitis and severe lacrimation of the eyes.
• Attacks of bronchial asthma, frequent sneezing, suffocation and shortness of breath.

Symptoms of wormwood allergy depend entirely on the month of the plant's flowering, and, as a rule, are repeated from year to year. Symptoms of plant allergy depend entirely on the amount of pollen particles in the air. Thus, windy dry weather on a hot summer day will cause a lot of trouble for an allergy sufferer with wormwood allergy. But during the rain, the allergy will recede, since the concentration of allergenic pollen in the air will decrease significantly.

Diagnosis of allergy to wormwood

Diagnosis of allergy to wormwood is carried out very quickly and does not present any particular difficulties. The first thing that is done during diagnosis is to look for a connection between contact with the allergen, that is, wormwood, and the appearance of the symptoms described above.

Only a professional allergist can correctly and reliably diagnose an allergy to wormwood. During the diagnosis, the patient must take blood and urine tests, as well as undergo skin tests for allergens. Research is carried out to confirm an allergy to wormwood and to identify the threshold of sensitivity to plant allergens.

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Treatment of allergy to wormwood

Treatment of allergy to wormwood consists of protection from contact with the allergen. During periods of exacerbation of allergy to wormwood, doctors recommend that patients undergo symptomatic therapy, which allows them to get rid of the unpleasant symptoms of the disease.

Read also:

• Treatment of allergies with folk remedies
• Homeopathic treatment of allergies

In particularly severe cases of wormwood allergy, which causes general health problems, intensive treatment is used. If swelling occurs with allergy, then special compresses and injections are made to relieve symptoms, which relieve swelling. In case of attacks of bronchial asthma and cough, it is necessary to carry out inhalation procedures, in particularly severe cases, patients are prescribed respirators.

Treatment for wormwood allergy includes:

• Taking antihistamines. These are medications that prevent allergy symptoms from progressing. The medications can be in the form of tablets or intramuscular or intravenous injections. The dosage and the antihistamine itself are prescribed by an allergist. Please note that antihistamines are hormonal, so they should be taken with extreme caution and only if other treatment and prevention methods have failed.
• Treating allergy symptoms with vasoconstrictors. These are nasal drops and eye drops for conjunctivitis. It is important to choose a drug that does not damage the nasal mucosa and does not damage blood vessels. I take the drops several times a day.

All these methods of treating wormwood allergy should be carried out every time the allergy makes itself known. But do not forget about the basic rules of hygiene, which will help get rid of allergy symptoms at home. Do wet cleaning every day, do not open windows at night, and if you open them, use a special dense or, in other words, anti-allergenic mesh that traps small particles and pollen. Take a shower regularly to wash off pollen particles that fell on you on the street and do not forget about healthy eating.

Prevention of allergy to wormwood

Prevention of allergy to wormwood is designed to completely eliminate contact with the allergen. Methods of preventing allergy to wormwood include:

• Moving to an area where the allergen does not grow or regularly controlling the plant before it blooms.
• Do not go outside in windy, hot, dry weather and in the morning. Since it is during this period that the concentration of allergens in the air is the highest.
• Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from conjunctivitis and watery eyes. Wash clothes regularly that you have been wearing outside, take a shower and wash your hair. Avoid drying clothes outdoors, as the allergen will most likely get on your clothes.
• Since allergies peak in the summer, it is worth buying an air conditioner or at least getting a fan and a humidifier.
• Do not use cosmetics and perfumes during periods of exacerbation of allergies, as this will only worsen the symptoms and make the course of the disease more dangerous to health.
• Watch your diet carefully, and be wary of honey and herbal teas, as they may contain wormwood.

Allergy to wormwood is a common problem that can be localized. To do this, it is enough to follow all the above recommendations and then the allergy will not spoil your vacation.