http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/cm_ragweed.htm Allergies are “non-communicable” diseases affecting millions of Americans. Think of just about any substance a human can smell, touch, or taste and there is probably someone somewhere “allergic” to it. One allergen that affects me on a personal level is “Ragweed Pollen.” On my father’s side of the family just about everyone is affected by this allergen. Some of them formally diagnosed others just have allergy symptoms when the most likely suspected allergen is Ragweed pollen. If you have allergic symptoms that seem to occur every late summer into early fall until the first killing frost there is a good chance you are also allergic to Ragweed pollen. Ragweed allergies affect
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A beautiful flower prized in Europe, our Goldenrods, are treated as weeds and destroyed every year and Ragweeds flourish and cause seasonal misery. A botanist would point out that even Ragweeds have great value to wildlife, many birds and small rodents eat the seeds of the plant in winter as the seed heads are often above the snow. That is the botany of the plants and the psychology of humans and the fallacies they fall for. In this case, “seeing it with your own eyes,” is not going to help you unless you know what to look …show more content…
Some are quite serious and life-threatening. Others less serious but still take a toll in terms of human misery and suffering. Seasonal allergies caused by Ragweed pollen, mainly in the late summer and fall in the United States, are one such allergy. Unfortunately in the past the treatments were ineffective and even the source of the allergen was misidentified. We now know to stop blaming our Goldenrods and to let the insects enjoy these wonderful flowers. We can limit our contact with the real culprits, Ragweeds. And we can do things to prevent exposure to their pollen. We can also take improved medicines available over the counter or even seek more professional treatment from physicians trained in dealing with all allergies through the latest in medical interventions. As the old adage says, “what cannot be cured, must be endured.” We are lucky enough to live in an age where enduring Ragweed allergy is easier than
A beautiful flower prized in Europe, our Goldenrods, are treated as weeds and destroyed every year and Ragweeds flourish and cause seasonal misery. A botanist would point out that even Ragweeds have great value to wildlife, many birds and small rodents eat the seeds of the plant in winter as the seed heads are often above the snow. That is the botany of the plants and the psychology of humans and the fallacies they fall for. In this case, “seeing it with your own eyes,” is not going to help you unless you know what to look …show more content…
Some are quite serious and life-threatening. Others less serious but still take a toll in terms of human misery and suffering. Seasonal allergies caused by Ragweed pollen, mainly in the late summer and fall in the United States, are one such allergy. Unfortunately in the past the treatments were ineffective and even the source of the allergen was misidentified. We now know to stop blaming our Goldenrods and to let the insects enjoy these wonderful flowers. We can limit our contact with the real culprits, Ragweeds. And we can do things to prevent exposure to their pollen. We can also take improved medicines available over the counter or even seek more professional treatment from physicians trained in dealing with all allergies through the latest in medical interventions. As the old adage says, “what cannot be cured, must be endured.” We are lucky enough to live in an age where enduring Ragweed allergy is easier than