Ragweed - highly allergenic and dangerous.
Allergy sufferers have a hard enough time with native plants. But for some years Ambrosia comes in addition, a plant from the USA, which can spoil one the summer months with heavy allergic reactions. Even a small concentration of pollen can trigger allergic reactions. What you should know about ragweed and how to protect yourself, you will learn here.
What is ragweed?
The ragweed plant belongs to the composite family. Its botanical name is Ambrosia artemisiifolia, but in common parlance it is also called upright ragweed or mugwort.
Originally, the fast-growing weed is native to North America, but for several years it has been introduced to Europe via trade routes. Among other things, contaminated bird feed promotes the spread of the unloved plant, which has no natural enemies. In some regions, ragweed has already become a real plague.
The rising temperatures due to climate change additionally ensure that ragweed grows and thrives in our country and will continue to increase in the coming years.
How dangerous is ragweed?
The ragweed plant is highly allergenic and triggers severe reactions in some people. In fact, its pollen is among the strongest allergens in the plant world, often leading directly to allergic asthma. In addition, the cases in which the allergens have led to allergic shock are accumulating.
The dangerous thing: Since the plant has only been spreading in Germany for a few years, many people do not even know that they are allergic to it. Often the complaints come out of the blue, even with supposed non-allergy sufferers. Just five pollen per cubic meter of air are enough to cause an allergic reaction. A single ragweed plant can release up to a billion pollen - a veritable bombardment on our immune system.
In addition, pollutants in the air encourage the allergens to become even more aggressive and intensify allergic reactions.
When does the ragweed plant bloom and what does it look like?
From July, ragweed spreads its pollen via the wind, and from August to September the pollen count is at its highest. Bad news for allergy sufferers: the bloom lasts until well into October, even until the first frost.
The ragweed plants are spreading rapidly and conquering more and more green spaces in Europe and also Germany. Keep therefore the eyes open and look around completely exactly whether the weed settled perhaps already with you. You can recognize ragweed by its multiple branched, pinnate leaves. At first glance, they look similar to mugwort leaves, but they are green on both sides.
The inflorescences of the male plants protrude upward at the tip of the stem in the shape of a finger and have small greenish flower heads. They are arranged like a bunch of grapes, which is why ragweed is also called grape weed. The female flower heads are on the same plant under the male ones and near the leaf angles.
The perennials grow 30 to 180 cm high, depending on location and season. At the same time, the stems are quite robust, hairy in the upper part and can grow up to four centimeters thick.
Where does ragweed grow and how does it spread?
The "allergy bomb" is increasingly found on grass strips, for example along roads or paths. It also appears again and again on construction sites and fallow fields, sometimes even in the garden. It prefers locations with much light, which are little overgrown, needs however also much humidity.
The pollen spreads over the wind. Crucial for allergy sufferers is that even a very small number of pollen in the air is enough to trigger discomfort.
What allergies does ragweed cause?
Respiratory allergies and contact allergies are not uncommon. The pollen of ragweed is generally considered highly allergenic and triggers the typical hay fever symptoms in many people, such as
- nasal itching
- running nose
- nasal congestion
- eye watering
- eye itching
- palate itching
- skin irritation
- throat pain
- swollen mucous membranes
In some people, contact with the plant can lead to reactions and rashes of the skin. However, such cases are rather to be classified as mild. This is because the ragweed plant can also cause severe allergies accompanied by allergic asthma or even allergic shock.
How can I remove the ragweed?
Whoever discovers a ragweed plant in their own garden or on the road should destroy it as soon as possible or report it to the municipal green space or plant protection office to stop its further spread.
There is currently no proven method for removing the allergen. As a recommendation is currently to tear out the plant with its roots and dispose of in a plastic bag in the residual waste. Caution: Do not throw the ragweed in the organic waste, otherwise it can spread even further. Since the seed lasts for several years, you should check the site regularly to see if the weed has formed again.
The best time to remove it is in early summer, before the plant bears flowers. This is because once ragweed is in full bloom, the pollen spreads via the wind and controlling the dangerous plant is next to impossible. In addition, disposal can become a health hazard.
What can I do against ragweed allergy?
For typical hay fever symptoms, there are Pollival® eye drops and nasal spray. They relieve acute symptoms and can at least make the ragweed pollen season more bearable. In case of severe symptoms or allergic asthma, however, you should urgently consult a doctor, who will initiate further treatment.