Herbs may cause symptoms in people who have allergic sensitivities to them. An allergic reaction occurs when the body mistakenly mounts a defensive response to a substance that, for most people, is harmless. Certain culinary herbs, garden plants, aromatic potpourris and herbal remedies can cause unpleasant, and sometimes dangerous, allergic reactions in those who have developed an allergic sensitivity to them.
Allergies to Inhaled Herbs
Seasonal sneezing and sniffling is a bane to the many people who suffer from hay fever, which is commonly a reaction to ragweed pollen. Calendula is a common garden flower and an herb used medicinally in the treatment of skin disorders. It is a member of the Aster/Compositae family, which also includes ragweed. Those who are allergic to inhaled ragweed pollen may experience the same symptoms from calendula.
Uncomfortable results can also occur in those with allergic sensitivities to lavender, according to the University of Maryland Health Center. This herb, known by the botanical names Lavandula angustifolia or Lavandula officinalis, is commonly used for its appealing scent.
Clove cigarettes, a popular alternative to tobacco, have been reported to cause allergic reactions ranging from hives to severe anaphylaxis--a whole body allergic response that can be fatal.
Allergies to Ingested Herbs
Herbs can be ingested as food, tea, or as an herbal supplement. Peppermint, with the botanical name Mentha piperita, can cause throat spasms, asthma symptoms and hives in those who are sensitive to it, such as from peppermint tea.
Clove oil applied inside the mouth, and powdered cloves added as a culinary ingredient, have been observed to cause allergic response, notes Medline.
Those with grass allergies may experience similar allergic responses to the herb alfalfa, which is often ingested in salads or as an herbal supplement.
Topical Herb Allergies
A number of herbs can cause allergic reactions when they come in contact with the skin. The more common culprits cause dermatitis, an allergic reaction that manifests as hives, dry red patches, or a rash with blisters. Members of the compositae family are ubiquitous, they grow all over the world, are used gardens and found growing in the wild, and make up 10 percent of all the flower plants on the planet.
Feverfew is an member of the compositae family that is popular in the garden, as well as in the herbalist's pharmacopeia as a treatment for migraines. In those with allergic sensitivity, merely touching the leaves can result in a reaction.
Topical preparations that contain herbal products, such as moisturizers and ointments, can cause allergic contact dermatitis.
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