Allergic reactions to feverfew can take many forms, because people use this flowering herb as a dietary supplement and in cosmetic preparations. Gardeners know feverfew--or Parthenium--as a relative to ragweed, chrysanthemums and other plants in the asteraceae family. Though less widespread than ragweed, feverfew can become invasive and may contribute significantly to seasonal feverfew allergies to pollen. Allergy symptoms range from skin irritation to respiratory and digestive problems.
Identification
Feverfew flowers resemble tiny, round daisies. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, people who have sensitivities to daisies, yarrow, ragweed, chrysanthemums and related plants have a higher likelihood of contracting feverfew allergies. People who develop symptoms after touching plants or inhaling their pollen, or after using feverfew skin care products or supplements, may attribute their illness to feverfew.
Types
Allergic contact dermatitis can occur after touching parts of the feverfew plant or applying creams that contain feverfew ingredients to the skin. Patients can get seasonal symptoms of allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, from inhaling feverfew's microscopic pollen grains. Ingesting the plant in herbal supplement form produces the allergy symptoms of food/drug allergies in rare cases, according to Drugs.com. Among extreme allergic reactions to ingested feverfew, a life-threatening metabolic state called anaphylaxis can occur.
Features
The University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, reports that contact with feverfew can generate itchy, red rashes and hives. Hay fever allergy symptoms include itching, sneezing, runny nose and congestion. Allergic reactions from ingesting feverfew supplements include all of these signs plus indigestion, vomiting and diarrhea. Anaphylactic symptoms arise from a drop in blood pressure. They include dizziness, weakness, breathing trouble and fainting.
Solution
Contact dermatitis conditions brought on by feverfew allergies respond well to corticosteroid creams and calamine lotion for itching, the UMMC says. Doctors there recommend antihistamines and decongestants or nasal corticosteroid sprays to treat seasonal rhinitis and respiratory effects from ingesting supplements. Medications and allergy shots do not alleviate food and drug allergy symptoms, although epinephrine injections are used to reverse the cardiovascular problems associated with anaphylaxis. The UMMC cautions that preventing ingestion is the only proven method for avoiding allergic illness.
Warning
Due to the potentially fatal risks of anaphylaxis, patients should seek professional diagnoses of suspected feverfew allergies. Medical reviewers at Drugs.com advise people who have acquired skin symptoms from contact with feverfew plants not to take feverfew dietary supplements. Swallowing allergenic substances can result in anaphylaxis, creating a much more severe allergic reaction than contact dermatitis.
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