Ragweed grows throughout North America and is a cause of allergy symptoms in 75 percent of people who suffer from hay fever. Echinacea -- touted as an herbal remedy for relief of cold symptoms, such as sore throat -- can be a good immune system boost, but it can trigger allergy symptoms in people allergic to ragweed.
Echinacea for Cold Symptoms
Three species of echinacea, including Echinacea purpurea, are used as alternative medicines, and varying amounts of the different echinacea species may be found in marketed products. The herb has been used by Native Americans and continues to be popular in the United States, although no definitive studies support its purported property of reducing cold symptoms. Echinacea does appear to stimulate the immune system, in general, and lower swelling.
Ragweed Plant Similarities
Echinacea plants are known by the common name of coneflower or purple coneflower because of their brown or purple conelike centers and pink to purple petals. Echinacea, a member of the Compositae or daisy family, is similar to other members of that plant family, which includes ragweed, marigolds and sage. Pollen from echinacea can trigger allergy symptoms in people allergic to the pollen of any of those other plants.
Ragweed and Echinacea Allergy Symptoms
The most common ragweed symptoms are the classic hay-fever reactions of runny nose, sneezing and watery or itchy eyes. For people with severe allergies, exposure to a small amount of the plant pollen is enough to trigger all of these symptoms. People with this sensitivity who take echinacea may experience these allergic reactions, as well as stomach upset and a rash.
Ragweed Allergy Remedies
Although echinacea is not safe for people with allergies to similar plants, alternative remedies to prevent or reduce allergy and cold symptoms are available for these people. For example, grape-seed extract may be effective at stopping running noses and itchy eyes, and quercetin or stinging nettle may be useful when taken regularly at improving the immune system reaction to allergic substances. Herbal remedies should be used only after consultation with a health care provider.
References
- Herbs 2000: Common Ragweed
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: Ragweed Allergy
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology; Ragweed, Allergies and Hay Fever; August 2006
- "Handbook of Allergic Disorders"; 2003
- Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database; Natural Medicines in the Clinical Management of Allergic Rhinitis
