Are you aware that pollen is the most common allergen to which we are exposed?
Reference: https://www.pollen.com/allergy/allergy
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This is a photo of a field of weeds that is behind my own backyard. There used to be a lake there and it was drained 7 years ago. Since then the remaining lakebed has filled with invasive weeds--weeds that put out an incredible amount of allergenic pollen that blows into my yard. |
I don't recall ever having seasonal allergies when there was water in the lake. Now I find myself sneezing and a bit congested. Neighbors have reported dramatic increases in allergies, too and have resorted to using allergy drugs to address their symptoms.
Allergies have become epidemic in the US. According to WebMD, 55% of the US population tests positive for one or more allergens!
Reference: https://www.pollen.com/allergy/allergy
Yet, in the 1950's, only 2-5% of the people in the US were affected by allergies.
Allergies have become epidemic in the US. According to WebMD, 55% of the US population tests positive for one or more allergens!
Reference: https://www.pollen.com/allergy/allergy
Yet, in the 1950's, only 2-5% of the people in the US were affected by allergies.
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What happened that seasonal allergies have soared to epidemic proportions??
Apparently, the number one allergen, Pollen, has increased dramatically since the 1950's. There is a reason why, and also something that you can do to lessen your exposure and therefore your reactions to pollen. This is what I am so excited to share with you today!
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A gentleman named Thomas Leo Ogren sent me a copy of his amazing book: The Allergy-Fighting Garden. Thomas's wife suffered from asthma caused by allergies and he set out to help her. Through his dedicated research into the sex life of plants (pollen is the male plant's contribution), Thomas landscaped his yard with low pollen plants and pollen blocks that led to his wife being free from her asthma symptoms. He asked me to help him get the word out because so many people suffer from allergies and don't know that there is something they can do to remove the cause!
Let's look at where all of this pollen is coming from...
OK, what is pollen? To answer that, you need a brief lesson on plant sex education! For the most part, plants can be female, male, or a mixture of both on the same plant. The male puts out the pollen and the female attracts the pollen to fertilize (pollenate) her seeds which eventually lead to baby plants.
So then why is pollen now such a problem?
What I learned from reading The Allergy-Fighting Garden is that in the 1940's, the USDA decided that it would be beneficial to only propagate male plants because female plants leave quite a mess due to the fruits and seeds that they create. For example, a flowering pear is a beautiful tree to line the streets in a subdivision and we don't have to deal with the fruit that will drop and need to be cleaned up. The female yew has squishy red berries that are not present on the male yew--another mess prevented. And maple trees have those seeds like helicopters that drop and clog our gutters. Planting male maples will solve that problem, right?
For many years now, male plants were planted over female plants and now we have an overabundance of male trees, shrubs, and other plants that are pumping out an enormous amount of pollen that is seeking a female--something moist and sticky--to receive it. The female plants actually have an electrical charge that attracts the charged pollen and removes it from the air. But when there is no plant on the receiving end, the moist and available human nose, eyes and mouth, also having an electrical charge, are the next best thing!
For many years now, male plants were planted over female plants and now we have an overabundance of male trees, shrubs, and other plants that are pumping out an enormous amount of pollen that is seeking a female--something moist and sticky--to receive it. The female plants actually have an electrical charge that attracts the charged pollen and removes it from the air. But when there is no plant on the receiving end, the moist and available human nose, eyes and mouth, also having an electrical charge, are the next best thing!
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So, basically, we have been caught red-nosed, putting ourselves in the middle of nature's business--ha ha! Rather than female plants cleaning the air of pollen as nature intended, it is our noses vacuuming it up and our bodies are not liking it! |
Our symptoms can be considered a protest against the pollen invader. Isn't it time that we start listening to the protest rather than merely treating the symptoms? The longer we ignore the cause of the problem, the worse it may become. Everyone has their tolerance limit and an overabundance of pollen up our noses is beyond many people's limit. The situation is getting worse each year with allergies increasing 2-3% per year. However, since we participated in creating this mess, we can do something to fix it!
What can you do to reduce or eliminate seasonal allergies?
- During peak pollen times, keep your windows closed. Pollen is small enough to blow through your window screens.
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Once you put back a healthy balance of female plant species into your landscape, Mother Nature will once again have a partner to do the pollen dance with and, chances are, you won't be feeling lousy. It's a win-win!
I'm looking forward to doing some detective work on my own yard--I have already spotted a few culprits that I may have to deal with such as male yews and cypress. If you have any questions on which trees and plants to either get rid of or buy, The Allergy-Fighting Garden contains a list of which plants are best and they have been given ratings for you to make informed choices. You can bring the book to your local nursery so that they can guide you as well.
Technology has brought us a long way, but when it comes to natural balance, there are a lot of signs that are telling us that Mother Nature still knows best!
Have a happy and healthy fall season.
Lots of Love,
Karen
Reference: The Allergy-Fighting Garden by Thomas Leo Ogren
Have a happy and healthy fall season.
Lots of Love,
Karen
Reference: The Allergy-Fighting Garden by Thomas Leo Ogren
Tweetable Takeaway:
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To reduce allergies, let male plants have their way with female plants & keep your nose out of it! 
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