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Re: Echinacea allergies

Allergies to Echinacea are neither particularly common, nor especially rare.
Since Purple Coneflower is a composite and is related to ragweed,
cross-reactive allergic reactions are to be expected (in those already
allergic to ragweed). In a similar vein, some 20% of people already allergic
to ragweed, will also test positive for allergy to goldenrod (another
composite). Goldenrod allergy is almost entirely found only among those who
have goldenrod growing in their own gardens.
Allergic response to Chamomile is well documented and in some cases a single
cup of chamomile tea has put the drinker into serious anaphylactic shock
Allergies from Goldenrod are often misunderstood, since it has been widely
claimed and published that Goldenrod is insect-pollinated and does not cause
allergies. In fact, Goldenrod is amphipilous, pollinated by BOTH insects and
the wind.

None of this is to suggest that one ought not to grow Goldenrod or drink
chamomile tea. However, if one already is especially sensitized to ragweed
pollen, then all ragweed relatives ought to be treated with extra respect
and care.

Tom Ogren
www.allergyfree-gardening.com
tloallergyfree@earthlink.net

----- Original Message -----
From: <HERBWORLD@aol.com>
To: <Gardenwriters@topica.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2002 6:09 AM
Subject: [GWL]: Echinacea allergies


> Funny you should ask, John, because this is what I found in a magazine I
> opened at breakfast this morning:
>
> The reactions you may have heard of came from two allergy specialsts in
> Australia as part of a news story carried January 22 on the MSN INternet
news
> network and was based on an article in the January issue of "Annals of
> Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology"   I have more detailed information if
anyone
> really wants it but the basics are this: It goes without saying that
anyone
> with known allergies of any kind should exercise caution when taking
> something new, possibly even undergoing sensitivity scratch tests.  There
> were only 5 people involved.  Echinacea is in the Asteracea family and
anyone
> with sensitivities to this family (chamomile for instance) should be aware
> that they could also be allergic to Echinacea.  With the amount of
Echinacea
> consumed in a year worldwide, this is hardly a significant
problem....except
> to the few people that are affected.  There is also the possibility that
> there was a contamination issue in the echinacea product ingested which
has
> not been further investigated.
>
> <<A question for you and anyone else about Echinacea, the Herb of the
Year:
> What have you heard about allergic reactions?  Apparently there've been a
few
>
> bad ones.>>
>
> Maureen Rogers
> The Herb Growing & Marketing Network
> http://www.herbnet.com and herbworld.com
> PO Box 245, Silver Spring, PA 17575
> 717-393-3295; FAX: 717-393-9261
>
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