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Whether you’re gifted with one or a dozen, flowers can’t help but put a smile on your face. Chalk it up to their stunning colors, their heady scent, or what they represent (is it friendship—or love?), flowers have the power to uplift flagging spirits and brighten up a plain room.
And yet, these beautiful, fragrant creations of nature can also be the death of you.
Toxins and fungus
“Certain flowers contain toxic substances, which they use to protect themselves against insects, plant-eating animals, and environmental stress,” explains Fatima Johanna T. Santos-Ocampo, MD, Pediatric Allergology & Immunology Specialist of top hospital in the Philippines, Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed). “Angel’s trumpet and azalea are highly poisonous and can cause illness or death if ingested. Poinsettia and daffodil can result in mild gastrointestinal issues, and poison ivy triggers itchy rashes upon contact.”
Like humans, plants can get sick too. Notice a white dust coating leaves, stems, and even flower petals? That’s powdery mildew, a fungal disease that makes leaves turn yellow then brown before falling off. Black spot, which, true to its name, appears as black markings on the leaves of roses, and gray mold obtains its host’s nutrients by coating it in thick gray fuzz.
“In general, we are not likely to get infected by a plant attacked by a pathogen or a microorganism that brings disease to its host,” says Dr. Santos-Ocampo. “Still, it’s best we avoid them, especially if we’re immunocompromised. Sporotrichosis, a fungus found on the thorns of dead roses, can affect the lungs, eyes, central nervous system, bones, and joints, when it enters the skin from a scratch. Mycotoxin, a type of fungi, produces aflatoxins, which can lead to vomiting, convulsions, cancer, and death.”
Pollen
Then there are flowers with pollen, a fine, powdery substance essential to the reproduction of plants. It’s also a known allergen. When inhaled, “our immune system thinks they are invading our body, much like a virus or bacteria. This leads to the release of histamine, which makes us itch, sniffle, and sneeze,” explains Dr. Santos-Ocampo. “Others experience more distressing symptoms like wheezing and shortness of breath.”
Flowers known to trigger an allergic reaction include baby’s breath, dahlia, daisy, chamomile, chrysanthemum, and sunflower.
Treatment and prevention
Knowing how to spot a potentially toxic, pathogenic, or allergenic flower or plant and avoiding it is the easiest way to prevent a bad or life-threatening reaction, says the MakatiMed specialist. “If you notice leaves with telltale signs of a pathogen, pluck them out immediately so they don’t spread to the other leaves,” says Dr. Santos-Ocampo. “Put space between plants to promote good air circulation, and protect them with commercially available garden oils and fungicide sprays.”
As for flowers, play safe and choose from a host of pollen-free varieties or those whose pollen are sticky, heavy or trapped, hence not easily airborne. “Among these are roses, orchids, tulips, hydrangeas, peonies, carnations, irises, begonias, snapdragons, and cactus flowers, which are low in pollen. These are also very lovely to give and receive,” advises Dr. Santos-Ocampo.
“You can also keep allergic reactions at bay by purchasing fresh flowers, which are less likely to release pollen. Flowers with an overpowering fragrance may trigger sneezing because they have volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). In concentrated form, these may trigger coughing, allergic rhinitis, or an asthma attack in sensitive individuals. It is safer to choose those with mild scents.”
Over-the-counter medications can ease your symptoms of pollen allergy. Ask your doctor to recommend antihistamines, decongestants, and eye drops for your particular case. “See a healthcare specialist immediately if the symptoms do not subside or progress,” says Dr. Santos-Ocampo.
For more information, please contact MakatiMed On-Call at +632.88888 999, email [email protected], or visit www.makatimed.net.ph. Follow MakatiMed’s social media pages for more health-related content and for the latest updates: https://www.makatimed.net.ph/social-media-pages/
