Fall allergies start to appear in August as people start sneezing from ragweed and other weeds. A ragweed allergy is also known as hay fever, or seasonal allergic rhinitis. It is estimated that ragweed pollen allergy affects 23 million people.¹
The drier the weather, the worse the pollen count. But hot weather, high winds and heavy rains can also create a perfect growing environment for ragweed plants. Ragweed allergies usually peak in mid-September as one plant can produce one billion grains of pollen.
So, just when you want to enjoy an outdoor hike or plant some mums, ragweed allergy symptoms can make you miserable.
Note, allergies do not cause fever. Due to COVID-19, if you experience symptoms above with fever please call your physician.
Other Ragweed-Related Issues to Watch Out For
Some people with a ragweed allergy can also experience problems with certain foods or teas such as echinacea or chamomile.
Many plants that are in the same family can often produce allergic reactions due to overlap in their chemical composition. A very good example of this is the Asteraceae family which includes ragweeds, a cause of roughly 50% of all of the cases of allergic rhinitis in the United States. Chamomile comes from the same family as ragweed and can cause similar allergic symptoms in those with a ragweed allergy, so if you suspect ragweed is an issue for you, it is best to avoid this tea. (See "Why Chamomile and Echinacea May Not Be Good For You.")
It is possible to desensitize a person to the Asteraceae family using various natural methods including auricular acupuncture, gut healing protocols, and even stress reduction techniques to help calm the system.
Strengthening the immune system with a high quality diet of fresh vegetables and good quality protein, and drinking lots of filtered water will help to reduce inflammation as the body reacts to the allergen.
Allergy testing and treatment for ragweed can be done easily using a needle-free, non-invasive approach. I would suggest testing for an allergy to ragweed and various members of the Asteraceae family, and possibly mold, another fall allergy, prior to beginning any desensitization programs. Often, eliminating the allergy to ragweed can decrease the likelihood of reacting to other members of the same plant family.
Once we test, then we can treat using drops under the tongue, or oral immunotherapy, which is finding the neutralizing dose of allergy serum. The neutralizing dose becomes stronger with repetitive doses of serum. As the serum gets stronger, the patient gets relief as allergy symptoms usually subside over a period of months.
¹ https://acaai.org/allergies/types/ragweed-allergy