By LAURA GROSS-HIGGINS
The light is changing… the days are getting noticeably longer (and warmer)… and there are probably few among us not looking forward to spring.
But with spring for so many of us comes a price: Allergies. Sneezing, itchy eyes, nasal congestion and sinus pressure and a sometimes-overwhelming feeling of, just, UGH!
Some of us suffer more from the autumn’s array of ragweed and goldenrod, but for others there is no escaping spring pollen. It begins as early as March for trees here in the Northeast. And the amount of precipitation can increase or decrease the amount of flowering that goes on. The more flowers, the more pollen. The grass pollen begins in May; to check out the pollen situation, you can go to pollen.com, which has a national allergy map. Most pollen is airborne; so it is hard to control.
As a gardener I was intrigued by the steps people can take to minimize the allergens that come to them right from their yard. Since this article is about how to minimize the aggravating plants in your yard, I talked to Mark Heinlein, who is operations manager at Mahoney’s Garden Center in East Falmouth. Mr. Heinlein has worked for Mahoney’s for 32 years.
When I asked him what were big pollen producers, he said that some of the heavy spring pollen comes from oak trees and some pine varieties. Some of the other worst offenders, according to an article from healthline.com are alder, ash, beech, birch, box elder, cedar, elm, mulberry, hickory, silver maple and willow. So if you were thinking of planting any of these, or if you have any of these in your yard, you might consider a gradual replacement of them.
Mr. Heinlein recommended having leafy evergreens, like rhododendrons and azaleas, which have flowers, but are not continuously flowering. They produce less pollen than a flowering cherry tree, for instance. He said, that fruiting trees produce a lot of pollen because they need more for the cross-pollenization to produce fruit.
He also suggested non-flowering shrubs, like boxwood and hollies, whose flowers are less pronounced. Of the flowering shrubs, both Mr. Heinlein and the internet said that hydrangeas, which are ubiquitous on the Cape, are also less likely to cause allergic rhinitis. Many of the varietals of hydrangea sold at Mahoney’s and other nurseries locally are drought-resistant, too.
Mr. Heinlein also said that ornamental grasses are not as bad for allergies as the common lawn varietals. The worst grasses, according to one website, for pollen are Bermuda grass, Johnson grass, Kentucky bluegrass and so on. And in season, mowing one’s lawn can keep the pollen down as well.
Another way to keep the grass pollen down is to plant ground covers, such as vinca, Irish moss and dichrondra, and pachysandra, instead of grass. Another one of his suggestions was to plant succulents, such as sedums or hens and chicks, in a rock garden. And what came to mind for me was to have a traditional Japanese rock garden, which has not as much grass as stone.
When it came to deciduous trees, he said that Japanese maples produce less pollen than the red maples we have around here. And that dwarf varieties, both of trees and shrubs, produce far less pollen than their more statuesque counterparts.
Perennials plants are better than annuals, too, because their blooming periods are shorter. Catmint, for example, produces far more pollen than a hosta. Catmint can bloom from May to October.
What else can you do if you have allergies in spring? Many online sites recommend changing out of your garden clothes when you come in the house. You can also buy an air filter to help cut down on the pollen that enters the home through normal traffic. And use a pillow cover and launder your linens frequently. And keep your windows closed on particularly high alert days.
If you don’t want to uproot your garden and if taking an over-the-counter medication doesn’t seem to cut it, you could consider getting allergy shots, which over time can desensitize your body to the pollens you have trouble with. I had them myself, for many years, and found they helped.
Other people swear by a small dose (a teaspoon) of local, raw, unprocessed honey every day; some people I know claim to have had good results, even if the medical establishment dismisses the practice as a tasty placebo.
Whatever solution you choose, there are options out there that will allow you to enjoy your garden and yard—trees, shrubs, flowers and all.
Many allergy medications on the shelves of your local drugstore work as antihistamines. But there are also certain foods and plant extracts that may similarly block the effects of histamine.
1. Stinging nettle
A common herb in natural medicine, stinging nettle may also be a natural antihistamine. In a 2000 study, 58 percent of participants found their symptoms relieved with the use of freeze-dried nettles, and 69 participants rated it better than the placebo. Stinging nettle can be found online and at health food stores. The study participants in question used 300 milligrams (mg) each day.
2. Quercetin
Quercetin is an antioxidant found naturally in onions, apples and other produce. Some research has demonstrated the antihistamine effects of quercetin and a 2007 study found that it even lessened the respiratory side effects of allergies in rats by reducing inflammatory response in the airways. You can buy quercetin as a supplement or, better yet, eat more apples!
3. Bromelain
Bromelain is a compound most commonly found in pineapples. It’s said to be effective at treating respiratory distress and inflammation associated with allergies and, sure, you can find it in a pill. But wouldn’t you rather have a big juicy slice of the real thing?
4. Butterbur
Butterbur is a marsh plant that’s part of the daisy family, found throughout Europe and in regions of Asia and North America, including Cape Cod. Research has shown it might be effective in reducing the intensity and frequency of migraine attacks, but it may also be helpful in treating nasal allergies. Butterbur can be taken as an oil extract or in pill form.