How long have we been waiting for spring and summer! Finally, the cold has come to replace the long-awaited warmth. The sun is shining, leaves and tender grass appear, flowers bloom. But not all this time brings joy. Along with the onset of summer, troubles come in the form of allergic reactions to plant pollen.
What is this plant?
One of the plants that people are allergic to is ragweed. It turns out that ragweed is a weed from an aster family. It quickly spreads to the southern territory of Russia and Belarus, and also grows in Ukraine.
It is very fond of moisture, and sucks it not only “underneath”, but also takes it from a number of growing crops: wheat, sunflower, beets. In Russia, the plant is known under three species:
- leaf ragweed;
- three-parted;
- holometelic.
The first two varieties are annual plants, therefore, as a weed, it is quite easy to eliminate them. The third is many years and the most difficult in terms of eradication. The most common ragweed is wormwood, reaching a height of 30 cm. If the conditions are especially favorable for it, then it can grow to a height of more than two meters.
Harmful properties
The plant blooms from August to September, October. Its pollen is allergens, most of which are proteins. When a person inhales ragweed pollen, it enters the upper respiratory tract and settles on the mucous membrane of the nose, trachea, and bronchi, causing such unpleasant diseases as runny nose, conjunctivitis. The head starts to hurt and the temperature rises. Even asthma attacks are possible. Literally several dust particles can cause allergies.
An interesting fact: in medicine there is a homeopathic remedy based on ragweed, which helps to cure allergic diseases.
So, we found out that ragweed is a plant harmful and dangerous to human health, and for crops that go into food. And at the same time, it can cure allergies as a medicine. If we compare the harm and benefit, then, of course, the harm from it is much greater, up to the point that the plant must be disposed of.
Ancient myths
Ambrosia is not only the plant described above, but also the raids of some tree fungi. This is the name of the asteroid at number 193. But the most famous interpretation of the word came to us from the depths of centuries: ragweed is the food of the gods. Thanks to her and nectar, the gods gained eternal youth and immortality. Why is there such a discrepancy between the modern malicious weed and the concept that existed in ancient sources?
Perhaps it's all about myths. The inhabitants of Ancient Hellas sacredly believed that Apollo was fed with sacred ambrosia, thanks to which he became healthy and strong. And King Tantalus fed divine food to mere mortals, for which he was doomed by the gods to eternal torment. In those days, ragweed was also a miraculous rubbing agent to extend life and preserve an unearthly beauty. The method of preparing exceptional food for the gods was carefully hidden and remained for posterity only in the name.
