Receiving flowers always puts a smile on your face. They lift your spirit, bring a sense of deep inner joy and a feeling that you are loved. Be it just one flower, the much coveted three flowers, or a cheerful bouquet, flowers always have that positively energizing effect on you – so much so that you end up repeatedly sighing, smiling, smelling and kissing them.
But, by all means, refrain yourself from doing so. While flowers may be a symbol of love and friendship, they may also be a source of potential health problems.
‘Certain flowers contain toxic substances, which they use to protect themselves against insects, plant-eating animals, and environmental stress,’ explained Dr. Fatima Johanna T. Santos-Ocampo, MD, Pediatric Allergology and Immunology Specialist of Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed).
On top of the list of flowers to avoid are angel’s trumpet, azalea, poinsettia, daffodil, and poison ivy.
‘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,’ Dr. Santos-Ocampo said.
Like humans, plants can get sick, too. If you sometimes see a white dust coating leaves, stems, and even flower petals, that is powdery mildew. It is a fungal disease that makes leaves turn yellow then brown before falling off. Meanwhile, black spot, which, true to its name, appears as black markings on the leaves of roses and is bad news. Then there is gray mold, which 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,’ the doctor said. ‘Still, it’s best we avoid them, especially if we’re immunocompromised.’
To be avoided, in particular, are sporotrichosis, a fungus found on the thorns of dead roses, because it can affect the lungs, eyes, central nervous system, bones, and joints, when it enters the skin from a scratch.
Also to be avoided is mycotoxin, a type of fungi that produces aflatoxins, which can lead to vomiting, convulsions, cancer, and death.
Then there are flowers with pollen, which is 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. Others experience more distressing symptoms like wheezing and shortness of breath,’ Dr. Santos-Ocampo explained.
Signs
Flowers known to trigger an allergic reaction include baby’s breath, dahlia, daisy, chamomile, chrysanthemum, and sunflower.
So, how do you properly treat fungal and allergic reactions from flowers? More importantly, how do you prevent them from affecting human beings?
According to the MakatiMed specialist, 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.
‘If you notice leaves with telltale signs of a pathogen, pluck them out immediately so they don’t spread to the other leaves,’ said 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, you need to play safe by choosing 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,’ the doctor advised.
‘You can also keep allergic reactions at bay by purchasing fresh flowers, which are less likely to release pollen,’ she added.
Dr. Santos-Ocampo also cautioned against flowers with an overpowering fragrance because these ‘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.’
But if you have already been affected, particularly of pollen allergy, over-the-counter medications can ease your symptoms of pollen allergy. Your doctor can recommend antihistamines, decongestants, and eye drops for your particular case.
‘See a healthcare specialist immediately if the symptoms do not subside or progress,’ the doctor said.