When you have asthma the typical garden is not a very friendly ⦠Fortunately, there are plenty of indoor and outdoor plant options that don't add that complicating factor. They also like to be watered often so that their soil is lightly moist in spring and summer, and slightly drier during fall and winter. He began research and went back to college to get his MS degree, focusing on plant/allergy connections. Smart Gardening: Tips for an Allergy-Friendly Garden. For people living with asthma, the benefits of fresh air canât be understated â especially when it comes to the home. If a real tree bothers your asthma, avoid one altogether, instead consider using an artificial tree. Meadowsâ trees are artificial, but he loves live trees as well. Snake Plant; 7. OPALS⢠â Ogren Plant Allergy Scale. Occupational immunologic lung disease. Allergy Asthma Proc. Devilâs Ivy; Do Non-Toxic Plants Need Any Special Care? Even how you take care of your plants, both those indoors and outdoors, can have an impact on your condition. degree in agriculture-horticulture, taught landscape gardening ⦠Plant lots of female, plants, shrubs and trees. Being aware of them can at least help you make associations between exposure and your symptoms. This plant loves bright light but can tolerate low-light areas for an extended period. Many of the plants that produce high amounts of pollen are actually trees, shrubs, grasses, and weeds. Here's the rundown. The Leyland Cypress is a sterile hybrid tree, which means it does not produce any pollen. You should also keep this plant out of reach of pets, as it can be toxic when ingested. To take care of an Areca Palm, you should keep it in bright but indirect sunlight. ASTHMA-FRIENDLY HOME CHECKLIST 800-7-ASTHMA ⢠aafa.org 2018 Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America 2 f Is this your trigger? Relatively easy to care for, English Ivy likes lots of sunlight and regular water.Â. As you plan out which plants to keep in or add to your home and your yard, consider their potential impact on your asthmaâfor better or for worseâjust as you would other factors, such as light and watering requirements. Hereâs a quick list of the plants to have in your home: Share . Although house plants may be able to increase the air quality in your home, itâs important not to solely rely on them to improve your asthma symptoms. Both types come with risks for people with allergies or asthma, he said. Where is it found? Mould and pollen: Real Christmas trees can create a beautiful atmosphere, not only do they have a strong scent, but they can also introduce mould and pollens to your home. Asthma Friendly Gardens. How Certain Plants May Help (or Worsen) Asthma, ⸠2021 About, Inc. (Dotdash) â All rights reserved. Combating Mold and Preventing Asthma Symptoms. Then I had a full blown allergic reaction to one and realized that dust and mold were bigger triggers for me than ⦠Continue reading â About 20 years ago horticulturist and author Thomas Ogren became interested in allergy-free gardening because his wife suffered from allergies and asthma. To improve the air quality in your home and make it asthma-friendly, make your ⦠To take care of an Areca Palm, you should keep it in bright but indirect sunlight. In my previous article, I wrote about allergens that need to be managed during the holiday season, like trees and wreaths, plants and poinsettias, gathering dust , and food allergies, and how to find allergy safe ⦠2. ⦠It acts as a natural humidifier by releasing lots of moisture into the airâperfect if your asthma is exacerbated by dry air. Â. Areca Palm; 3. Trimming or clearing away dead or moldy areas. A natural humidifier, the bamboo palm helps to pump much-needed moisture into dry indoor atmospheres. Â. Bamboo palms like shady areas and occasional sun, making it an excellent houseplant to keep indoors. Always discuss lifestyle changes with your healthcare provider, and continue to take your medication as prescribed. doi:10.1093/treephys/tpz080. These include mountain cedar, olive and birch. All rights reserved. Household cleaning products, HVAC systems, and electronics all pump chemical vapors into your home, causing the air quality to decrease. Smart plant care strategies that can help include: Some people who have asthma may have a strong reaction to most asthma-inducing plants, while other people with asthma might be able to tolerate limited exposure to them. When you have asthma, the typical garden is not a very friendly place at all. Int J Mol Sci. One of the main keys with asthma prevention is avoidance. Please be aware that due to COVID-19's effect on transportation availability, delivery delays may occur.Â, © 2021. How Can Plants Help Asthma? Spider Plant; 4. Just because ⦠If your plant develops growths or disease or starts to rot, for example, you could end up inhaling mold and small particles that worsen your asthma., Whether you directly take care of plants yourself or whether you're around plants that have been chemically treated with fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, or fungicides, you could inhale toxic substances that trigger inflammation and bronchospasm (sudden narrowing of the airways).. Even when you select the right plants, keeping them healthy is critical to them remaining asthma-safe. Cleaning Products. The Peace Lily is a beautiful evergreen plant that is great for people who donât have a green thumbâbecause itâs difficult to kill! The bamboo palm is a slow-growing small palm thatâs the perfect addition to stylish living areas. 1. Choose an allergy-friendly tree: If pine pollen is a major allergy trigger for you, a fir, spruce, or cypress Christmas tree may be a better bet. If you are not sure exactly which plants are causing your symptoms, your doctor might recommend allergy testing and/or you might need treatment with allergy shots or immunotherapy. While knowing which plants tend to affect asthma in general, what affects you may be very individual. It acts as a natural humidifier by releasing lots of moisture into the airâperfect if your asthma is exacerbated by dry air. Moreover, urban trees can, in many cases, reduce air quality and increase asthma through pollen production and synergistic interactions between pollen and air pollution; emitting biogenic volatile organic compounds that contribute to ozone formation; and concentrating air pollution by reducing air flow in urban streets ⦠In addition, they grow well inside and require very little maintenance. Plants can have both a positive and negative effect on asthma. These include:. Choosing plants that are native to your area or are native to areas similar to yours can help mitigate this risk. Tom has an M.S. It is a popular Christmas tree in the Southeast. Published 2018 Mar 15. doi:10.3390/ijerph15030526. Not only are houseplants pretty look at and great for styling your interior spaces, but they also work hard at cleaning the air of everyday toxins and replacing lost humidity back into the atmosphere. Dr. Bass is a board-certified internist, pediatrician, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Physicians. FOR A LIMITED TIME! Plants survive through photosynthesis, the biochemical process of taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, which improves air quality. Considering natural ways to fertilize your plants, such as adding eggshells to soil. Mildew can make an asthma sufferer downright miserable as the particles of bacteria get in to the air and are subsequently breathed in to the lungs. This trend is often related to pollen counts in the air. English Ivy, or European Ivy, is an evergreen climbing vine thatâs extremely popular for outdoor landscaping. July 10, 2014 Posted by asthma & allergy friendly Certification Program in Health and Fitness, Health Education. Azaleas, daffodils, and orchids are just some of the beautiful asthma-approved options you can choose from. Updated April 18, 2018. Avoiding overwatering to prevent mold build-up and insects. ... such as ragweed, certain kinds of grass, and trees, are able to release pollen for longer periods of time each year. As such, you should think about avoiding indoor plants such as African violets and some wandering Jew varieties. Almost all ash, red maple, silver maple, box elder, yew, holly, mulberry, cedar, or juniper that produce seed, fruit or berries is a female plant. Plants that are not suited for your climate are hard to keep alive, which can lead to decay. Although they wonât be flowering while theyâre in your home, they may be carrying mold and dust. Here are five asthma-friendly houseplants to spruce up your living space. Further studies have also found that English Ivy reduces mold in the home. Using the OPALS⢠scale. Simply place this plant in a dark corner, as they require very little light, and water it once a week. doi:10.2500/aap.2019.40.4261, Cherry N, Beach J, Senthilselvan A, Burstyn I. Pesticide Use and Asthma in Alberta Grain Farmers. Int J Environ Res Public Health. Itâs also effective at removing benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from the air, according to NASAâs Clean Air Study. Typical gardens have pollen-producing male trees and male shrubs and other plants that can provoke asthma attacks. Three members of my six person family have respiratory allergies or asthma, so every year we have the Christmas tree "discussion". Asthma is a chronic lung disease that can sometimes make it hard to breathe. If youâre looking to make your home more asthma and allergy-friendly, the good news is that thereâs a simple and affordable way to improve your air qualityâthe humble house plant! Top 5 Tips to Avoid Christmas Tree Allergies & Asthma Clean Your Christmas Tree. NASAâs official Clean Air Study sets the record straight. One of the main keys with asthma prevention is avoidance. Best Indoor Plants For Air Purification, Asthma, and ⦠Clean with tea-tree oil and warm water for a thorough result. Microbiome. Because of this, the wind can carry it for miles. With fresh cut trees, pay special attention to the bottom of the tree because this is where the most pollen, dirt and mold are found. Anything with visible pollen (e.g., lilies) may be problematic, indoors or out. Is Extreme Heat Making Your Summer Asthma Worse? Weyens N, Thijs S, Popek R, et al. Daniel More, MD, is a board-certified allergist and clinical immunologist with a background in internal medicine. All plants help to purify the air around them, but some plants also produce allergens. Male and female trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses all follow this pattern. Read our, Medically reviewed by Benjamin F. Asher, MD, Medically reviewed by Corinne Savides Happel, MD, Top 10 Houseplants That Clean Indoor Air Quality. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Replace any removed high pollen, asthma triggering plants with their opposite, female trees or female shrubs. Did you know certain plants can help clear the air in your home? Male plants produce more pollen, while female plants help remove pollen from in and around your garden. Unfortunately, indoor air is often stale and dry and can contain pollutants that exacerbate asthma symptoms. Areca Palm is a beautiful palm that would spruce up any interior space. 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