Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush

Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush is a familiar nursery rhyme and singing game.

This a Mulberry tree. During the spring it causes allergic reaction around the country. This is a flowerless tree so the pollen is fine to allow transportation by any means necessary. The pollen is sticky and fine. These factors result in bad allergies for those who suffer. 

Do you recognize the song Here we go round the Mulberry Bush? 

Wonder where it originated? Read On!

This is the most common version:

Here we go round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush.
Here we go round the mulberry bush
On a cold and frosty morning.
Here we go round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush.
Here we go round the mulberry bush
So early in the morning.

This song is to have originated in 1840 and historian R. S. Duncan claims, a former governor of England’s Wakefield Prison, the song originated with that 420-year-old institution’s female prisoners, who were exercised around a mulberry tree. Which is probably not the connotation your six-year-old self had in mind.

The Cottonwood Tree

The Cottonwood Tree and it's flying seeds.

As we know, pollen is in the air, but there is no better tell tale sign than when you can actually see it flying through the air on cotton. The Cottonwood has two stages of seeding. 1. Is the release of yellow/green pollen and 2. Is the transcendence of the seeds in a fluffy white cotton.

Just because you see the fluff doesn't mean that what's causing allergies.

The Cottonwood is in the Poplar Family. This is the same family as the Juniper and Mulberry. 

Poplar Trees, otherwise known as cottonwood, is a pollen-producing tree that grows throughout North America. Poplar pollen induces a variety of allergic symptoms in some people, including asthma, red eyes and hay fever. Due to the similarities between the allergens in poplar pollen and proteins in some plant products, there is often a link between poplar tree allergies and a condition known as oral allergy syndrome.

Remember that it is usually the non-flowering trees that have smaller, lighter pollen and are more likely to cause more severe allergies.
 

Eucalyptus Tree

The Eucalyptus Tree is a wonderful tree for your yard if you don't mind the allergens. 

We recently had a comment on the Facebook page about someone's allergies being Eucalyptus so I decided to learn more about this strange tree.
Often when we hear Eucalyptus we think about the smell or the Koala Bear. Both are reasonable.

This type of Eucalyptus Tree is found in Australia.

In the United States there are several different versions of Eucalyptus offered. I am most familiar with the Silver Dollar because it is widely used to embellish floral arrangement. I think it is beautiful and I love the smell of Eucalyptus. Many lotions, massage cremes and body oils use it as an enhancing scent.

This particular branch is from the Ceder Gum.

The Eucalyptus Tree is originally from Australia and New Guinea. There is apparently... if you didn't know... and argument on whether to allows tree farmers to increase the population of the Eucalyptus. 

The Pros of Eucalyptus Tree Farming:

• It is fast growing
• Fragrant like a flowering tree.
• Does not drop leaves seasonally
• Quickly reproduced cut or broken branches
• Natural flea and tick repellent
• Versatile to grow indoors or out
• Known to promote respiration and treat skin problems.

The Cons of Eucalyptus Tree Farming:

• It is not native to North America
• Its aggressive nature can over run native vegetation
• Peeling bark presents forest fire kindling
• Providing food and shelter for North American wildlife is unknown
• Are durable to cold and drought, they absorb twice as much ground water as native trees.

What Allergens can we expect from the Eucalyptus Tree?

LiveStrong reports that Eucalyptus present a very low airborne presence. The elude to the allergic reaction to Eucalyptus come more from the fragrance and less from the pollen.

For Allergena Fans, don't forget we make a formula for Fragrances as well as vegetative pollen.

Crape Myrtle Beautifully Flowering Trees

Crape Myrtle Trees (Crepe) are the premier summer flowering tree of the Southern US because it can with stand heat, humidity, drought and cold winters.

These gloriously flowering plants can be seen in miniature, shrub sized, to towering trees like the one above. The are available in various colors centered around white, magenta and violet. To select a size and color see the chart at: Aggie Horticulture They list over 50 variations of this magnificent tree.

• Very Dwarf ;1 - 3 feet Mature Height
• Dwarf; 3 - 6 feet Mature Height
• Semi-Dwarf; 5 - 12 feet Mature Height
• Small Tree; 10 - 20 feet Mature Height
• Tree; 20 + feet Mature Height

Growing Crape Myrtle trees are easy with the proper guidance. 

The Crape Myrtle Company, based in Florida, offers this advice:

1. Select the site where you wish to plant your new Crape Myrtle: Crapes can be grown all over the USA, in any soil type. Bright light, full sun, or partial sun. No heavy shade. More sun = More blooms
2. Dig a Hole Large Enough for your Specific Variety of Crape Myrtle and Replace the soil with... read more
3. Plant Your New Crape Myrtle... read more
4. Add Mulch... read more

Crape Myrtle Trees for Allergy Suffers

This beautiful tree is listed on WebMD.com as one of the best trees, shrubs to plant in your yard if you have allergies. Because of the large size of the pollen from this tree, you will not expereince allergic reactions from the existence of this tree in your landscaping.

Magnolia Trees - avoid allergies!

As it turns out, for people who suffer from allergies. The Magnolia Tree is on the list of the Best Types of Trees for allergies.

When I was a teen, I watched the movie Steel Magnolias. I had never heard the word "Magnolia" before. I assumed from the name of the movie, that a Magnolia was a flower and that it was a tough flower. Well, that's exactly right!

How can this flowering giant be good for allergies?

 Remember, the pollen that ignites our allergies and allergy symptoms are airborne allergens. They are pollen particles that are small enough for the wind to carry them. Many trees that produce heavy, durable flowers, have heavy pollen particles that are only likely to travel on insects, birds feathers and animal hair. This large, heavy pollen is unlikely to travel by wind.

Forestry.about.com says this:

One rule of thumb - flowers with large blooms usually produce heavy (large particle) pollen. These trees attract insects that transport pollen and do not depend on wind transportation. These trees are generally lower in their allergy potential. Also, "perfect" flowers on trees are desired. A perfect flower is one that has both male and female parts in a single flower - not just male and female parts on the same tree. Perfectly flowered trees include crab apple, cherry, dogwood, magnolia, and red bud.

 Texas Trees by Allergena, will help you with allergies produced by airborne pollen. 

My Allergies put me in Anaphylaxis

Have you been on the weather roller coaster? I bet your allergy symptoms are screaming too!

Allergen Map - 3/6/2015

Last weekend, in the Southwestern USA, we were body slammed by a snow storm that delivered 9 inches in 24 hours. In the 24 hours that followed, the sun shined so warmly, the 9 inches was reduced to puddles. All of it! That sunny, clear, warm day my allergies went through the roof. This was the first time I had ever experienced allergies, anywhere. I suddenly understood what regular allergy sufferers complain about. By the end of the day my tongue began to swell. Straight to the drug store for the almighty Benedryl. The anaphylaxis I began to experience was quickly wiped out, along with every other bit of consciousness. I was totally knocked out for 13 hours and woke up with a hang over.

It is the changing weather, from snow boots to bathing suits in a 24 hour period sends confusing messages to the plant life.
The EPA says this:

Expected Changes in Pollen Seasons, Growth, and AllergenicityIncreases in temperature, carbon dioxide (CO2), and precipitation tend to favor the proliferation of weedy plant species that are known producers of allergenic pollen.  Higher levels of CO2 in the atmosphere act as a fertilizer for plant growth.  Warmer temperatures and increased precipitation cause some plants to grow faster, bloom earlier, and produce more pollen. Temperature changes are expected to alter allergy seasons to begin earlier and last longer and the distribution of allergenic plant varieties to change over time.
Recent scientific studies also suggest that climate-related temperature changes are expected to increase the potency of airborne allergens.  Such changes increase the concentration of pollen in the air, the length of the allergy season and the strength of airborne allergens, and associated increases in allergy symptoms.
Climate change will allow certain allergen-producing plant species to move into new areas, and wind blown dust, carrying pollens and molds from outside of the United States, could expose people to allergens they had not previously contacted.  Exposure to more potent concentrations of pollen and mold may make current non-sufferers more likely to develop allergic symptoms.

Fortunately, reactionary medication is not your only option. Have you thought about immunotherapy. For seasonal allergies, the allergens are regional and a series of allergy shots may not be needed. Allergena offers Immunotherapy developed specifically by region. The Allergen sublingual drops and NOW Tablets. Visit our website to pick your Zone. 

Cigarette Smoke Makes Allergies Worse

To begin cigarette smoke makes everything worse. 

I am a smoker and I can't think of one single thing cigarette smoke makes better except my cravings to smoke! I am torn, often, because I do enjoy my cigarettes but I know, for a fact, how bad they are for me. I do not smoke around my children, and I stand clear of others who are not smoking. As much as I enjoy lighting up, I am not ignorant to the many factors of why they make my life more difficult. Including, but not limited to, my allergies.
Interestingly, I had never experienced allergies until I started smoking. Aside from all the scientific evidence, when I am experiencing allergy symptoms, the cigarette smoke irritates my eyes. It also stinks, obviously, and the stench lasts on my skin, hair and clothing.
Because I am a product of upper level education, I am a stickler for the proof:

Does cigarette smoke make allergies worse?

I read 20 articles lined with "they say" and "studies show" but these article don't site their source. We all KNOW cigarettes are bad. They kill. Second hand smoke causes asthma, lung disease, cardiovascular disease and emphysema. There is hard proof of these health risks. But for allergies, the sited study shows that smoking reduced the symptoms of allergies by reducing the mast cell response to allergies while not impacting mast cells from carrying out other functions. 

Clinical & Experimental Allergy

Volume 39, Issue 5, pages 679–687, May 2009

Conclusion Our study suggests that exposure to cigarette smoke may lead to a reduced allergic activation of mast cells without affecting their response to activation via e.g. bacterial-derived LPS.

I am in no way encouraging smoking for anyone, I don't care how bad you allergies are. If you don't already smoke, do not start. If you do smoke you already know you should stop. Just saying, study listed above reflects that cigarette smoke does not make your allergies worse.

Alternatively, if you have allergies and you want help, try Allergena Sublingual Immunotherapy Drops. There is a formula for you specific to Where you live!