The Gift of Flowers, Ah choo!

April 13th, 2012

Flowers are a great gift for a birthday, anniversary, or holiday.  However, they may be the gift that keeps on giving.  For people with allergies, fresh cut flowers can cause increased sneezing, itchy eyes, and running nose.  By bringing a bunch of them inside your home, you are introducing a large amount of pollen into your air.

Be considerate about the allergies of your loved one, especially if they have allergic asthma.   If you are visiting someone in the hospital, avoid gifts of fresh flowers as the staff or other patients may have allergies.  Save them for when your loved one comes home.  Edible fruit arrangements, potted plants, or food are a great alternative.  If you must give flowers, choose flowers with less pollen like daisies, chrysanthemums, or hydrangeas.

What should you do if you have allergies and you just got a large bouquet from your loved one?   You could cut off the stamens  located at the center of the flowers which contain the pollen.  If you have a patio, place them outside on a table and see your symptoms improve.