Did you know that your houseplants can affect the air quality in your home and your asthma? Not all houseplants are created equal—when it comes to improving indoor air quality that is. The ficus tree, orchids, and marigolds have all been known to cause skin reactions and irritation if not careful. Some help by acting as a natural humidifier, while others remove formaldehyde and reduce benzene levels, both of which trigger allergies. 8295 classification H2 & H3 (NC) Nov. 7, 2005 -- English ivy may help you breathe easier, especially if you have allergies, new research shows.. There are many good reasons why you should have some greenery indoors, especially considering many houseplants can actually be beneficial, even for allergy sufferers. Call us today at (336) 629-5453 to learn more. Vacuum, dust and change your air filter, and use a wet cloth to wipe down your surfaces. This plant loves bright light but can tolerate low-light areas for an extended period. Ornamental plants, including yucca, ivy, palm trees, and Ficus benjamina (weeping fig), can cause adverse reactions in those with allergies (Mahillon, et. The sap can get on dust particles and fly throughout the house. 8 Wonderful Plants To Help You Cure Asthma Naturally 1. FDA issues Warning about Methanol Contamination in some Hand Sanitizers, Disposable Flavored Vaping Products Overlooked by Recent Federal Ban. English ivy can cause skin irritations. It is known that both seeds and leaves of parsley and stems are useful for our internal organs, especially lungs. Filed Under: Allergy & Asthma Info, Indoor Air Quality Tagged With: air conditioner, air purifier filter, air purifiers, air quality, vacuums About Author AllergyandAir.com offers some of the best-rated, most technologically advanced air purifiers on the market to help keep your house or office free of allergens, odors & chemicals that may be harmful to you and your family. Avoid plants and trees with a high allergy rating. Though ficus is a common indoor plant, the sap can irritate people with latex allergies. But if you're allergic to mold, they could be pretty problematic. Instead of cleaning your home’s air, some plant species can aggravate allergies and worsen asthma symptoms. People love to hang spider plants because of their long and elegant leaves. Warren V. Filley, MD, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, gave us the lowdown on some of the most common allergy-causing plants and trees, and how to spot them. Your tears might be due to allergens. SPATHIPHYLLUM (PEACE LILY) is beauty in all its simplicity, the peace lily boasts strong dark green leaves and tall elegant white flowers. Some houseplants filter harmful toxins and pollutants out of the air (like benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene) that come from everyday substances like certain detergents, wood products, and paints. This allows dust to cling and makes it harder to clean off. Over-watering your plants can lead to the development of a fungus and mold which are known asthma triggers. Palms, of the male variety, produce excess pollen. Page last reviewed: October 7, 2019. Houseplant Watering Guide, Have a question or comment? Some people even get minor rashes when they come into contact with roses. Do you get teary-eyed when someone makes a grand romantic gesture and brings you roses? 14599 classification H2 & H3 (NC), All Content Copyright © 2021 Charlies HVAC | Sitemap, 6 Energy-Saving Tips for the Holidays and Winter, What to Consider When Installing an HVAC System in a Historic Home, The Risks of Hiring an Unlicensed HVAC Contractor. Hypoallergenic sunflower seeds All these grow 5 to 6 feet tall, and the pollen is too heavy to be spread easily. They thrive in furniture, carpets and bedding.People with pet allergies are usually allergic to proteins in the pet’s urine, saliva or dander (dead skin cells). Here are six indoor plants that will cure your asthma, bronchitis and more… simply by cleaning your air. One of the worst things you can do to your houseplants is to give them too much water. Plants are frequently used to mediate the effects of pollution and toxins in our external environment. Contact Us: 919.870.8600 (Phone) 919.844.2802 (Fax). However, people with plant allergies may have a bad reaction to ferns. As stated above, there is no cure for allergies. Cummings BE, Waring MS. Being able to identify the worst house plants for your allergies will help you feel and breathe better. We are all familiar with the usual suspects that trigger asthma including secondhand smoke, dust mites, mold, pests like cockroaches, and pets. 2010;125(1):32;38. doi:10.1016%2Fj.jaci.2009.08.036. If you suffer from allergies or asthma, ... (and also if you don't) — this 1989 NASA study found that a number of plants can actually help reduce indoor air pollution. Plants are frequently used to mediate the effects of pollution and toxins in our external environment. Every plant can be a dust catcher if you put it in a corner or on a shelf and never do anything but water it now and then. Really easy care for…this plant helps to filter out harmful benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde toxins. A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home external icon This guide tells how to clean up mold problems and prevent mold growth in your home. Content source: National Center for … There are some indoor plants that you may not want in your home if you have a problem with allergies or asthma. Some offending indoor plants are the weeping fig (Ficus benjamina), which can cause eye allergies, and the flowering maple (Alutilon hybridum), which can cause asthma. In this regard, eating parsley with stalks supports lung health and infecting seeds in tea preserves health of respiratory tract.. What are common allergens? And breathing in mold spores can cause asthma attacks. Parsley. As an indoor plant, this feathery friend is capable of removing formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene. Though the right houseplants in your Randleman, North Carolina, home can help clean the air, many homeowners make mistakes when purchasing indoor plants. Next time, hint that you’d rather have an edible bouquet of fruit or a box of chocolate. 1. Certain plants are known to relieve allergies, rather than cause them. Though ficus is a common indoor plant, the sap can irritate people with latex allergies. A whopping 18% of Australians are prone to hay fever allergies and symptoms, here are some of the worst plants and trees for allergies and hay fever in Australia. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Not touching a ficus isn’t enough. BEST (AND WORST) INDOOR PLANTS FOR ALLERGIES. Top of Page . People usually plant ferns around the house because they aren’t toxic, especially if you have kids or pets. The Good: Many Common Houseplants Improve Indoor Air Quality. These are the houseplants you want to limit or avoid if you suffer from asthma or allergies: • Palm Tree (Male) • Daisies • Yucca • Queen Anne’s Lace • Juniper (Bonsai) • Ferns • Pine • African Violets • Weeping Fig (Ficus) • English Ivy • Chrysanthemums • Chamomile • Sunflowers. Vacuum, dust and change your air filter, and use a wet cloth to wipe down your surfaces. J Allergy Clin Immunol. The Snake Plant is an evergreen perennial plant that is good at absorbing airborne toxins, such as formaldehyde, nitrogen oxide, and benzene. Bad news: your house is typically full of them. Similar Posts: The Benefits of Hypoallergenic Plants Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) In addition to providing a sensuous, sculptural flair to any living area of bedroom, snake plants are one of the most powerful ways to remove airborne pollutants from your home. Check in with your local nursery to find a ‘female’ palm which is not a pollen offender. What Are Flowers Allergy Sufferers Can Enjoy? Rose pollen can exacerbate allergy and asthma symptoms, giving you sinus and respiratory trouble. In severe cases, rashes, hives, low blood pressure, breathing trouble, asthma attacks, and even death have occurred. Indoor Environmental Asthma Triggers external icon Learn how you can reduce common asthma triggers in the home and in other indoor environments. Not touching a ficus isn’t enough. Vybarr's top 5 asthma-friendly plants English Ivy - Hedera helix(hard to kill) Peace Lily - Spathiphyllum wallisi (droops when it needs water) Bamboo Palm - … They do more than just brighten up a room, they also clean the air. Remove these plants from your home if your allergy or asthma symptoms have worsened. The sap can get on dust particles and fly throughout the house. Air-quality friendly plants include the Peace Lily, Golden Pothos, Red-Edged Dracaena, Snake Plant, and Asparagus Fern. You often see spider plants in office spaces. Try to avoid daisies, chrysanthemums, and sunflowers in your table top bouquets. Rostrum by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Indoor Allergen Committee. If you home includes allergy sufferers, you may want to select flowers that generate less pollen like lilies, iris, roses and zinnias. NASA Guide to Air-Filtering Houseplants These plants are a common allergen, and if you have one hanging anywhere near a fan or a vent, you’ll spread that pollen throughout the house. They can be kept on a table or used in a hanging basket however they don’t look as great if they’re kept on the floor. Be sure not to overwater it, however, as it can rot quickly in moist soil. PS: Indoor plants make super chic décor, but they’re not always ideal for your asthma. Breathing fern spores can exacerbate allergies. In addition, the microorganisms living in the plant’s soil are a big help in neutralizing the air. Pet allergens can collect on many surfaces. African violets have beautiful flowers, but their leaves are dust catchers. Charlie’s Heating and Cooling is a great resource for indoor air quality solutions that help free your home from these allergens. Wipe down the plant leaves with a damp paper towel once a week or so to prevent dust buildup. The four plants they chose were Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii Regel), Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata Prain), Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina L.), … Go for insect pollinated plants which usually have showy flowers. Simply put it in a dark corner, give it water once a week and this little … The moisture given off by these striking flowers can boost a room’s humidity by up to 5%. Indoor air can have a lot of allergens, like dust mites, pets, cockroaches and mold.Dust mites are tiny creatures that can be found in many homes. Our indoor environments can contain toxins such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Our indoor environments can contain toxins such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). You can contact us via email button below or submit an online contact form. For example, trees with catkins like silver birch, and grasses and plants with feathery-looking flowers, have light pollen that’s airborne and easy to breathe in. In Australia, we’re fortunate enough to be blessed with an array of beautiful flora and fauna but unfortunately for some this also comes with a host of uncomfortable allergies. Benzene can be found in plastics, fabrics, pesticides, and cigarette smoke. Plants act as filters to remove these harmful pollutants via their leaves and roots. Spider plants have long thin leaves that are usually green with white stripes. Additionally, tulips and lilies can cause hives in those who are allergic. Indoor plants are more leafy than flowering and do not pollinate as much as outdoor plants. VOCs have been linked to asthma and more serious conditions including respiratory illnesses and cancer. Did you know that your houseplants can affect the air quality in your home and your asthma? Your friendly ficus that fills an empty corner has allergens in its sap. Two common indoor VOC pollutants are benzene and … You should also keep this plant Common household items such as dish detergent, fabric softener, and carpet cleaners all may contain formaldehyde. Spider plants are another common indoor plant and great for people with asthma and allergies. This plant clears your air of chemicals, including ammonia, and is highly resistant to insects. NASA’s analysis of indoor houseplants revealed that the Peace Lily was the most efficient at removing airborne Volatile Organic Compounds, including formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and benzene. Remove these plants from your home if your allergy or asthma symptoms have worsened. But you can manage allergies with prevention and treatment. 01 of 10. Some plants may also be more likely to harbor asthma-triggering dust simply because their leaves are fuzzy instead of smooth. Aster (Asteraceae) Debi Dalio / Getty Images At the top of the list of allergen-heavy plants would be most of the plants in the aster or daisy family. Don’t forget about cut flowers! In addition, they grow well inside and require very little maintenance. The best allergy-friendly indoor plants. In fact, some are quite effective at purifying the air, but that’s not always the case. Like all plants though, these varieties have the potential for making allergies worse if they’re not cared for correctly. Plus, a fern can cause a rash that resembles poison ivy. As such, you should think about avoiding indoor plants such as African violets and some wandering Jew varieties. Two common indoor VOC pollutants are benzene and formaldehyde. The best allergy-friendly plants include: Golden Pothos; Philodendron; Areca Palm; Kentia Palm; Lady Palm Plants themselves may be of little consequence to people who have asthma. This is relatively rare but unpleasant to deal with. al, 2006). 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