How long we wait for spring and summer! Finally, the long-awaited warmth comes to replace the cold. The sun is shining, leaves and tender grass are appearing, flowers are blooming. But not everyone enjoys this time. Along with the onset of summer comes trouble in the form of allergic reactions to plant pollen.
What is this plant?
One of the plants that people are allergic to is ragweed. It turns out that ragweed is a weed from the aster family. It is rapidly spreading in southern Russia and Belarus, and is also growing in Ukraine.
It loves moisture very much, and it sucks it out not only "under itself", but also takes it from a number of growing crops: wheat, sunflower, beet. In Russia, the plant is known under three species:
- ragweed ragweed;
- tripartite;
- naked.
The first two varieties are annuals, so as a weed, they are fairly easy to eradicate. The third one is long-term and the most difficult in terms of eradication. The most common ragweed is wormwood, reaching a height of 30 cm. If conditions are especially favorable for it, then it can grow to a height of more than two meters.
Harmfulproperties
The plant blooms from August to September, October months. Its pollen is allergens, most of which are proteins. When a person inhales ragweed pollen, it enters the upper respiratory tract and settles on the mucous membrane of the nose, trachea, bronchi, causing such unpleasant diseases as a runny nose, conjunctivitis. The head starts to hurt and the temperature rises. Even asthma attacks are possible. Just a few dust particles can cause allergies.
Interesting fact: in medicine there is a homeopathic remedy based on ambrosia, which helps to cure allergic diseases.
So, we found out that ragweed is a plant that is harmful and dangerous to human he alth, and to crops that are eaten. And at the same time, in the form of a medicine, it can cure allergies. If we compare the harm and the benefit, then, of course, the harm from it is much greater, to the point that it is necessary to get rid of the plant.
Ancient myths
Agbrosia is not only the plant described above, but also raids of some tree mushrooms. This is the name of the asteroid number 193. But the most famous interpretation of the word came to us from time immemorial: ambrosia is the food of the gods. Thanks to her and nectar, the gods gained eternal youth and immortality. Why is there such a discrepancy between the modern noxious weed and the concept that existed in ancient sources?
Maybe it's all about the myths. The inhabitants of Ancient Hellas firmly believed that Apollo was fed with sacred ambrosia, thanks towhich made him he althy and strong. And King Tantalus fed mere mortals with divine food, for which he was doomed by the gods to eternal torment. In those distant times, ambrosia was also a miracle rubbing agent to prolong life and preserve unearthly beauty. The method of preparing exceptional food for the gods was carefully hidden and remained for posterity only in the name.
