Ambrosia is a cunning and destructive enemy of all mankind with a lyrical and divine name. Few people know that it includes more than forty different subspecies. The most common, from which the majority of the population of the planet is allergic, is called ragweed ragweed.
Did you know? In ancient mythology, the word "ambrosia" literally translates as "food of the gods."
What kind of plant - ambrosia, and where it came from
Previously, ambrosia grew mainly only in North America. At the end of the 18th century, seafarers with red clover seeds brought it to Europe.
The first mention of ambrosia in Ukraine was recorded in 1914. The German physician Cricker used her as a substitute for quinine. A little later, Denikin's army delivered it to the southeast. After World War II, ambrosia seeds spread throughout Ukraine by truck wheels - "Studebakers". Over the next hundred years, ambrosia spread throughout Europe.
At the beginning of our century, ambrosia spread to the Volga region and the Black Sea region. From the south of Russia ambrosia confidently migrated to the north and east of the country. Due to the warming of the climate, the weed completely matures almost throughout the entire territory of Russia, which is why an allergy to ambrosia is a fairly frequent case.
Important! Every year the number of people suffering from the effects of ambrosia is inexorably growing.
Ambrosis damage
Despite the beautiful name, ambrosia brings a lot of trouble to landowners and ordinary people. Let's first understand what ambrosia is. Ambrosia is an allergen that can be fatal. During the flowering period, its pollen irritates the respiratory tract and makes breathing difficult. This is one of the main reasons why ambrosia was added to the list of quarantine objects.
Did you know? Another name for this phenomenon is hay fever.
Ambrosia also causes serious damage to garden and garden crops. The powerful roots of the plant suck up a colossal amount of water from the soil, depriving moisture of fruit trees and various shrubs. As a result, they gradually fade.
If ambrosia begins to grow on the field, then after a few years it will completely replace legumes, cereals and other forage crops. If ambrosia gets into the hay, its quality deteriorates. If you feed cows with such hay, their milk will have a sharp, unpleasant smell and taste.
Important! If time does not notice ambrosia and its effect on plants, they may simply die.
Weed Control Techniques
Most of the pest plants that can be found in our area are newcomers whose historical homeland is many kilometers away from us. Ambrosia is no exception - it has no natural enemies with us. That is why many cottage owners have a question how to get rid of ambrosia in the garden. Today, the destruction of ambrosia can occur in three ways:
- Mechanical. It is considered to be the most effective way to combat ambrosia. It implies digging up a plant with a root. This method cannot be applied to a large number of weeds, since manual weeding is a rather troublesome occupation. Therefore, the usual mowing is often used. When the plot is not large, this will be quite enough. The following year the weed will not grow, as it is one-year-old and cannot grow from the root.
- Biological. This method is based on the use of special insects - ambrosia scoops and leaf beetles, which feed on plants and lead them to death. Properly made crop rotation also helps to deal with ambrosia. It consists in the alternation of herbs and grain crops with row crops. The method of artificial tinning, creating artificial communities of perennial leguminous and cereal grasses close to human dwellings, has also become popular. To do this, use wheat grass, grain, fescue, alfalfa or foxtail. In two years, these mixtures will grow and suppress ambrosia.
- Chemical. By the chemical method resorted in the case when the territory is too large. The most commonly used pesticides from the glyphosate group, such as Tornado Caliber, Prima Glyphos, Roundup, Klinik, Glysol. It is strictly prohibited to use them on pastures and territories belonging to resort areas, or in settlements, as these are chemical preparations that can cause great harm to people.
Medicinal properties of ambrosia
Ambrosia, with its entire negative component, contains many different essential oils, vitamins, trace elements, beneficial compounds that help in the fight against certain diseases. It is often used to treat hypertension, febrile conditions, in the fight against diarrhea and dysentery. Also Ambrosia allows you to get rid of worms (harmful parasites), accelerates the healing of bruises and wounds. Research confirms that bactericidal activity is present in ambrosia. The plant helps to fight oncology zero and first degree. Of course, the harm from it is significant, however, and the benefits of proper use of ambrosia is great.
First Aid for Ambrosia Allergy
Allergy to ambrosia can be suppressed with the help of folk remedies or using antihistamines, which have many side effects and contraindications. Folk remedies, which use only natural products with herbal ingredients, provide an absolutely identical result to antihistamines, but the treatment will bring much less harm to the body, which plays an important role in treating pregnant women and children.
Medicinal herbs are used, such as a series, nettle, yarrow, elecampane, and natural products, in which only one contraindication is individual intolerance.
If allergic reactions to ambrosia are found in oneself or one's loved ones, appropriate measures should be taken immediately. Allergies are accompanied by the following symptoms:
runny nose;- eye redness and itching;
- tearing;
- itchy skin;
- hoarseness and cough;
- sore throat and sore throat.
runny nose;It is important to understand that allergies to ambrosia can lead to death. If you are prone to allergies, try to avoid weed accumulation sites, always carry an antihistamine with you and at the first sign of an allergic reaction, contact an ambulance.
