Ambrosia - is it evil or good?

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 appear, flowers blossom. But not all this time brings joy. Together with the onset of summer, troubles come in the form of allergic reactions to pollen of plants.

What is this plant?

One of the plants that people are allergic to is ambrosia. It turns out that ambrosia is a weed from the family of astroids. It is rapidly spreading in the southern territories of Russia and Belarus, it is also growing in Ukraine.

It is very fond of moisture, and sucks it not only "under itself", but also takes it from a number of growing crops: wheat, sunflower, beets. In Russia, the plant is known by three species:

• Ragwort ragweed;
• Tripartite;
• Holometelchataya.

The first two varieties are annual plants, therefore as a weed, it is quite easy to eliminate them. The third one is long-term and the most difficult from the point of view of eradication. The most common ragweed is the wormwood, reaching a height of 30 cm. If the conditions for it are particularly favorable, then it can grow to a height of more than two meters.

Harmful properties

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 gets into the upper respiratory tract and settles on the mucous membrane of the nose, trachea, bronchi, causing such unpleasant diseases as rhinitis, conjunctivitis. The head starts to hurt and the temperature rises. Even asthma attacks are possible. Almost a few dust particles can trigger an allergy.

An interesting fact: in medicine there is a homeopathic remedy based on ambrosia, which helps cure allergic diseases.

So, we found out that ambrosia is a plant harmful and dangerous to human health, and for crops that go to food. And at the same time, it can cure allergies in the form of a medicine. If you compare the harm and benefit, then, of course, the harm from it is much greater, up to the point that it is necessary to get rid of the plant.

Ancient myths

Ambrosia is not only the plant described above, but also the attack of some woody mushrooms. This is the name of the asteroid numbered 193. But the most famous interpretation of the word came to us from the depths of the ages: ragweed is the food of the gods. Thanks to her and nectar, the gods acquired eternal youth and immortality. Why is this discrepancy between the modern malicious weed and the notion that existed in ancient sources?

Perhaps it's all about myths. The inhabitants of Ancient Greece believed that Apollo was nourished by sacred ambrosia, thanks to which he became healthy and strong. And King Tantalus fed the divine food of mere mortals, for which he was doomed by the gods to eternal torment. In those distant times, ambrosia was also a miracle means for rubbing, to prolong life and preserve unearthly beauty. The way of making exceptional food for the gods was carefully hidden and remained for the descendants only in the name.