Allergies, Asthma and Plant Product Cross-Reactions
How allergy to ragweed and the daisy family can carry over to chamomile, echinacea and feverfew, why essential oils are a concern in asthma, and when an allergic reaction is an emergency.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Call 911 for a severe allergic reaction. MedlinePlus says anaphylaxis is an emergency that needs medical attention right away, and lists swelling of the face, eyes or tongue and difficulty breathing among the symptoms. [1] If a child has swallowed a plant product or oil and seems unwell, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.
Plant products can trigger allergy for the same reason pollen does: the immune system reacts to proteins in the plant. A person allergic to one plant may react to a related one. This page covers the daisy family, pollen-food reactions, asthma and essential oils. It is information only; an allergist can test and advise.
The daisy family (Asteraceae) and herbal products
Several popular herbs are related to ragweed and daisies. What NCCIH says:| Product | What the source says | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) | NCCIH says allergic reactions, including severe hypersensitivity and anaphylaxis, can happen in some people, and are more likely in people allergic to related plants such as ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds or daisies. [2] | Documented by NIH |
| Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea and related species) | NCCIH says echinacea species are closely related to sunflowers, daisies and ragweed, and that some people have allergic reactions that may be severe. [3] | Documented by NIH |
| Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) | NCCIH says people sensitive to ragweed and related plants may have allergic reactions to feverfew. [4] | Documented by NIH |
NCCIH also says that some children in an echinacea trial developed rashes that may have been allergic. [3] See herbal allergy and cross-reactivity, chamomile and echinacea.
Pollen and food cross-reactions
Pollen food allergy syndrome is a reaction to certain raw fruits, vegetables and seeds, and ACAAI says people with it typically have allergy to birch, ragweed or grass pollens. [5] The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) lists ragweed pollen with banana, cucumber, melons, sunflower seeds and zucchini. [5] Symptoms usually include an itchy mouth, scratchy throat, or swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue and throat. [5] ACAAI says a reaction beyond the mouth area after eating a fresh fruit or raw vegetable could be a risk for anaphylaxis, and advises seeing an allergist for diagnosis and treatment of an itchy mouth after the same raw food. [5]A 2019 review of Asteraceae allergy reports that severe cross-reactions between these plants and foods have been described, including mugwort with peach, mugwort with chamomile, mugwort with mustard and ragweed with melon and banana. [6] That is a review of reported cases, not a prediction for any one person.
"Proper evidence not found": we searched NCCIH, ACAAI and the Asteraceae review for a complete list of which herbal products cross-react with which pollens, and found none. Absence of a product from the lists above does not mean it is safe for you.
Asthma and essential oils
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) says there is no evidence that essential oils can help asthma, and that breathing in the particles released by the oils may trigger an asthma attack. [7] It also says not to substitute anything for the asthma medicine your doctor has prescribed. [7] This is a patient-organization statement rather than a trial, but it points in the same careful direction as our essential oil safety page. Related claims are checked in herbs for asthma and breathing.What a reader can do
- Know your triggers. If you have had hay fever, a ragweed allergy or any reaction to a plant, tell your pharmacist and clinician before starting a herbal product.
- Read the label for plant names, including the scientific name. See reading supplement labels.
- Keep asthma medicines as prescribed and ask your clinician before using oils in a diffuser.
- Report a reaction. See side effects and reporting and severe allergic reactions to natural products.
Frequently asked questions
If I am allergic to ragweed, can I use chamomile?
NCCIH says people allergic to related plants such as ragweed are more likely to react to chamomile. [2] Ask an allergist or your clinician first.
Does echinacea cause allergic reactions?
NCCIH says some people have allergic reactions to echinacea, and they may be severe. [3]
What is pollen food allergy syndrome?
ACAAI describes it as a reaction, often an itchy mouth, to certain raw fruits and vegetables in people with pollen allergy. [5]
Can essential oils help asthma?
AAFA says there is no evidence that they can, and that breathing the particles may trigger an attack. [7]
What should I do in a severe reaction?
Call 911. MedlinePlus calls anaphylaxis an emergency that needs medical attention right away. [1]
References
- MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Anaphylaxis. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Chamomile. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Echinacea. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Feverfew. Read 2026-10-23.
- American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome (Oral Allergy Syndrome). Page states it was reviewed 3/21/2019. Read 2026-10-23.
- Denisow-Pietrzyk M, Pietrzyk Ł, Denisow B. Asteraceae species as potential environmental factors of allergy. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2019. A review. Read 2026-10-23.
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Asthma: Are essential oils harmful or helpful? (community blog). Read 2026-10-23.