Some health hazards you should know about when taking care of plants at home

While taking care of plants has become the preferred hobby of most Filipinos. Apart from helping reduce anxiety, plants can also help improve the air quality of its surroundings. 

But there are health hazards that come with taking care of plants. A recent episode of PinoyMD showed some health hazards of plants.

For instance, Joyce Marayag, who belongs to a family of plant lovers, said she would always take antihistamine before she gardens and touches her plant because she previously experienced allergies, because of her plant babies.

Joyce has experienced having rashes all over her chest and arms, which is caused by the pollen of flowers.

"Sabi sa kin ng doktor, kapag umuulan bumaba yung mga pollen, so doon po ako nagre-react. Kapag malamig yung panahon, namamaga yung mata ko, namumula, nagluluha. 'Yung ilong ko super kati, kapag super kinamot ko, dumudugo siya minsan kasama nga yung tenga nga," she said.

According to Dermatologist Dr. Jean Marquez, once a person gets exposed to pollen they can thoroughly wash their skin. If there are any allergic reactions, she advised to use over-the-counter steroids.

"Steroid creams, may mga over-the-counter diyan na wala ng prescriptions like yung mga hydrocortisols, may mga over-the-counter din na antihstamine," she said.

"'Pag may blisters, they can put a saline compress, one cup of water and one pinch of salt pwede nilang i-tap yung sa may blister," she added.

She reminded "Wag lang nilang tutuklapin kasi kapag tinuklap nila yun, puwedeng ma-expose yung balta sa environment and this could later on lead to infection, bacterial contamination."

According to agricultural biologist Kohlin Lallabban, there are plants designed that way, serving as their defense mechanism against other organisms.

"Siyempre yung mga halaman natin parang tao rin yan na meron silang sariling mechanism para hindi sila makain ng ibang organism," she said.

Citing an example, Kohlin said while a snake plant helps with cleaning the air, it also has the chemicals saponins and calcium oxalate, found all throughout the plant — from the leaves, to the trunk, all the way down to its roots.

"Ang structure kasi nito sa ating halaman ay parang maliliit na karayom. So kapag ito ay nginuya ng ating alagang aso o ng maliliit na bata, ang tendency is masusugatan yung esophagus 'yung lalamunan. Ang nararamdaman ng mga tao usually parang burning sensation parang mahapdi or swelling or pamamaga," she explained.

Aside from snake plant, the popular Caladium or Angel Wings and Pothos can also be harmful to a person's health, thanks to their high level of calcium oxalate.

To avoid getting allergies from plants, Pinoy MD said plantitos and plantitas should choose plants with leaves that have a smooth surface to avoid dust.

Meanwhile, for flowering plants, they can choose short-stemmed ones for less pollen and to avoid allergies.

Meanwhile, Dr. Jean warned of injuries that can be gotten from thorns and cactus. She suggested plant parents to wear protection as they garden.

"Cover your body as much as you can. Wear long sleeves, pants. Avoid touching your face or your eyes when gardening. And protect yourself from the sun, kasi nga kung sila ay nadikitan ng dagta, pwedeng with the sunlight it can cause photosensitivity  which can cause redness itching and blisters," she said.

PinoyMD said the space you allot for your plants also matter and that there should only be a maximum of ten plants in a room of 21 sqm. — Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/LA, GMA News