Ox-Eye Daisy Allergy Test

Ox-eye daisy, also known as goldenseal, is a plant that is used to produce several medicines. It is believed to help treat bronchitis, fever, cough, common cold, sore throat and mouth, gallbladder and liver troubles, muscle spasms, loss of appetite, infections and fluid retention issues. It is usually take in the form of a tonic.

Some individuals use ox-eye daisy directly by applying it on the skin over wounds, swelling, and burns. In spite of its multiple benefits, ox-eye daisy can also lead to allergic reactions in some individuals who are sensitive or intolerant to the Compositae/Asteraceae family. So, this would include an allergy to plants like ragweed, marigolds, chrysanthemums, daisies, etc.

Any minor contact with the stem, leaf, pollen or flower of these certain plants can cause symptoms of dermatitis, eczema, etc. If a person breathes in the ox-eye daisy pollen, then the immune system may act up and result in several symptoms, like:

• Shortness of breath
• Tightness or pain in the chest
• Wheezing (a whistling noise while breathing)
• Difficulty in breathing
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Itchy palate and throat
• Itchy, runny or stuffed nose
• Watery, irritable, red eyes
• Hay fever
• Sinus infections
• Extreme tiredness
• Asthma

Since it’s hard to diagnose an allergy caused by flowers and pollens, it would be best to keep a diary record of your symptoms to offer more insights to your doctor. Make sure to record the following information about your ox-eye daisy allergy symptoms whenever they occur:

• When you are at home, outside or both
• During the day, night or right after you wake up
• When you are near animals
• After consuming a particular drink or food
• After eating any herbal medicine
• After you have eaten a specific medication
• When you get bitten by an insect
• During a certain time of the year
• For a short or long duration

If you notice any symptoms or suspect yourself to be having an ox-eye daisy allergy, you should connect with your healthcare practitioner. Your doctor will likely order an ox-eye daisy allergy test to measure the level of antibodies present in your blood which only happens when the ox-eye daisy allergen induces it.

So, getting this test will help:

• Detect if you have ox-eye daisy allergy
• If so, what is the count of IgE antibodies in your blood?
• Define the allergen that’s causing the symptoms, allergic disease or anaphylactic episode
• Confirm any sensitisations before beginning immunotherapy
• Investigate the specific allergic reaction to drugs, insect venom and chemical allergens

You can book an ox-eye daisy test today at Apollo 24|7 and get it done from the comfort of your house!
 

 Medically reviewed by Dr Jatin Ahuja, Infectious Diseases, Apollo Hospitals Indraprastha, South Delhi.

Frequently asked questions

What is an ox-eye daisy?

Ox-eye daisy is a perennial plant from the Asteraceae family and is often grown as an ornamental. It offers several health benefits since it's used in the medication for common colds, cough, hay fever, muscle spasms, bronchitis, sore throat and mouth, infections, etc.

How to manage ox-eye daisy allergy symptoms?

While there is no full-proof way to cure ox-eye daisy allergy, you can keep the following tips in mind to manage your ox-eye daisy symptoms: Always check the pollen counts before going out Do not go outside if the pollen counts are exceptionally high Keep your house and car windows closed to ensure that indoors are free of pollen Have a shower and change your clothes after you come home from outside during ox-eye daisy season, i.e. between June and September Keep anti-allergy medicines at hand and start taking them a week or two before seasonal allergy symptoms begin Do not dry clothes on the outdoor line during the ox-eye daisy season Anti-inflammatory nasal spray or anti-itch eyedrop works well for itching Wash your sheets every week to ensure no pollen is lingering on it Give your pets a regular bath since they can bring pollen home

Is ox-eye daisy allergy test better than a skin prick test?

An ox-eye daisy allergy test uses your blood sample to measure the level of IgE antibodies present in your blood. On the other hand, the skin prick test requires the doctor to inject the allergens under your skin to check for allergic reactions. Both offer essential information, but the former does not cause any allergic reactions.

What are IgE antibodies?

IgE antibodies are released by the immune system when you have a particular allergy. For example, if you have an ox-eye allergy, your immune system will react to the allergen and produce immunoglobulin or IgE antibodies. These antibodies reach the cells, release chemicals and lead to an allergic reaction.

How to read ox-eye daisy allergy test results?

If you have an ox-eye allergy, your ox-eye allergy test results will show high IgE antibodies. It will indicate that your body is reacting to the allergens, which cause an allergic reaction. Sometimes, antibodies will rise when the body is actively fighting an infection or is suffering from some immune system condition.