Users of allergy medicines are probably used to seeing the soothing herbal ingredient “chamomile” in products ranging from tea to lotion. Unfortunately for constant users, there could be a dark side for those who turn to chamomile too often, according to a new article in the Atlantic. Too much chamomile exposure could lead users to develop an allergy.
Because it derives from the same plant family as other allergens, like ragweed, chamomile may cause discomfort if individuals with this sensitivity ingest it frequently. Another similar ingredient mentioned by the same source is lavender, which has been increasingly added to American beauty products in the past 14 years.
In the European Union, officials could go so far as to require a warning for products containing lavender, and similar restrictions could eventually spread to the United States. The source quotes dermatologist Dr. Michael Stierstoffer on the impact of allergens and how he believes the popular understanding of them needs to change.
“People often think that when they become allergic to some thing it has to be something new,” he said. “But often it’s something that they have been repetitively exposed to and then at some point in time the immune system just decides to become allergic to it.”
Although the companies that manufacture these products seem to be vastly opposed to such policies, lavender has made its way into a vast amount of different products, and the way that a scent from something like a cleaning substance or perfume could trigger a reaction.
To find a balance between brand honesty for consumers and promotion of its products, a company should use an industrial label printer to keep consumers informed of product ingredients. They can create unobtrusive labels that don’t hide the risk but gently educates the reader.