Ash, mean

Of the many (around 60) species of ash tree, the common ash (F. excelsior) is the most common here. The ash is a deciduous tree from the Oleaceae family. These include lilac, forsythia, privet, olive tree and true jasmine. The common ash has large, opposite leaves and inconspicuous flowers in spring, as well as 3-4 cm long, tongue-shaped nuts. In addition to the common ash, there is also the narrow-leaved ash - Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl.

The dried leaves (ash leaves - Fraxini folium, see there) and the bark (ash bark - Fraxini cortex) of younger branches are used phytotherapeutically.

The main allergen in pollen is Fra e 1, which causes type I sensitization with allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis or allergic bronchial asthma. Allergic skin reactions, as well as allergic wood dust asthma, can be caused by wood dust. Ash pollen allergy can be confused with birch pollen allergy, as both trees have overlapping flowering periods (March-May/June; main flowering period: April). Allergy sufferers who react to ash pollen can develop cross-reactions to olive pollen on vacation (see also under Pollen, tree pollen), as the major allergen of olive pollen Ole e1 has a high sequence analogy with that of ash.

Ingredients of Cortex Fraxini: Coumaric acid derivativessuch as fraxin, fraxinol, aesculin. Also mannitol and tannins.

Remember! The allergological importance of ash has been rather low so far. However, an increase in the sensitization rate can be assumed.

1. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/esche.php

2. Blaschek W (2015) Wichtl tea drugs and phytopharmaceuticals. A handbook for practice. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Munich. S 267-268