Allergy, Acacia in Khar Road West, Mumbai

Acacia dealbata, Acacia longifolia, or Acacia farnesiana is also known as mimosa, the silver wattle. The flowering plant belongs to the legume family Fabaceae. It is also known as touch-me-not or sleepy plant.

The tree has yellow or pink blossoms and palm-shaped leaves. These flowers produce an enormous amount of pollens. However, these pollens do not travel far and stay near the tree.

You can develop an allergic reaction to the pollen if you get nearby and inhale them accidentally. Besides inhaling the pollen directly from the tree, you can also develop an allergic response to the acacia gum.

The gum is used in a dietary fibre supplement powder and in the leather tanning and printing industry. Common symptoms of acacia allergy include:

• Diarrhea
• Stomach ache
• Nausea
• Itching, rashes, and hives 
• Sneezing and runny nose 
• Difficulty breathing 
• Wheezing 
• Red eyes 
• Asthma 
• Eczema 
• Hay fever

Now the use of acacia is prevalent for many reasons. The tree’s bark is rich in oils and terpenes used in the tanning and printing industry. However, occupational allergens, for instance, the t19 Acacia Pollen, can cause allergic reactions.

Acacia is also known to have medical properties and is used as a prebiotic for removing toxins from the body. It can also reduce cholesterol levels and promote healthy bacteria in the gut. Acacia gum helps reduce gum inflammation, skin inflammation, and irritable bowel syndrome. Of course, these can only happen if you do not suffer from acacia allergy in the first place.

Other than the conventional skin prick test, the allergy is diagnosed using the acacia allergy IgE blood test. The test detects the number of IgE antibodies in the immune system to detect any allergic reactions to acacia or mimosa. Another benefit of the IgE blood test is that it is virtually painless compared to the skin prick test. Here’s what you need to know when you book the test from Apollo 24|7:

• You do not need to make any special preparations
• No fasting required 
• You will receive highly accurate results in a week without painful skin pricking

A lab technician will arrive at your doorstep to collect the blood sample. It is done by inserting a needle into the vein of one of your arms. You may feel slight discomfort, but there will not be any significant side effects. Only a small amount of blood is collected, so you may not notice the difference unless you are suffering from any prior medical conditions.

The best part about the t19 acacia pollen IgE blood test is that it does not require you to have any allergen injected into your system. There is no need for any paperwork or appointment either. A prescription from your allergist is sufficient for conducting the test.

The test is usually done using the Thermo Fisher ImmunoCAP or Immunoassay (IA) method. In both cases, the allergen binding with the IgE antibodies is diagnosed. This helps realise the sensitisation of the immunoglobulin E (IgE), allowing your healthcare provider to offer better treatment.