Summer Poisons

Over 350,000 people in the United States are affected every year by poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Every part of these plants has clear, toxic oil found in the sap that is called urushiol. If you touch the plant it can cause an allergic rash at any time of the year, even if the plant looks dead because the oil can remain active for several years. Urushiol can cause a temporary, irritating, allergic rash when it comes in contact with skin. The skin reaction and treatment are the same for all plants containing urushiol. It is best to avoid the plants by knowing more about them and covering up with clothing.

Poison ivy grows in the eastern United States and poison oak grows in the western United States, in woods, rocky areas, and open fields as a vine or shrub with clusters of 3 shiny leaflets and no thorns. Poison sumac grows in the northern and southeastern United States in wet, swampy soil as a shrub or small tree with two rows of 7 to 13 leaflets. All of these plants have small, light colored fall berries that help distinguish them from harmless plants. Over time, people have used rhymes to describe the appearance of poison ivy and poison oak:

 

"Leaf of three; let it be".

"Hairy vine is no friend of mine”.

"Berries white, danger in sight”.

Oil transferred from the plant to other objects (such as pet fur, shoes) can cause a rash if it touches skin. Skin and objects that have been exposed to the oil should be washed right away with soapy water or alcohol to prevent transmission. Smoke inhaled by burning plants can cause a rash in the skin, nose, throat, eyes, and the lungs.  If poison ivy is eaten, the mucus lining of the mouth and digestive tract can be damaged. A high-temperature, fully inflamed bonfire may incinerate the urushiol before it can cause harm, while a smoldering fire could vaporize the oil and spread it as white smoke.

Urushiol binds to the skin causing redness, swelling, clear liquid-filled blisters, streaking, and burning. Rash symptoms can appear 12 to 72 hours after exposure, go away within 14 days, and can cause scarring. Scratching doesn’t spread the rash but can cause an infection, blisters should be left unbroken during healing. The rash is not contagious once the area has been washed, because the fluid in the blisters is not urushiol. A spreading rash indicates that some areas received more poison sooner or indirect contact with contaminated items is still occurring. Sensitivity to urushiol can vary. People may develop progressively stronger reactions after repeated exposures, or show no response on their first exposure, but show sensitivity on following exposures.

The first thing to do upon contact is to stop the urushiol from having a reaction with the skin and reduce the itch, pain, and blisters. To stop the urushiol from reacting with the skin, immediately (within 10 minutes) wash skin using cold water, soap, or alcohol before the oil bonds. Reducing the pain and itching of blisters can be helped with oral homeopathic remedies.

Natural topical products like zinc oxide and calamine help to dry blisters. Hot showers, oatmeal baths, himalayan salt baths, or a baking soda compress can help relieve itching. Plant based remedies like jewelweed, aloe vera gel, witch hazel, and apple cider vinegar can be applied directly to the skin for cooling and help reduce inflammation, oozing and itching. Histaminum 30c is a homeopathic remedy used as an antihistamine that helps reduce histamine and allergic reactions like itching and swelling, without the drowsiness. Rhus tox is a homeopathic remedy made from poison ivy and is used to help with the rash and inflammation.

- Mona Claypoole, Director of Marketing and Wellness Support