by Russell Linton

Created on: June 08, 2009

The scourge of campers and outdoor enthusiasts, this unassuming plant can turn a fun filled hike into weeks of painful itching. This noxious weed and its closely related cousins; Poison Oak and Poison Sumac, can be found throughout North America. In fact, with urban sprawl and changing climate conditions, encountering these toxic plants is becoming more and more common.

Recent studies show that global warming may not only be heating up the atmosphere, but it's cranking up the fire in these harmful plants. Climate shifts and increased levels of CO2 are broadening the already vast areas these plants can reach. Further, research suggests that higher levels of carbon dioxide serve to increase the potency of the real culprit of all the maddening itching: the Urushiol oil contained in the plants.

Urushiol oil is found in all parts of the plant. It is most easily transferred when the plant is damaged or disturbed through direct contact. Summer and spring are particularly common times for outbreaks since the tender leaves and stems are more prone to damage. However, even in winter, an apparently dead poison ivy plant will still contain Urushiol oil. This oil is so potent that it only takes an amount the size of a grain of salt to spark an allergic reaction.

Clothing, tools and even the family dog can all be carriers of this toxic substance. The oil does not evaporate when exposed to the air and will remain on the surface of items until it is washed clean. In some cases, this oil has been known to remain potent for as long as a year. So if you have a recurring reaction and are certain you haven't been around the plant it's very possible your gardening tools, your backpack or even your watering hose may be the problem. Always wash everything which may have come in contact with poison ivy!

Once you are exposed to the oil, it will bond with the proteins in your skin within roughly ten to twenty minutes. If you immediately rinse and thoroughly clean the exposed area, it is possible for you to prevent any future allergic reaction. If you are unable to do so, or, as in most cases, are unaware of the exposure, the allergic reaction will start to appear within one to two days. The reaction generally manifests as a raised, swollen, itchy rash. Over the course of the next several days, light colored blisters may develop which will ooze a clear fluid. These reactions are all natural histamine responses by your body to the irritant. As mentioned, the toxic oils

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>