POISON

Poison Ivy is a plant that prospers through most of North America and is known in two main varieties ' Western, or Pacific, and Atlantic. The importance with Poison Ivy, which grows as ground cover and can become large bushes, is that it contains an oil ' Urushiol ' that, when it comes into contact with our skin, causes very irritating blistering and irritation.
It is in our interest to understand that the oil occurs not just in the leaves but in every part of the plant, including the root and the stem, and it is the immune system reacting against the poison, as it seeps into the skin, that is the originator of the pain we experience.
Why Poison Ivy is poisonous
It may seem odd to us that at plant should be poisonous, but like many living things Poison Ivy has its position in the ecosystem. The way it grows is interesting as it is used as shelter for lower growing plants and ground dwelling animals, and the majority of those are, unlike humans, not affected by the oil.
Furthermore, Poison Ivy supplies berries that are an important foodstuff for a variety of bird species.
How to see the symptoms and more about Urushiol oil.
The patient will very quickly notice irritation in the skin, in company with severe itching and inflammation in the infected area. The skin will become a different colour and a burning irritation will occur, and in a short while blisters will form along with the rash.
Suffering can persist for many weeks or may be finished within days, and an individual case is different. It is suggested that cooling the skin is a good antidote and also prevents further infection.
There are many important points that people need to be aware of about Urushiol oil, and the first is that it is very potent indeed. Research has indicated that a small amount of the oil the size of a pin-head could be enough for 500 people, and as it is not a water based substance it will not evaporate.
The latter problem presents a major obstacle as it means the oil can stay on items it has been in contact with for as long as, and maybe longer than, a year. This gives us the possibility of re-infection, or of an individual who has not been in contact with the plant being affliected. Clothes, shoes, tools and pets can all contain the oil, and the miniscule amounts believed to cause suffering give it greater potency.
Gloves and coats, and also boots, are among the most obvious causes of Poison Ivy infection and should be scrubbed thoroughly if contamination is suspected.
How an individual can become infected
There are numerous ways that an individual can come into contact with the oil from Poison Ivy, and transfer from preciously contaminated clothing and other items is one method as we have already noted.
The reason that we suffer when having come into contact with the oil is because of the necessary reaction it promotes, and it is notable that direct contact with the plant is not vital to induce a reaction.
If Poison Ivy is burned the smoke is contaminated with vaporised oil, and even coming into contact with this mixture can cause an attack. It has been said that a 100 year old item once affected a person, an indication of how much troube the plant can be.
Anything that has touched the sap of the plant has to be avoided, therefore, and dogs kept away from Poison Ivy bushes.
How to deal with a sufferer of a Poison Ivy reaction
It is important that treatment is initiated immediately, and the best method is to wash the problematic area in warm water. A second recommendation is to use a very well tried antimicrobial soap and to do all one can to stop the patient from scratching, as this will spread the problem more.
It is recommended to open the blisters, too, and to enable the area of infection exposure to the air. Keeping blisters attended to is necessary in order not to allow infection.
Remember that it is just the oil that will allow the infection to spread, so contact with it should be limited.
The condition will, in a while, clear up completely, but there are treatments available for the irritation and for the worst reactions. It is the domain of the individual whether to let it die naturally or to invest in further help. Some lucky people are fortunate in that they have no sensitivity to Poison Ivy, but these are scarece and most of us would be infected by coming into contact with the bush.
If one knows of Poison Ivy the best advice we can give is the most logical ' avoid it very carefully and don't let your pet near it.

About the Author:

Nadeeka Johnson is an experienced article writer with over a 1,000 articles covering a wid variety of topical written at www.allstop.com/poison-ivy/poison-ivy-treatment