Poison Ivy and what to do when affected, by it

Poison Ivy is a plant that prospers through the majority of of North America and is known in two main varieties – Western, or Pacific, and Atlantic. The concern with Poison Ivy, which grows as ground cover and can grow into large bushes, is that it contains an oil – Urushiol – that, when it comes into contact with our skin, causes very unpleasant blistering and irritation.
It is imperative to understand that the oil occurs not just in the leaves but in many parts 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 instigator of the pain we feel.
Why Poison Ivy is poisonous
It may seem unusual to us that at plant should be poisonous, but like most living things Poison Ivy has its home in the ecosystem. The way it grows is a guide as it is used as shelter for lower growing plants and ground dwelling animals, and the majority of them are, unlike humans, not affected by the oil.
Plus, Poison Ivy supplies berries that are an important foodstuff for a number of bird species.
How to know the symptoms and more about Urushiol oil.
The patient will very quickly notice irritation in the skin, mixed with severe itching and inflammation in the infected area. The skin will become discoloured and a burning feeling will occur, and in a short span blisters will form along with the rash.
Suffering can be endure for many weeks or may be done with within days, and a particular case is different. It is suggested that cooling the skin is a good antidote and also prevents further infection.
There are various important factors that people need to understand about Urushiol oil, and the first is that it is very potent indeed. Research has indicated that a particle of the oil the size of a pin-head could infect 500 people, and as it is not a water based substance it will not evaporate.
The latter mentioned presents a major obstacle as it means the oil can still be on on items it has been in contact with for as long as, and maybe longer than, a year. This presents the possibility of re-infection, or of an individual who has not been in contact with the plant being affected. Clothes, shoes, tools and pets can all hold the oil, and the tiny amounts believed to cause suffering give it greater potency.
Gloves and coats, together with boots, are among the commonest causes of Poison Ivy infection and should be cleaned thoroughly if contamination is suspected.
How we can become infected
There are numerous ways that an individual can come into contact with the oil from Poison Ivy, and transfer from already infected clothing and other items is one way as we have already noted.
The reason that we suffer when having encountered the oil is because of the natural 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 mixed with vaporised oil, and even coming into contact with this smog can induce an attack. It has been said that a 100 year old item once affected a person, an indication of how dangerous the plant can be.
Anything that has touched the sap of the plant must be avoided, therefore, and cats kept away from Poison Ivy bushes.
How to look after a sufferer of a Poison Ivy reaction
It is vital that treatment is attempted immediately, and the best method is to wash the problematic area in warm water. A second recommendation is to use a very potent antimicrobial soap and to do all one can to stop the patient from scratching, as this will spread the infection beyond its boundaries.
It is imperative to crack the blisters, too, and to bring the area of infection exposure to the air. Keeping blisters attended to is necessary in order not to add infection.
Remember that it is simply the oil that will allow the infection to spread, so contact with it should be treated with caution.
The condition will, eventually, clear up completely, but there are treatments available for the irritation and for extreme reactions. It is the decision of the individual whether to let it die naturally or to invite further help. Some of us are fortunate in that they have no sensitivity to Poison Ivy, but these are rare and most of us would be infected by coming into contact with the plant.
If one sees Poison Ivy the best advice a man can give is the most logical – avoid it very carefully and don’t let your pet near it.