THE ITCHY SCRATCHY MISERY OF POISON PLANTS
By Debbie Markel, CH, CNHP
At this writing, I have a terrible case of poison ivy on my legs right now and the itching is driving me crazy! It's been there since Sunday (I'm writing this on Thursday) and it isn't getting much better. Developing this miserable rash has inspired me to get information and search for relief.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, approximately 85% of the population will develop an allergic reaction if exposed to poison ivy, oak or sumac, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. They also advise that poison ivy, oak or sumac reactions can only be contracted by having direct contact with the volatile oil of the plants (the oil is called urushiol, pronounced oo-roo-shee'-ohl). It is a commonly believed myth that people can "catch" poison ivy or oak from others or spread it by touching the rash and then touching other places on themselves or others. It's also a myth that breaking the blisters will spread the rash. The blisters don't contain urushiol, so the rash can't be spread that way. Urushiol can, however, be carried by pets who have rubbed against a bruised plant, or it can adhere to our clothes, tools or even sports equipment. By touching those items, we get urushiol on our bodies and then the rash and blistering develops. William L. Epstein, M.D., professor of dermatology at University of California, San Francisco, says that urushiol can stay on clothing or other items for years if not washed off, so we could actually come in contact with it long after touching the plant itself.
The rash, blisters and itch normally disappear in 14 to 20 days without any treatment, but it's difficult to deal with the itching without doing something. Commonly recommended treatments to soothe symptoms include the following:
*Baking soda made into a paste and applied to the rash
*Aveeno (colloidal oatmeal) baths
*Calamine lotion dabbed on the skin
*Benadryl, an over the counter (OTC) antihistamine, which can be taken orally and/or applied topically
*OTC topical corticosteroids (commonly called hydrocortisones under brand names such as Cortaid and Lanacort), which relieve the itching
*Tea tree oil (melaluca) applied to the rash every few hours
*Aloe vera gel, which is said to ease the itching and soothe the discomfort
Severe reactions can be treated with prescription oral corticosteroids, but be sure to become informed about the potential side effects, which can be numerous and sometimes severe Some of the more unique remedies posted by visitors to a website I found that's devoted to poison ivy (http://poisonivy.aesir.com) included the following, among many others:
*Sleeping and crying (which is what I've really wanted to do this week!)
*Camphor and moonshine mixed together and rubbed on the rash
*Rubbing one's own urine on the rash
*Vinegar and pennies (soak 40 pennies in 1 cup of vinegar for 24 hours, then rub the vinegar on the rash)
*WD-40 sprayed onto the rash (this is a petroleum-based product and could be very harmful if absorbed into the skin!)
To keep from getting the itchy, scratchy misery of a poison ivy, oak or sumac rash, there are several preventive measures that you can take when you need to be around the plants. These are recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
*Wear clothes that cover your body as completely as possible.
*Before you come in the house, cleanse exposed skin with rubbing alcohol, then with water.
*Come inside and take a shower. Don't use bar soap because the oil can actually adhere to the soap and stay there.
*Wipe off all clothing and shoes with rubbing alcohol, then wash the clothes. Don't put them in the laundry hamper with other items of clothing that might come in contact with the oils.
*The sooner you wash, the better. Waiting too long can allow the oil to soak into your skin. Waiting no longer than 10 minutes is suggested.
There are two plants that usually grow in close proximity to poison ivy, oak and sumac that, according to herbalists and folk healers, serve as natural antidotes to urushiol. These are the common weeds, plantain and jewelweed. If you know you've rubbed against poison ivy, oak or sumac, pick some jewelweed or plantain, chew it into a pulp and rub the pulp over all areas that were exposed to the poison plants. This can serve to wash off the urushiol and prevent that nasty rash from developing. It's a handy method when you're not near a water source to wash off the oil.
I've learned that if I had paid better attention while I was weeding, I would have seen the plants and decreased the odds of having such a bad reaction. I've tried several things this week to ease the itching. First I used aloe vera gel mixed with essential oil of lavender. Then I tried witch hazel. I'm taking a homeopathic tablet called Rhus Tox, which is said to help speed healing. I've bathed in Epsom salts and baking soda. Last night I used tea tree oil and today I used vinegar and alcohol followed by a corn starch-based natural clay powder. I'm still itching, the rash is still oozing and I'm still miserable. Anyone know where I can get some moonshine? If not, I think I'll spend the next two weeks sleeping and crying!
Debbie Markel, Certified Herbalist and Certified Natural Health Professional, is the proprietor of Apothecarian Herbals in Powhatan.
To avoid these plants and their itchy consequences, here's what to look for. Photos can be obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's plant database at http://plants.usda.gov.
Poison Ivy
* Grows around lakes and streams in the Midwest and the East * Woody, ropelike vine, a trailing shrub on the ground, or a free-standing shrub * Normally three leaflets (groups of leaves all on the same small stem coming off the larger main stem), but may vary from groups of three to nine * Leaves are green in the summer and red in the fall * Yellow or green flowers and white berries
Poison Oak
* Eastern (from New Jersey to Texas) grows as a low shrub; western (along the Pacific coast) grows to 6-foot-tall clumps or vines up to 30 feet long * Oak-like leaves, usually in clusters of three * Clusters of yellow berries
Poison Sumac
* Grows in boggy areas, especially in the Southeast * Rangy shrub up to 15 feet tall * Seven to 13 smooth-edged leaflets * Glossy pale yellow or cream-colored berries