Poison Ivy & what it means to you when affected by it

Poison Ivy is a plant that is widely found through the majority of of North America and is available in two main varieties – Western, or Pacific, and Atlantic. The concern with Poison Ivy, which grows as ground cover and can eventually be seen as 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 in our interest to understand that the oil occurs not just in the leaves but in all of the plant, including the root and the stem, and it is the immune system operating against the poison, as it seeps into the skin, that is the originator of the pain we undergo.
Why Poison Ivy is poisonous
It may seem pointless to us that at plant should be poisonous, but like many living things Poison Ivy has its part in the ecosystem. The way it grows is a guide as it gives 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 great number of bird species.
How to know the symptoms and more about Urushiol oil.
The patient will very quickly suffer from irritation in the skin, combined with severe itching and inflammation in the infected area. The skin will become a different colour and a burning feeling will occur, and in a short span blisters will form along with the rash.
Suffering can persist for many weeks or may be gone 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 facts 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 point presents a major difficulty as it means the oil can stick to 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 a person who has not been in contact with the plant being affected. Clothes, shoes, tools and pets can all contain the oil, and the very small amounts necessary to cause suffering give it greater potency.
Gloves and coats, together with boots, are among the most common causes of Poison Ivy infection and should be cleaned thoroughly if contamination is suspected.
How we can become infected
There are a variety of 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 reason 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 essential 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 cause an attack. It has been said that a 100 year old oil once affected a person, an indication of how dangerous the plant can be.
Anything that features the sap of the plant must be avoided, therefore, and cats kept away from Poison Ivy bushes.
How to deal with a sufferer of a Poison Ivy reaction
It is essential that treatment is attempted immediately, and the best method is to wash the contaminated area in warm water. A popular 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 infection beyond its boundaries.
It is essential to crack the blisters, too, and to bring the area of infection exposure to the air. Keeping blisters wrapped is necessary in order not to add infection.
Remember that it is just the oil that will invite the infection to spread, so contact with it should be refrained from.
The condition will, eventually, clear up naturally, but there are treatments available for the irritation and for the worst reactions. It is the domain of the individual whether to wait for it to subside or to look for further help. Some individuals are fortunate in that they have no sensitivity to Poison Ivy, but these are few and far between and most of us would be infected by coming into contact with the bush.
If one finds Poison Ivy the best advice one can give is the most logical – avoid it very carefully and don’t let your pet near it.

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