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 present in two main varieties – Western, or Pacific, and Atlantic. The concern 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 vital 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 operating against the poison, as it seeps into the skin, that is the originator 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 position in the ecosystem. The way it grows is interesting as it is a source of shelter for lower growing plants and ground dwelling animals, and the majority of them are, unlike humans, not affected by the oil.
Furthermore, Poison Ivy bears berries that are an important foodstuff for a number of bird species.
How to see the symptoms and more about Urushiol oil.
The patient will very quickly undergo irritation in the skin, combined with severe itching and inflammation in the troubled area. The skin will become a different colour and a burning sense 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 a particular case is different. It is suggested that cooling the skin is a good antidote and also prevents further infection.
There are a number of important factors that people need to be aware of about Urushiol oil, and the first is that it is very potent indeed. Research has proven that a quantity 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 problem presents a major obstacle 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 opens up 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 contain the oil, and the miniscule amounts believed to cause suffering give it greater potency.
Gloves and coats, together with boots, are among the most obvious causes of Poison Ivy infection and should be cleaned thoroughly if contamination is suspected.
How you can become infected
There are many 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 way 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 mixture can promote an attack. It has been said that a 100 year old plant once affected a sufferer, an indication of how dangerous the plant can be.
Anything that has been in contact with 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 vital that treatment is started immediately, and the best method is to wash the contaminated area in warm water. A sensible 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 imperative to score the blisters, too, and to give the area of infection exposure to the air. Keeping blisters bandaged is necessary in order not to invite infection.
Remember that it is solely the oil that will invite the infection to spread, so contact with it should be limited.
The condition will, in a while, clear up by itself, but there are treatments available for the irritation and for serious reactions. It is the domain of the individual whether to suffer in silence or to look for further help. Some lucky people 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 finds Poison Ivy the best advice one can give is the most natural – 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