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

Poison Ivy is a plant that prospers through most of North America and is available in two main varieties – Western, or Pacific, and Atlantic. The problem 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 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 reacting against the poison, as it seeps into the skin, that is the root 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 part in the ecosystem. The way it grows is a guide 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 supplies berries that are an important foodstuff for a variety of bird species.
How to know the symptoms and more about Urushiol oil.
The patient will very quickly undergo irritation in the skin, in company with severe itching and inflammation in the concerned area. The skin will become darker and a burning sense will occur, and in a short period blisters will form along with the rash.
Suffering can be endure for many weeks or may be gone within days, and every 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 get to know 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 be enough for 500 people, and as it is not a water based substance it will not evaporate.
The latter mentioned presents a major difficulty 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 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, as well as boots, are among the most obvious causes of Poison Ivy infection and should be cleaned thoroughly if contamination is suspected.
How an individual 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 encountered the oil is because of the necessary reaction it promotes, and it is notable that direct contact with the plant is not imperative to induce a reaction.
If Poison Ivy is burned the smoke is contaminated with vaporised oil, and even coming into contact with this smog can promote an attack. It has been said that a 100 year old item once affected a man, an indication of how much troube the plant can be.
Anything that has been in contact with the sap of the plant has to be avoided, therefore, and animals kept away from Poison Ivy bushes.
How to look after 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 enable the area of infection exposure to the air. Keeping blisters attended to is vital in order not to invite infection.
Remember that it is solely the oil that will encourage the infection to spread, so contact with it should be refrained from.
The condition will, in a while, clear up completely, but there are treatments available for the irritation and for serious reactions. It is the decision 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 rare and most of us would be infected by coming into contact with the ivy.
If one sees Poison Ivy the best advice a man can give is the most obvious – 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