Ah, poison ivy. With leaves as pretty as these, one wonders just how bad they can be.
The answer is a lot.
These little horrors are out to ruin your day by giving you blisters and rashes that you’ll not soon forget, and all it takes is a mere touch from you to get them to spread their black magic.
And the worst part?
They can be practically anywhere.
So, read on to find out why this leafy green has such a menacing aura, and what you can do about it to protect yourself.
What is Poison Ivy?
The first distinctive feature that you will likely notice from this plant is its cluster of three leaflets. Indeed, barring any environment and genetic factors, poison ivy can be identified by its leaves, which grows in threes. As the saying goes… “Leaves of three, let it be.”
They can be found hanging on tree trunks, using their “hairy” rootlets to keep themselves attached.
Another way you can identify them is through their fruit.
Yes, poison ivy can grow berries. No, you can’t eat them. They are just as toxic as the rest of the plant, so don’t even think about popping one in your mouth for a snack. The only ones that can actually eat these things are birds, and many of them find this as the perfect winter food.
When young, the berries are pale green. But as they mature, they then take on their signature white color (which is around August to November).
Is poison ivy poisonous?
Surprise! Poison ivy isn’t actually… poisonous. Yeah.
Here’s what’s going on: The sap of poison ivy has a clear liquid compound called urushiol. This is the culprit causing those terrible blisters and rashes around your body.
Urushiol is not a defensive measure against potential predators. Rather, it is meant to help the plant retain water.
Of course, that doesn’t matter too much to us, as we see it as this annoying thing that gives us extreme discomfort.
It can be found all over the plant too: Roots, leaves, stem, and even berries, so hands off!
Is it contagious?
It is, but not in the way you’d expect.
The rash you have gotten from poison ivy is not contagious. It simply appears that way thanks to the fact that rashes do not appear instantly upon contact with the plant. Instead, it takes a couple of hours to a few days for the rashes to set in, as the oil starts to set. This means that rashes will appear on your body slowly, depending on which parts are afflicted. The rash will not spread unless urushiol is still in contact with your body.
This means that simply touching another person with a rash will not give you the same ailment as them.
So how does it spread?
It spreads on other surfaces through physical contact. If your pants brush against poison ivy without you noticing while you’re walking, and then your hands just so happen to touch those specific spots while you’re taking them off, then congratulations. You just earned yourself a ticket to the rash hospital without even realizing it.
This is why it is essential to wash your clothes and equipment as early as you can after an outdoor trek, unless you want the chance of poison ivy all over. If you’re not careful, you may suddenly have a very itchy awakening on the next day…
Pets are also a common way of transmitting urushiol. Urushiol sticks to fur, and a very curious dog can easily get some all over itself and spread them to you. Meanwhile, you affectionately embrace your little angel, unaware of what he just did to you.
If you’re hoping that the urushiol disappears after a while, don’t hold your breath. Urushiol can stick on surfaces for years! Some even say that it can
last for a decade! This means that even dead poison ivy can be a health hazard, so don’t try to pick any up without proper protection!
Preventive measures
Suit up! Or at the very least, wear more covered clothing. Your clothes are your first line of defense against poison ivy, and the less chances of it touching your skin, the better. If you’re going on a long trek, then covered clothes are better for you in the long run anyways.
While you’re at it, brush up on your botanical skills. You probably wish you paid attention in Science class now. Identification goes a long way, so here’s a slight extension of the proverb from earlier that you can remember:
“Leaves of three, leave them be. Berries white, run in fright. Hairy vine, no friend of mine.”
It’s short, catchy, and tells you all the distinct characteristics of poison ivy you need to know.
But sometimes, poison ivy might decide that your backyard is a good place to spring up, in which case you’ll want to get rid of them.
Disposal methods
There are multiple methods to remove poison ivy, you can cut it, pull it, spray chemical herbicide on it, the likes.
Obviously, you don’t ever want to get poison ivy on your hands, so always wear protective clothing and gloves when handling poison ivy.
When you have successfully removed the ivy from the ground, do not use it as compost. Instead, bag it, and treat it like trash when throwing it away.
It is also imperative that you DO NOT burn the poison ivy. Burning the ivy will make the urushiol airborne, and particles of it can remain in the smoke, and severely aggravate your eyes, nose, and respiratory system, in addition to your exposed skin. If a rash does not cause a medical emergency, this certainly will.
When you have finished, throw all your clothes (especially your gloves) in the wash. As mentioned earlier, urushiol can stick onto surfaces for years, and therefore, should be washed away as soon as possible.
Oh no! I got poison ivy all over me!
Don’t panic, you’re not doomed to an itchy fate just yet, and you may be able to save yourself if you act fast.
Immediately rinse the affected part with water and soap. If you have rubbing alcohol, dishwashing soap, or laundry detergent on hand, use those.
Gently wash your skin, scrubbing too hard will spread the oil and make your rash worse if it appears later on. Make sure to also wash under your fingernails, as the oil usually sticks in there and can easily spread.
Do this in around 10-20 minutes, and it’s highly likely that you will be saved, as the oil has not set in yet.
If not, it would still be a good idea to wash anyways, just to reduce the severity of the rash later on.
The rashes still appeared!
Well, the only thing you can do now is treat it. Apply over the counter corticosteroid over the afflicted area for the first few days, while regularly applying calamine lotion.
You should also rinse the afflicted area regularly with cool water.
Though, it’s still better to get a doctor’s opinion before trying to go through with any of these remedies.
Wrapping Up
Poison ivy is something you’ll never want to experience. It’s no suicide plant, but it sure as heck can ruin your weeks, if you’re not careful.
Always be on the lookout for any inconspicuous plants with leaves of three, if you want to save yourself from some itchy weeks ahead that is.