Home
Rodale Bookshelf
The Doctors Book of Home Remedies II: Poison Plants

Chapter List

Special Limited Time Offer!
Order today and
Save an Extra 15%!
Use coupon code: LSAVE15

Poison Plants

Who else but prolific Mother Nature could provide us with itches in triplet form--poison ivy, oak and sumac? These three plants are annoying as all outdoors to an estimated 50 million people each year. At least half of the U.S. population has some allergic reaction to this trio. In fact, this is the most common allergy known to humans.

The wicked itch and bothersome rash of these "poisons" are caused by urushiol oil, a light, colorless or slightly yellow oil, one of the world's most potent toxins. A mere one-billionth of a gram is enough to cause sensitive folks to scratch themselves silly. And far more than one-billionth is released whenever the plant is "bruised," which happens any time there is direct contact with the leaves, stems or roots.

The potency of urushiol oil lasts about five years, so you can get a reaction from handling unwashed garden tools that were used to dig up poison ivy years earlier. But the oil does wash away. So if you wash yourself and your garden tools with soap and water within 15 minutes after contact, you can help avoid a later rash. Applying calamine lotion and taking oatmeal baths are probably the best-known cures once you've been exposed, but here are some other ways to rush the rash and nix Mother Nature's mother of all itches.

Know Your Poison Plants

Poison ivy usually grows east of the Rocky Mountains as either a vine or a shrub. Its leaves are in clusters of three, and it has white berries.

Poison sumac grows in southern swamps and northern wetlands. It's a tall shrub with 7 to 13 small leaves per branch and cream-colored berries.

Poison oak grows west of the Rockies, usually as a shrub or small tree but sometimes as a vine. It has yellow, "hairy" berries as well as hair on the leaves and trunk.

Have a milk soak. "A compress with ice-cold milk helps dry the rash and soothe the itch," says John F. Romano, M.D., a dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of medicine at The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center in New York City. "Just soak milk in gauze and apply it to your skin." Note: Whole milk seems to work; skim milk doesn't have the same effect, though doctors aren't sure why. Also, since milk can leave skin smelling "sour," be sure to rinse yourself off with cool water after each application.

Rub on baking soda. "If your rash is blistering or weeping, make a paste of water and baking soda and apply it to the skin," advises dermatologist Rodney Basler, M.D., assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. "This helps dry up the oozing blisters." If the area itches without blistering, however, the baking soda paste won't have much effect.

Enlist help from M.O.M. "Although it's not made for this purpose, milk of magnesia can relieve poison ivy itch as well as calamine lotion," according to Dr. Romano. That's because anything alkaline usually helps relieve itch, and milk of magnesia is alkaline. And since it's a thinner solution than calamine, it's easier to apply, Dr. Romano points out.

Try a dose of deodorant. The U.S. Forestry Service asked William Epstein, M.D., professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, to come up with an inexpensive way to protect forest rangers from poison ivy. He found an unusual answer: spray deodorant. Aluminum chlorohydrate and other agents in spray deodorants prevent oils in poison ivy from irritating the skin. So in a pinch, spraying arms and legs with a deodorant can help protect you. But Dr. Epstein notes that there are commercial products that work better.

A Rash of Rumors

Misconceptions about poison ivy, oak and sumac are almost as widespread as the plants. Let's set the record straight.

Myth: Poison ivy is contagious. Fact: Rubbing the rashes won't spread poison ivy to other parts of your body (or to another person). You spread the rash only if urushiol oil--the sticky, resinlike substance that causes the rash--has been left on your hands.
Myth: You can get poison ivy simply by being near the plants. Fact: Direct contact is needed to release urushiol oil.
Myth: Leaves of three, let them be. Fact: Poison sumac has 7 to 13 leaves on a branch, although poison ivy and oak have 3 leaves per cluster.
Myth: Don't worry about dead plants. Fact: Urushiol oil stays active on any surface, including dead plants, for up to five years.

Stop the itch with ice. "By far the cheapest effective remedy once you have contracted poison ivy is to apply an ice cube to the affected area for about one minute," says Dr. Romano. "The ice cools the itch." If you don't have any ice cubes, it helps to run cold water over the areas.

Zap it with zinc. Although its not the most effective choice, zinc oxide, according to some experts, helps soothe itching and may help dry the rash. An inexpensive, over-the-counter skin ointment best known as the stuff lifeguards wear on their noses, zinc oxide is one of the active ingredients in calamine lotion.

Learn not to burn. Don't try to rid your backyard of poison ivy by burning it. That releases droplets of urushiol oil, which can be inhaled and cause serious damage to your lungs. Instead, dig it up--roots and all--and dispose of it in a sealed container. Then wash yourself, your clothes and your tools thoroughly.

Go commercial. To help prevent another attack, there are several over-the-counter poison ivy repellents such as Ivy Shield, which is sold in most drugstores.

Shop with Us: Brands A-Z; Products A-Z; Autoship; Ways to Shop; Member Discounts

Customer Service: Contact Us; Help Desk; Shipping Policy; Return Policy; Ask a question; Track Your Order

My Account: My Account; My Order History; My Shopping Cart

Health Library: Vitamin Guide; Guide to Herbs; Health Concerns; Home Remedies; Seniors Health; Women's Health

About Us: Our Blog; Our Philosophy; Corporate Discounts; Affliliate Program; Terms of Use

Featured Partners

Email Sign up: Weekly health news, sale announcements and coupons!

Call us M-F 9am-5pm: 1-800-439-5506

Information on this site is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. Information about each product is taken from the labels of the products or from the manufacturer's advertising material. MotherNature is not responsible for any statements or claims that various manufacturers make about their products. We cannot be held responsible for typographical errors or product formulation changes. You should read carefully all product packaging. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.All discounts are taken from suggested retail prices. Prices are subject to change.