Getting allergic reactions from poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac is no laughing matter. That’s why one must always be careful when going around places where these plants grow. Hypersensitive people need to be careful most of all. Any contact with these plants could endanger their lives. The skin irritant urushiol is present in poison ivy, oak, and poison sumac. It’s what’s responsible for … [Read more...]
Plants To Avoid When Camping and Hiking
The great outdoors. Isn’t it nice to experience what Mother Nature has to offer? Wonderful sceneries, fresher air, fun and adventure, peace and quiet...Indeed, there are many things nature has to offer. Unfortunately, communing with nature sometimes also comes with a few consequences, if one isn’t careful. Sometimes, it’s because of the things people least expect that they should avoid, like … [Read more...]
How Does Poison Ivy Rash Spread
A poison ivy rash is very bad news. It can cause painful itching, make body parts swell, even cause difficulty in breathing. In its most extreme, it can cause death if not immediately treated. Basically, it’s the oily toxin in poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac (and in other plants belonging to the same family) that causes these potentially deadly allergic reactions. It is called urushiol … [Read more...]
What is Systemic Poison Ivy?
If an allergic reaction to poison ivy isn't bad enough, the systemic poison ivy is even worse. When you are exposed to poison ivy, you get these annoying localized rash appearing on the skin where contact took place. But with a systemic reaction, the poison ivy rash rather spreads throughout the body, including to areas that had no direct contact with the plant. It can turn severe blisters that … [Read more...]
How to Best Treat Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac Rashes
What do the words “poison ivy”, “poison oak” and “poison sumac” have in common? Well, they may all belong to the same plant family (Anacardiaceae) and genus (Rhus or Toxicodendron). Unfortunately, that also means they may all carry the poison or toxic oil urushiol that can cause severe rashes to the body. Nobody knows the agonizing experience of dealing with poison ivy rash, poison oak rash or … [Read more...]
How to Safely Kill Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac
Who hates poison ivy? Considering the harm it can cause, it is safe to assume that almost everybody does. Those who have no way of experiencing its painful effects would not want to encounter it at all. Allergic reactions to poison ivy seem common enough. The question is why don’t people just steer clear of the plant? That’s because they generally do not know what it (and other genus … [Read more...]