Summer is winding down, but a lot of us are still venturing through the local flora and fauna bare-legged. As a public service, we thought we’d scratch up some poison ivy facts.
• Poison ivy can be found in every U.S. state except for California, Alaska and Hawaii (California has plenty of poison oak, however) and in every Canadian province apart from Newfoundland and Labrador. Researchers at Duke University have found that higher concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere not only cause poison ivy to thrive, but also increases the intensity of urushiol. As a result, poison ivy is no longer restricted to the most remote hiking trails; it can be found in public parks, through the cracks in urban sidewalks and in backyard gardens.
• Urushiol is the active ingredient in poison ivy (and poison oak) that gives some folks an itchy rash. Notice we said “some” folks – truth be told, not everyone who comes in contact with an offending plant will break out in a rash. About one in five humans will have no reaction whatsoever when exposed to the sticky sap emitted from these plants. The remaining 80 percent will break out in an itchy, blistery rash from contact either direct (from the plant itself) or indirect (say, from petting a dog that has urushiol in its fur). Resin from poison ivy has a long half-life and people have been known to get a rash simply by touching a gardening tool or pants leg that had made contact with the plant more than a year prior.
• On April 4, 1892, former U.S. president Rutherford B. Hayes was pruning some Japanese trees on his Spiegel Grove estate in Fremont, Ohio, when he accidentally got poison ivy resin on his hands and face. The next day he arrived as scheduled to make a speech at the University of Wooster. He was not only in discomfort from his red, swollen face, but he was also embarrassed as he felt that his bloodshot eyes made him appear as if he was “just coming out of a spree.” The staunchly anti-alcohol Hayes assured his audience that “I have not forsaken my temperance principles and practice. Appearances, I admit, are against me. But, in truth, it is not whiskey but poison ivy that did it.”
• Hopefully the Obama family is being mindful of the vegetation while they vacation on Martha’s Vineyard. Poison ivy flourishes on the island as a shrub and a climbing vine, as well as ground cover. Nearby pharmacies do booming business selling Technu, a non-prescription cleanser that removes urushiol from the skin. Horticulturist Polly Hill, who founded the island’s public arboretum, used to eat poison ivy leaves as a child in an effort to build up an immunity to its effects. And, for what it’s worth, Ms. Hill lived to the ripe age of 100 without ever suffering a poison ivy rash.
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I’m a minority! I am one of this post’s five commenters that is unaffected by poison ivy!
In fact, I enjoy having poison ivy on the borders of my backyard. I have a fance that goes along my borders, which has been claimed by various vines and ivy. Poison ivy is among them. I not only have a Wrigley Field replica fence in my yard, but I have my own natural theft deterrent, with no harm to me! I’ll twitpic the fence this afternoon if the storm blows over.
posted by Steven on 8-28-2009 at 4:02 pm
I just felt the effects not 3 weeks ago. It lasted on my arm for 2 weeks. My wife and kids, however, didn’t get it, which makes me think they can’t get it (since I really didn’t take too many precautions to keep it from them).
posted by Ian on 8-28-2009 at 4:09 pm
My sister is extremely allergic. She got a cool wave pattern of a rash on her leg that we can only assume that her cat had the oil in its fur and rubbed against her. And my grandmother almost died from it when someone burned some and the smoke blew into her yard while she was out working, it actually affected her lungs.
posted by Hikingmike on 8-28-2009 at 4:16 pm
I also can’t catch poison ivy, though it must not be genetic because the rest of my family is highly sensitive (mom has even been hospitalized a few times from it). I wouldn’t recommend emulating Ms. Hill to try and become immune though, that sounds really dangerous to me.
posted by Audrey on 8-28-2009 at 4:20 pm
I get it, but it’s been a few months. That said, I find it one of the most fascinating things that a plant has this power. To quote The Tick, “I’ve always operated under the assumption that plants are good,” but here’s one common to this area that goes against that. We aren’t the only species that gets it, but I’ve seen goats eat it. I’ve always liked the idea of a cultivated shrub of Poison Oak-it’s a pretty plant that turns some of the best colors in the fall.
Recaptcha-in cattiest
posted by Dave on 8-28-2009 at 4:27 pm
I’ve been to the hospital several times for poison ivy. Just the other day I developed what I think was a poison ivy rash from handling some paintball gear, which hasn’t been used in over a year. I play paintball in an area with lots of poison ivy and have learned to take precautions to help prevent breakouts. Washing any areas possible affected as soon as possible is key.
posted by Josh on 8-28-2009 at 4:41 pm
I’m fortunate enough to be one of the few people I know that is immune to the effects of poison oak. As a native Californian, I’ve never come into contact with poison ivy (that I know of), but if it’s the same chemical in the oils of both plants then I figure I’d be immune to it as well.
As a child in summer camp I would make money by telling other kids I’d rub poison oak all over my arms for a dollar. So many were willing to part with their money to see me suffer…
posted by PJ on 8-28-2009 at 4:50 pm
I work outside, usually in places that are covered in poison ivy, and thus far haven’t had a reaction. I know plenty of people who have very nasty reactions, though.
I’m not certain if it’s true or not, but it’s a common belief that even if you don’t get it when you’re young, you can develop a reaction to poison ivy the more you’re in contact with it. That being said, BEWARE OF HAIRY VINES!
posted by Kate on 8-28-2009 at 4:54 pm
I’m pretty sure that I’m not allergic, as I have been exposed a couple of times with no ill effects…but I’m not exactly willing to risk the rash if I can just avoid the plant in the first place.
My mom is not strongly allergic, but managed to break out several years ago in the middle of the winter. Our best guess is that she had handled some firewood that had come into contact with some poison ivy at some point.
posted by Fruppi on 8-28-2009 at 5:19 pm
I, too, am a minority! My brothers always sent me into the bushes at the edge of our yard to retrieve footballs and frisbees and whatnot because I was the only one not effected by all the poison oak and poison ivy. Even stinging Nettles didn’t give me problems… but my superiority was short lived. I discovered at a young age that I was VERY allergic to bees. Irony? Meh…
posted by Kate on 8-28-2009 at 5:42 pm
I’m curious if anyone has ever heard of this…I’ve heard that drinking goat’s milk (from goats that have eaten poison ivy/oak) can make you immune – a similar route to what Ms. Hill took. But far tastier to me. :) I can’t remember where I heard this…any flossers familiar with this? I have enough of a reaction that I’d be willing to give it a try.
posted by swss on 8-28-2009 at 9:28 pm
I’m super allergic, I spy a patch of Poison Ivy and next thing I know I’m covered in blisters. Here’s my question, I grew up in Massachusetts, so I’m very versed in what Poison Ivy looks like, and now I live in California where I see what appears (and have felt the effects) to be poison ivy… yet no one will admit that poison ivy grows in California! what really is the difference between poison oak and poison ivy? I thought it was the shape of the leaves… (Poison oak looks like oak leaves, poison ivy looks like ivy leaves…) but I have definitely seen ivy shaped leaves here in CA.
posted by CB Davis on 8-29-2009 at 12:49 pm
The photo shown above is actually poison oak. Poison Ivy has smooth edges to the leaves while Poison Oak has jagged ones. Both work equally well.
posted by Dave on 8-29-2009 at 3:20 pm
I am also immune to Poison Ivy. I remember when I was about 5 i picked up part of a poison ivy plant and brought it home. I didn’t get a rash but my friend who was walking home with me did.
posted by Jenn the Hen on 8-29-2009 at 3:57 pm
Tecnu rocks. I worked at a plant nursery and we sold it. I still buy it, although I now work indoors and my outdoor forays are limited to public campgrounds.
posted by gus on 8-30-2009 at 12:43 pm
Use Jewelweed Salve for Poison Ivy outbreaks. Works better than anything I have tried. I bought mine off ebay.
I never got PI as a kid, but got it a few times as an adult. The last time it seemed to never go away, so I found out about the Jewelweed herb/plant.
When I finally got the salve, my PI was gone. So being the scientist wannabe I am, I intentionally gave myself PI by wiping the leave pretty hard on my arm. Sure enough, 2-3 days later blisters popped up and I could tell an immediate difference when I put it on. Within a week the blisters were gone, and the rash was much more tolerable- immediately.
Gotta be better than steroids.
posted by Jimmy on 5-5-2010 at 10:33 pm