First of all Poison Ivy is a plant that is very common to many areas. It is heaviest in areas of forest where there is a sharp edge, which means people have severely disrupted that area of the forest and on the edge of the forest before it reaches where people disturbed it by clearing a trail or something of the sort is where it tends to be a lot. It has 3 leaves of green, leaves of 3 let it be, and those three leaves have an oil on it that when introduced to the skin can cause severe rashes that are itchy and annoying. It can also come in the form known as Monkey's Tail because it tends to be a vine that creeps up trees and has tons of attachments to the tree and when the leaves drop off during fall it resembles the tail of a monkey.
So how do we fight it? Well of course you can go to the local pharmacy and buy ointments and such to aid in removing the itching sensation and helping the blisters dissipate, but how can we handle this on the front lines in the woods? I have two answers!
1) This is my favorite and most convenient method! Mud and dirt, apply mud to the point of contact and the mud will help absorb and dry the oils from the skin as it dries out, and with it being cool it helps relieve the itch. I have personally been exposed to poison ivy in the form of monkey's tail on multiple occasions out in the forests at night and when I apply dirt from a few inches deep in the soil once I noticed I made contact it prevented a breakout from even happening.
2) The second way that I know I've been told at my job at a Nature Center multiple times but have yet to try it. This method is to utilize a counter plant known as Jewelweed.
Jewelweed is a plant with slightly round rigged edges and is very common at the banks of creeks, I have been told the best way to identify is to take a leaf and put it under the water and as light hits the leaf it will sparkle. To utlize the jewel weed to counter poison ivy though you take a stem and cut it open and apply the juices from it to the affected area, and the juices from crunched leaves. Jewelweed can help other small things too such as bug bites and cuts and such.
If you have more information that you would like to share remember you are in the field of the Kusa we are waiting for more.
3 comments:
All great info but I personally think the best counter measures are to simply "suit up" before hitting the woods. Coverings from head to toe including gloves, hood, breathable face mask, etc.
As mentioned above there are actions you can take after the fact some natural and others not. Two summers ago I straight grabbed a whole hand full of poison ive, bad Ninja I know. I went straight to Sensei's bathroom and used a special soap to pull the oil out then poured bleach over the effected area. It, completly stoped it before it started.
If its too late and it's already spreading you can kill it off and shorten its time frame but popping or cutting the blisters, soaking up the oil with cotton swabs, quickly before it touches other skin. Then use the above soap and bleach method to dry it out. Continue until no longer needed.
Definitely right, the best procedures to follow are before the fact not after. You still have to be careful because of poison ivy is transferred via the oils, it can be carried from a part the was covered to an uncovered part very easily as if you were to get an itch somewhere and you scratched it with an affected part. So it's always good to know what things you're not supposed to touch look like and how to take care of it if you do under the worst circumstances. That is what will make us more equipped than the average person. :)
I recently talked to my boss about this as well and he stated that the oil that causes the irritation from poison ivy is acidic, so applying a base such as baking soda will also assist as treatment.
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