"Time To Scratch An Itch..."

(Leaves of 3, let it be...)

Ah, 'tis that time of year for the leafy return of Poison Ivy which I found nicely unfolding in one area I take Mercy regularly. The vast majority of us have suffered from the antagonizing reactions at one time or another...so I did a little scratching around the web for more information and was rather surprised by some misinformation I've heard over the years. Class is now in session, though you can forego a #2 pencil - computer screens really don't like them.

True or False questions:

1. The leaf is the only part of the plant that has the Urushiol oil that causes the reaction.

2. Poison Ivy rashes cannot be spread by scratching them.

3. The Urushiol oil is rendered inactive once the plant is dead (or has been killed with Round-Up, etc.).

4. Poison Ivy is not contagious.

5. Breaking the blisters in the rash will make the rash spread.

6. Eating poison ivy will help build your immunity to it.

7. Breathing in the smoke from burning poison ivy is just as dangerous as touching it, if not more so.

8. If you think you've come in contact with poison ivy, you have about a 30-minute to one hour window to wash it off.

9. Poison Ivy is beneficial in that some animals can eat it without any effect.

10. There is no such thing as 'immunity' to Poison Ivy.

Extra credit: The Platters had a hit record with "Poison Ivy" in 1959.

True or False answers:

1. False. Roots and stems also have the oil. Even when the leaves are gone for the winter, you can get nasty reactions by inadvertently pulling up roots or rubbing against the vines on a tree.

2. True. It may appear that happens, but it is only a natural delayed reaction to the oil in the first place. You have to come in contact with the plant's oil, directly or indirectly.

3. False. The oil can remain viable for up to 5 years in the dead stems and roots.

4. Trick question. If you have a nice rash on your arm, and someone runs their fingers over it, no, it is not contagious. In 99.9% of those cases that rash has been washed and treated. The oil is contagious in that, say, Mercy were to walk through a patch of it, and then shortly thereafter I give her a big hug and run my hands through her soft fur...I have an excellent chance of being dead meat if I don't wash right away. Same with handling clothes that may have come in contact with the plant. The rashes themselves are not contagious; the irritating oil causing it is, however.

5. False. Only the oil itself can cause the reaction; the blisters are simply fluid byproducts of the reaction. However, breaking the blisters greatly increases the chance for secondary infections, which can greatly hamper the healing process.

6. Uh, false. That's a serious no-no to eat the stuff.

7. True. Breathing that smoke could easily land you in the hospital when your alveoli in your lungs start swelling and closing up shop.

8. Another trick question - couldn't resist. True, in most cases you have an hour window to wash up good to get the oil off (some experts say only 30-minutes, some drug companies say only minutes)...but USE ONLY COLD WATER. A nice hot shower will open your pores and potentially do significantly more harm than good, allowing the oil in the pores before you can scrub it off.

9. True. Man is not on that short list, however.

10. False. Up to 20% of the population simply doesn't react to it, while the majority of us do. Anyone's immunity can change through the years (a natural bodily process to begin with), so immunities can come and go.

Extra credit: False. It was The Coasters.

I know your itching to get back to work...thanks for reading!