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March 17th, 2010 
Becca G Taylor Many people get into trouble with poison ivy because they do not know what it looks like or how to treat it. It is not actually ivy, which is where some get confused. It is a type of vine that is very woody and grows low to the ground. Any contact with it, no matter how brief, will probably cause a rash. Some people are naturally immune to the effects of the compound it produces that irritates skin, but most are not.
It grows in Canada, the United States, and Mexico and is almost unheard of anywhere more to the south or east. The woods are the most usual local for the plant, especially near the edges of forests where sunlight is more prominent. That said, do not be surprised to see it in meadows, on lawns, or even in rocky terrain. It really grows almost anywhere which is why it is so tricky. Any amount of sunlight and water in the soil is good enough for the plant.
You should learn to recognize this plant if you intend on spending any time outside. It looks completely innocuous, so you may never know you are standing right in it. The leaves are really three leaflets in a bunch. They are almond shaped and do not have teeth. The color ranges from light green to dark green in spring and summer and then it turns reddish in the fall.
On the vine, each bunch of leaflets comes in an alternating pattern, which means there will be one bunch on the left side, then a little further on another bunch on the right side, and so on. Many have noticed these leaves have a slight sheen to them. This is the substance they excrete which causes the itching. They also produce a fruit. It is a small berry which is a light gray color.
Keep in mind that the vine itself will be hairy. It has small red hairs on it that are very distinctive. Keep an eye out for it if you like to climb trees, since that is where the plants can grow–right up the trunk. Though they do not have teeth, there is a small notch on the side. Some have pointed out that the leaflets look like mittens with the notch being the part for the thumb.
Rhymes and tricks for remembering the visuals of the plant have been around for centuries. Look up some of the rhymes to help yourself remember. Another interesting fact is that butterflies tend to like poison ivy. Seeing one land on a plant that you are suspicious of is often a good indicator.
Once you have figured out what the ivy is (either by looking it up or by unfortunate first-hand experience), the next step is to learn how to treat the itch if you stumble upon it. If the person goes into anaphylactic shock, get them to a hospital immediately. Sometimes a reaction can be so severe that breathing is very difficult and lose muscle control or fall unconscious. Usually the reaction is merely blistered skin that itches very severely.
Keeping your hands away from the rash is the best way to keep from scratching and spreading the substance to other parts of your body. Buy some over-the-counter itch creams that say they are designed for this specific rash. You can also take an oatmeal bath which will soothe you in the way it soothes people with chicken pox.
Are you one of those unlucky individuals who has had a run-in with poison ivy? We’ve got the ultimate inside scoop on how to treat Poison Ivy Rash and Poison Ivy Blisters .
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