Poison Ivy
OTHER NAME(S): Bois de Chien, Caquistle, Caxuistle, Herbe à la Puce, Herbe à Puce, Hiedra Venenosa, Markweed, Poison Vine, Rhus Tox, Sumac Grimpant, Sumac Vénéneux, Three-Leafed Ivy, Toxicodendron radicans, Rhus radicans, Rhus Toxicodendrin, Hiedra venenosa, Sumac vénéneux
Overview
Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is a shrub and vine. It contains a chemical that causes skin irritation and allergic reactions for many people.
Poison ivy is part of the cashew family, not the ivy family. It's used in homeopathic medicine, meaning it's given in extremely dilute doses, often so dilute that they contain little or no poison ivy. But it's not clear how it might work.
Homeopathic preparations of poison ivy are used to treat pain, rheumatoid arthritis, sprains, and itchy skin disorders, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Uses
We currently have no information for Poison Ivy overview.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Poison ivy is likely unsafe. Chemicals in poison ivy can cause allergic reactions with widespread symptoms, including severe irritation of the mouth and throat, vomiting, fever, and coma.
When applied to the skin: Poison ivy is likely unsafe. Skin contact with poison ivy can cause redness, swelling, and other reactions. Wash exposed areas with soap and water within 5-10 minutes of contact to limit skin irritation.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Poison ivy is likely unsafe. Chemicals in poison ivy can cause allergic reactions with widespread symptoms, including severe irritation of the mouth and throat, vomiting, fever, and coma.
When applied to the skin: Poison ivy is likely unsafe. Skin contact with poison ivy can cause redness, swelling, and other reactions. Wash exposed areas with soap and water within 5-10 minutes of contact to limit skin irritation.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Poison ivy is likely unsafe to take by mouth or apply to the skin while pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Allergies: People with allergies to other substances, such as cashew, mango, and ginkgo, might also be allergic to poison ivy.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Poison Ivy overview.
Dosing
Poison ivy is used in homeopathic products. This means that the poison ivy in these products is often so dilute that there's little or no active ingredient remaining. Taking products containing larger, detectable amounts of poison ivy by mouth or applying them to the skin is unsafe and should be avoided. Consult a healthcare provider before use.
References
- The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
- Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
- Cohen LM, Cohen JL. Erythema multiforme associated with contact dermatitis to poison ivy: three cases and a review of the literature. Cutis 1998;62:139-42.
- Hershko, K., Weinberg, I., and Ingber, A. Exploring the mango-poison ivy connection: the riddle of discriminative plant dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 2005;52(1):3-5.
- Oka, K., Saito, F., Yasuhara, T., and Sugimoto, A. A study of cross-reactions between mango contact allergens and urushiol. Contact Dermatitis 2004;51(5-6):292-296.
- Marks, J. G., Jr., DeMelfi, T., McCarthy, M. A., Witte, E. J., Castagnoli, N., Epstein, W. L., and Aber, R. C. Dermatitis from cashew nuts. J.Am.Acad.Dermatol. 1984;10(4):627-631.
- Stam, C., Bonnet, M. S., and van Haselen, R. A. The efficacy and safety of a homeopathic gel in the treatment of acute low back pain: a multi-centre, randomised, double-blind comparative clinical trial. Br Homeopath J 2001;90(1):21-28.
- Lee, N. P. and Arriola, E. R. Poison ivy, oak, and sumac dermatitis. West J.Med. 1999;171(5-6):354-355.
- Kurlan, J. G. and Lucky, A. W. Black spot poison ivy: A report of 5 cases and a review of the literature. J.Am.Acad.Dermatol. 2001;45(2):246-249.
- CASPERS, A. P. Poison ivy (Rhus toxicodendron); a survey of the poison ivy problem in Canada and some independent observations on the value of zirconium products in prophylaxis and treatment. Can.Med Assoc.J 5-15-1957;76(10):852-860.
- Cardinali, C., Francalanci, S., Giomi, B., Caproni, M., Sertoli, A., and Fabbri, P. Contact dermatitis from Rhus toxicodendron in a homeopathic remedy. J Am Acad.Dermatol. 2004;50(1):150-151.
- Werchniak, A. E. and Schwarzenberger, K. Poison ivy: an underreported cause of erythema multiforme. J Am Acad.Dermatol. 2004;51(5 Suppl):S159-S160.
- Gladman, A. C. Toxicodendron dermatitis: poison ivy, oak, and sumac. Wilderness.Environ.Med 2006;17(2):120-128.
- Kalish, R. S. The use of human T-lymphocyte clones to study T-cell function in allergic contact dermatitis to urushiol. J Invest Dermatol. 1990;94(6 Suppl):108S-111S.
- Griffiths, C. E., Barker, J. N., Kunkel, S., and Nickoloff, B. J. Modulation of leucocyte adhesion molecules, a T-cell chemotaxin (IL-8) and a regulatory cytokine (TNF-alpha) in allergic contact dermatitis (rhus dermatitis). Br.J Dermatol. 1991;124(6):519-526.
- Schram, S. E., Willey, A., Lee, P. K., Bohjanen, K. A., and Warshaw, E. M. Black-spot poison ivy. Dermatitis 2008;19(1):48-51.
- Griffiths, C. E. and Nickoloff, B. J. Keratinocyte intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression precedes dermal T lymphocytic infiltration in allergic contact dermatitis (Rhus dermatitis). Am J Pathol. 1989;135(6):1045-1053.
- Resnick, S. D. Poison-ivy and poison-oak dermatitis. Clin.Dermatol. 1986;4(2):208-212.
- Baer, R. L. Poison ivy dermatitis. Cutis 1986;37(6):434-436.
- Johnson, R. A., Haer, H., Kirkpatrick, C. H., Dawson, C. R., and Khurana, R. G. Comparison of the contact allergenicity of the four pentadecylcatechols derived from poison ivy urushiol in human subjects. J.Allergy Clin.Immunol. 1972;49(1):27-35.
- Guin, J. D. Poison ivy dermatitis in winter with an example of filial contact dermatitis. J.Indiana State Med.Assoc. 1983;76(3):184.
- Hurwitz, R. M., Rivera, H. P., and Guin, J. D. Black-spot poison ivy dermatitis. An acute irritant contact dermatitis superimposed upon an allergic contact dermatitis. Am.J.Dermatopathol. 1984;6(4):319-322.
- Lejman, E., Stoudemayer, T., Grove, G., and Kligman, A. M. Age differences in poison ivy dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 1984;11(3):163-167.
- Schwartz, R. S. and Downham, T. F. Erythema multiforme associated with Rhus contact dermatitis. Cutis 1981;27(1):85-86.
- Mallory, S. B., Miller, O. F., III, and Tyler, W. B. Toxicodendron radicans dermatitis with black lacquer deposit on the skin. J.Am.Acad.Dermatol. 1982;6(3):363-368.
- Kollef, M. H. Adult respiratory distress syndrome after smoke inhalation from burning poison ivy. JAMA 7-26-1995;274(4):358-359.
- Sasseville, D. and Nguyen, K. H. Allergic contact dermatitis from Rhus toxicodendron in a phytotherapeutic preparation. Contact Dermatitis 1995;32(3):182-183.
- Nickoloff, B. J., Fivenson, D. P., Kunkel, S. L., Strieter, R. M., and Turka, L. A. Keratinocyte interleukin-10 expression is upregulated in tape-stripped skin, poison ivy dermatitis, and Sezary syndrome, but not in psoriatic plaques. Clin.Immunol.Immunopathol. 1994;73(1):63-68.
- Epstein, W. L. Occupational poison ivy and oak dermatitis. Dermatol.Clin. 1994;12(3):511-516.
- van Haselen, R. A. and Fisher, P. A. A randomized controlled trial comparing topical piroxicam gel with a homeopathic gel in osteoarthritis of the knee. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2000;39(7):714-719.
- Berk DR, Hurt MA, Reese LT, Wagner L, Bayliss SJ. Milia after allergic contact dermatitis from poison ivy: two cases. Dermatitis 2010;21(3):E16-8.
- Lampe KF. Dermatitis-producing Anacardiaceae of the Caribbean area. Clinics in Dermatol 1986; 4(2):171-82.
- Sowers WF, Weary PE, Collins OD, Cawley EP. Ginkgo-tree dermatitis. Arch Dermatol 1965;91(5):452-6.
- Sugiura K, Sagiura M. Contact dermatitis caused by ginkgo. Global J Allergy 2016;2:001-2. DOI: 10.17352/2455-8141.000011
- EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA), Turck D, et al. Safety of dried fruits of Synsepalum dulcificum as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA J 2021;19(6):e06600.
- Woolery S, Willner J, Prahlow JA, Douglas E. Death After Poison Ivy Smoke Inhalation. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2022;43(4):359-362.
- Rabinovich EP, Barquin JN, Abernathy RE, Koester RJ. Black-Spot Toxicodendron Dermatitis With Varied Presentation. Wilderness Environ Med 2022;33(3):351-354.
- Smith HD, Williams B, Beck LA, De Benedetto A. Erythema Multiforme Secondary to Poison Ivy Contact Dermatitis. Dermatitis 2023.