Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/ Here's your outdoor tip on poison ivy. Poison ivy creates an itchy rash that you will always remember once you have gotten it. It is cause by coming in contact with the oil of the plant by brushing against it or being exposed to the oil in smoke or the oil being transferred from the plant to you on some other object. Some people say they are not affected by the oil, but often they are surprised by a rash raised by a healthy dose of the plant’s oil. About 85% of Americans are allergic to the oil called urushiol (pronounced yoo-ROO-shee-all). Also, if you are allergic to poison ivy, you are most likely allergic to poison oak and sumac because the all three contain the same oil. There is little benefit to the plant, but some joke that because it absorbs more than its share of CO2 it is helping combat climate change. There is no real cure for the rash it creates. You can suffer for a couple weeks waiting for it to sub
