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We have the same urban legend in the US about poison ivy, but I actually knew a kid who made the mistake. Poison ivy is certainly nowhere near this description
by moron4hire 4y ago
We have the same urban legend in the US about poison ivy, but I actually knew a kid who made the mistake.
Poison ivy is certainly nowhere near this description of gympie-gympie, but the persistent itch is certainly unrelenting enough to cause pretty severe distress. I got a small touch of it on my forearm one time. Didn't even know I had brushed up against the plant, so I didn't perform the recommended clean up. Just from absent mindedly scratching, I ended up spreading the oil over almost my entire forearm and onto my leg. I barely slept for two weeks.
- blantonl 4y agoI got one worse for you. The home that I lived in when I was 16 years old had a chain link fence in the backyard that was covered in poison ivy. I got the bright idea do douse some of it in gasoline and light it on fire to get rid of it. Bad idea. The smoke carries the oils and if you get in it, you're going to be in for a bad time.
- cmpalmer52 4y agoA friend attacked a patch of undergrowth with a string trimmer (“weed eater”). She was wearing shorts and the pulped fragments of poison ivy splattered all over her legs and arms. Imagine putting poison ivy in a blender, then pouring it on yourself.
- Tagbert 4y agoI knew someone who went hiking in Northern California. He was having problems with hay fever and his eyes were very itchy so he grabbed a leaf and rubbed it on his eyes. It felt good initially but then began itching and burning and his eyelids swelled up so he couldn’t see. It turns out he had grabbed poison oak leaves (a relative of poison ivy) and rubbed them on his eyes. It was not a fun time.
- Arrath 4y agoIt select parts of the States/Canada you might also reach for Devil's Club, which would be a huge mistake.