The following myths and facts were found on various Internet sites devoted to the topic of the “Three Poisons.”

Myth Fact Poison Ivy rash is contagious. Rubbing the rashes won't spread poison ivy to other parts of your body (or to another person). You spread the rash only if urushiol oil -- the sticky, resinlike substance that causes the rash -- has been left on your hands. You can catch poison ivy simply by being near the plants. Direct contact is needed to release urusiol oil. Stay away from forest fires, direct burning, or anything else that can cause the oil to become airborne such as a lawnmower, trimmer, etc. Leaves of three, let them be. Poison ivy and poison oak have three leaves, however most sumac has 7 to 13 leaves on a branch. In addition, there are many harmless plants with three leaves. Do not worry about dead plants  Urushiol oil stays active on any surface, including dead plants, for up to 5 years. Breaking the blisters releases urushiol oil that can spread. Not true. But your wounds can become infected and you may make the scarring worse. In very extreme cases, excessive fluid may need to be withdrawn by a doctor. I've been in poison ivy many times and never broken out. I'm immune. Not necessarily true. Upwards of 90% of people are allergic to urushiol oil, it s a matter of time and exposure. The more times you are exposed to urushiol, the more likely it is that you will break out with an allergic rash. For the first time sufferer, it generally takes longer for the rash to show up - generally in 7 to 10 days.

To view some suggested treatments for the “Three Poisons,” click HERE

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To view some poison sumac images, click HERE

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