Poison Ivy. Leaves of three, leave them be!
Poison Oak/Poison Ivy/Poison Sumac – This is most commonly found on hikes near creeks, rivers and lakes. Almost every waterfall hike I’ve been, I’ve seen poison oak, and it’s always next to the trail. However, if you’re attentive, it’s relatively easy to avoid. The key to identifying poison oak is the signature three leaves. The leaves are green in the spring and summer, and in the fall the leaves turn yellow, orange, and red. The plant typically grows a foot or two off the ground, however, I’ve seen it upwards of six feet tall. The leaves have waxy, shiny look to them, and it’s the oily sap from these leaves that irritates the skin. If you know that you come in contact with poison oak immediately rinse the area with cold water and soap if available. It takes 15 to 20 minutes for the poison oak resin to react. Reactions from these poisonous plants include itching and swelling. Try not to scratch, it will spread the resin to more places on the skin. I found that the product Zanfel is the best remedy for poison oak or poison ivy. It comes in a small tube and is a little pricey, but within two days, all my rash and itches were gone. Well worth the price in my opinion. It can be found at any pharmacy. If you’re nervous that you won’t be able to identify poison oak or poison ivy, just remember the adage, “Leaves of three, leave it be!”
Stinging nettle. Commonly found on along trails with elevations of 5500 to 8500 feet.
Stinging Nettle – This plant is normally found out on mountain hikes, and not in desert regions. It can grow upwards six feet tall by late fall, by early summer, but typically two to four feet in height. The leaves are long, thin, and serrated, and the leaves grow in alternated patterns as seen in the picture to the left. Upon closer inspection, the leaves and stem are covered with hundreds of little hollow hairs, which break off at the least bit of contact, and cause a burning sensation at the area of contact. Carefully remove any of the hairs still stuck on the skin. I found that mixing cold water and baking soda into a paste and applying it to the affected area does a good job of neutralizing the stinging sensation. I once left it untreated, and it subsided after about five hours. Wearing long pants and a long sleeved shirt is the best prevention.
Never pick and eat wild mushrooms
Mushrooms – I’m going to make this one very simple! Don’t eat or touch them, regardless of how hungry you are, or how much they look like the ones that were on your pizza last weekend. There are thousands of varieties of mushrooms, and many of them can make you very ill to the point of hospitalization, while others will kill you with just a nibble. One more time… steer clear of wild mushrooms!
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