If you do not know what it is, DO NOT EAT IT! Knowing poisonous plants will help you avoid sustaining injuries from them. There is a lot to know about this category and overwhelming you with information will not help you absorb it. So we will be providing new information weekly on this topic! There are some misconceptions about poisonous plants:
- Watch the animals and eat
what they eat. Most of the time this is true, but some animals can eat
plants that are poisonous to humans.
- Boil the plant in water and
poisons will be removed, but not all.
- Plants with a red colour are poisonous, but not all of them.
An easy way to avoid contact with poisonous plants is carrying an
identification book or pamphlet for the area you are located. Sometimes this
may not be possible! So we will provide a crash course but if you are an
outdoors adventurer or getting lost is something you do regularly…then I
recommend you start studying your plants! The first chapter is poisonous plants
that can cause skin irritations for instance: Cowhage, Poison ivy, Poison oak,
Poison sumac, Rengas tree, and Trumpet vine. If your skin gets in contact with
any of these the effects may be persistent and spread by scratching. Symptoms
include burning, reddening, itching, swelling, and blisters.
- Avoid scratching and do not make contact around the eyes!!!
- Try to remove the plants oil by washing with soap and cold water.
- No water? Repeatedly wipe your skin with dirt or sand. Do not use this method on blisters because it may open the blister and the dirt will cause an infection.
- Removed the oil, dry the area.
- You can wash with a tannic acid solution created by crushing dock leafs and rubbing jewelweed on the affected area to treat rashes.
- You can also make tannic acid from oak bark and this is how.
Oak bark is rich in vitamin B12 and minerals like zinc, iron, and calcium.
The Oak Bark Tannic Remedy:
- Shred the bark.
- Boil the bark, 1/2 water, 1/2
bark for an hour.
Lost and do not have gear to boil water? No worries! Make a fire and use the coals to create a bowl. Find a small log, insert the coals and allow it to burn a hole in the log. Use a sharp rock to help you carve the bowl faster. Put bark in bowl with hot coals in water. Allow to warm up. Get in the habit of carrying lighters, matches or a fire steel! - Stir from time to time.
- Let cool and strain. (for
straining use a piece of clothing!)
Use externally or add water (2:1) to create a tea as a digestion remedy.
Note: Do not drink too much of this tea. A cup or two should suffice! If
symptoms continue have a bit more but always try to get yourself to safety
first!
Trumpet Vine:
