-IBIS-1.5.0-
rx
herb
Rhus toxicodendron (Poison Ivy, Poison Oak)
botanicals
definition
botanical name(s): Rhus toxicodendron, Toxicodendron diversilobium, T. radicans
synonyms: poison ivy, poison oak, poison vine
part(s) used: fresh leaves
qualities: acrid, bitter, hot
affinities:
actions: sedative
dosage:
» tincture: 0.003 - 0.3 ml.
pulse:
» sharp stroke (Jones, p. 38)
» sharp stroke with tremulous wave between strokes
specific indications: long-pointed tongue with prominent papillae, burning heat, great unrest, redness; quick, small, sharp pulse, sometimes wiry, sometimes vibratile; great restlessness, with or without vomiting; child starts from sleep with a shrill cry as if from fright; strawberry tongue; burning pain; rheumatic pain aggravated by warmth; burning pain in urethra with dribbling of urine; bright, superficial redness of the skin with burning, itching, or tingling; red glistening erysipelas, with burning pain (Felter and Scudder, p. 602)
therapy: nervous irritation; nervous tension; gushing diarrhea; enteric fever; burning pain; paralysis of bladder and rectum; eczema; pemphigus; urticaria; functional pruritus; conjunctivitis (Felter and Scudder, pp. 605-608)
toxicity: 5
» capable of inducing an immune reaction in sensitive individuals due to toxic oils
» handling of plant causes contact dermatitis occurs within five days following an exposure, two days if previous exposure occurred in the past five years; produces a delayed (Type IV cell-mediated) hypersensitivity reaction commonly known as allergic contact dermatitis, characterized by blisters, vesicles, papules, and bullae; oropharyngeal signs include thirst, vomiting, colicky pain, fever and delirium (Brundage, p. 204; Kinghorn, pp. 162-170; Levy and Primack, pp. 9-16)
» systemic uptake leads to formation of abscesses and lymphadenopathy; mild eosinophilia and leukocytosis occur; glomerular nephritis results in chills, fever, dyspnea, hypertension, generalized edema, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and changes in urinary output
» laboratory test results: polyuria, oliguria, anuria, then finally uremia; urinalysis indicates albuminuria, red and white blood cells, granulated casts; CBC: leukocytosis, moderate eosinophilia (von Oettingen, pp. 505-506)
» tannins, a major constituent group of this plant, have been shown to have carcinogenic and carcinostatic potentials (Morton, p. 361; Keeler and Tu, p. 255)
constituents: tannins, urushiols; poison ivy contains mainly pentadecylcatechols with some heptadecylcatechols, poison oak vice versa
footnotes
Brundage, A.H. 1929. A Manual of Toxicology, 15th ed. New York: D. Appleton and Co.
Felter, H.W. & Scudder, John K., 1922. The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Cincinnati, Ohio. Reprinted in 1985 by Eclectic Medical Publications, Portland, OR.
Jones, Eli, M.D. Boyle, Wade, N.D., editor. 1989. Reading the Eye, Pulse and Tongue For The Indicated Remedy. Buckeye Naturopathic Press, East Palestine, OH.
Keeler, R.F., and Tu, A.T. 1983. Handbook of Natural Toxins. New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc.
Kinghorn, A.D. Editor. 1979. Toxic Plants. New York: Columbia University Press.
Levy, C.K.; and Primack, R.B. 1984. A Field Guide to Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms of North America. The Stephen Green Press.
Morton, J.F. 1977. Major Medicinal Plants: Botany, Culture, Uses. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
von Oettingen, W.F. 1958. Poisoning: A Guide to Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders and Company.