WILD PARSNIP

[Team Black-Cat]

Thanks for pointing this out again.
The first time I ever heard of wild parsnip was in a post (here or on GC, I forget) regarding ArcherDragoon. Is there any other “nasty stuff” in Wisconsin that people should be aware of?

I just checked Google images, and I think they have every plant native to Wisconsin identified as poison ivy. The only time that stuff bothers me is if I already have scratches and scrapes. I would really hate to test my immunity to wild parsnip.

[pharmteamK]

Another plant we have seen recently that can cause the same type reaction is Cow Parsnip. It has a large stalk and maple like leaves but does have white flowers.

[Team Black-Cat]

From WIKI: (so it must be accurate…)
Wild parsnip causes phytophotodermatitis and must be handled with full-body protection. If your skin is exposed to wild parsnip you must go inside within the next 10 minutes and stay there for 6-8 hours. Skin will not be affected by artificial light.

Also:
Phytophotodermatitis takes 10 minutes to set in after exposure to a photosensitizing plant. If you get indoors within 10 minutes you are safe, because artificial light does not cause blistering; but you must remain indoors for 6-8 hours.

[Jeremy]

@Team Black-Cat wrote:

I would really hate to test my immunity to wild parsnip.

Unfortunately, there is no immunity. It is more like a chemical reaction, not an allergic reaction some people get from poison ivy and other plants. So unless you have a different chemicals in your body than the rest of us (an alien or robot? :)) you are not safe. Cow parsnip and even the “harmless” Queen Anne’s Lace / wild carrot contain the same compounds (though to a different/lesser degree) that cause this phototoxic effect.

This article explains more about the reaction and what must happen for it to occur:

http://www.wnrmag.com/stories/2000/jun00/parsnip.htm

[ArcherDragoon]

As Jeremy said…the stuff is just plain bad. It really isn’t poisionous…so, to answer Bec’s questions…yes, you can eat it…but you will expose your entire system to the possibilities of being ultra sensitive to UV light.

On a side note…the 6-8 hours is a guess…it all depends on the amount of exposure…I would have to guess my was heavy exposure to the sap…

If I estimate the last time I may have been exposed to the plant sap and time I was exposed to direct sunlight…it was at least 14hours. I didn’t start to have any symptoms until about 48hours later…but, by day 4…I had complete breakout.

Positives about it…the itch only lasts day or two…and you get really cool scares (skin discoloration) for at least a year…mine is still pretty good…so I may be on the two year plan 😉

You can brush up against a WP plant and not be affected…you need to actually be in contact with the sap of the plant (usually means breaking the stems somehow)…unlike Ivy and Oak for which casual contact will spread the oils…

Negatives…unlike Oak and Ivy that have treatments to help clean the skin…once you breakout with Parnsip…it is too late to do anything. The only thing you can do is wash it off right away…first hour at least (there is still much debate to time…I would say 10 minutes to be “safe”). I was out for about a month…with the swelling and “boils”…not fun…but i managed to live through it…

[ArcherDragoon]

@Team Honeybunnies wrote:

Ran into ArcherDragoon at an event in Rochester, MN over the weekend and he had the worst case of wild parsnip I have yet encountered. He had been bushwhacking in wet conditions and feels that the sap of the plant impregnated his wet pants and passed to his skin. The next day he spent the morning in bright sunlight, the phytophototoxins in the sap had their reaction, and he had terrible blistering all over his lower legs. One blister was literally the size of my thumb, not just the knuckle, the whole thumb, and stood up at least 1/2 inch. Several others were sizeable as well and the entire surface of his legs was reddened, blistered and swollen. He had calamined his legs, and you could see the rivulets where blisters were breaking and leaving tracks. Very, very serious stuff. If you don’t know what it looks like, try to memorize the pictures and keep an eye out. My mild encounters were bad enough, I can only imagine ArcherDragoon’s experience 🙁 .

I was really proud of that one!!!
😉 😆 😉

[Mathman]

@ArcherDragoon wrote:

The only thing you can do is wash it off right away…first hour at least (there is still much debate to time…I would say 10 minutes to be “safe”). I was out for about a month…with the swelling and “boils”…not fun…but i managed to live through it…

I know when I had encountered it, my leg started turning red and was burning. I was able to get to some water (we were at a rest area..”Marion The Librarian”) about 5 minutes or so later and within a few a few minutes of washing it off it felt better. Nettles sting but this Parsnip burns!

[Author]

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