What if I Touched Pokeweed with Bare Hands- Side Effects and Treat Symptoms

Pokeweed is a poisonous flowering plant. Pokeweed scientific name is Phytolacca decandra. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if I touched pokeweed with bare hands. It has poison in it and can be harmful to touch with bare hands. It has a positive use too, it has been used as a herbal supplement for years.

As mentioned earlier, it has positive uses so in traditional Chinese medicine, it is known as chui xu shang lu. But it is a poisonous plant and it can harm you as well. So you need to take care and also should know the treatment if you happen to touch.

I touched pokeweed with bare hands – Is Pokeweed Poisonous to Touch?

It seems harmless because of its appearance, as it is in dark purple blackberries having red stems. It indeed attracts attention and makes people touch it but when you touch the plant we get to know that you are in danger that is associated with this plant.

It takes time to make you realize that it has a bad influence on your skin if you touch it with bare hands and without gloves. After a month of touching it, you will feel irritation and allergic reactions on your skin. 

When you happen to crush the berries to see their inside, you get irritation and also itchy sensation on the nose. As it is poisonous for humans, it is poisonous for animals as well. So it is necessary to take care of your pets.

But the good point is, that it is a good source of food for birds. It does not extend to humans and pets as they should avoid consuming it.

The Toxicity of Pokeweed

Some compounds make the plant poisonous, they are Saponins, Phytolaccigenin, and Phytolaccatixin. They have a toxic nature that makes the plant harmful to others. You have to face many new problems when you come in contact with it.

Avoiding Touching Pokeweed

You need to practice the safety caution to stay safe from the Pokeweed and it is necessary to stay away from the stem, roots, ripe berries, and seeds as well. 

As mentioned earlier, the compounds that are present in the Pokeweed, are toxic and can have a long-term negative impact on health. So it is compulsory to have precautions and and first aid kit with you to stay safe. You should avoid coming in contact with this plant in any way.

The Consequences of Touching Pokeweed

If you are out of your home and somehow you come in contact with this plant. You can have some rashes. These can be caused by poison oak and poison Ivy. 

It has some symptoms that make it easy for you to identify. Those symptoms are redness, blister formation inflammation, intense itching, and even the development of blisters on the skin. It is important to get rid of them at home with some proper care with the requirements of medical attention.

Understanding Pokeweed Toxicity

The toxic compounds the pokeweed plant contains are Phytolaccigenin and Phytolaccatoxin. They cause the diseases are mainly named diarrhea and vomiting. It is said that snake poison is also dangerous just because of its potential to cause some major side effects.

The gastrointestinal system can also get disturbed by this plant including fluid loss and low blood pressure. This can cause an inside effect such as weakness, respiratory depression, and even some major unconsciousness.

Recognizing the Scientific Evidence 

It is important for you to identify the scientific studies that back up the idea of pokeweed being toxic. The native Americans used it for both culinary and medical purposes because of the positive effects of the compounds that it contains. However, the current focus is on producing its healing properties safely and efficiently.

Toxicity as a Defense Strategy

Some of the plants may include backyard grass and weeds like pokeweed have some toxic substances. These substances can be used as protection from the animals. This plant may not cause any animal facilities to run into trouble when you consume it.

It is poisonous when it is touched as many toxic components are present on the plant. You need to avoid touching it because it is not good to touch it with your hands.

What Are the Side Effects of Pokeweed?

There is a powerful irritant called phytolaccine. Its presence in this plant makes the plant toxic. It is responsible for severe gastrointestinal symptoms in mammals and humans as well. You can consider the toxicity of the plant as it includes stems, roots, leaves as well as berries. 

If you eat it then the Pokeweed can cause some symptoms that include:

• Abdominal cramps and spasms
• Burning sensation in the mouth, esophagus, and throat
• Diarrhea 
• Difficult in breathing 
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Headache 
• Vomiting 
• Irregular heart rate

You have to take caution but if you touch with broken skin then the person will experience less severe but the same symptoms.  Many people feel trigger inflammation and a painful, blistering rash after making contact with it.

How To Treat Symptoms Of Pokeweed Contact 

You have to face the symptoms when you come in contact with pokeweed:

When you face rashes then you need to treat it by using poisonous ivy, oak, or chickenpox. Remember to avoid scratching it because it can spread all the rashes to your body. You can also use topical hydrocortisone ointment. This is best for this use as it will help you to cure itching.

First Aid Steps

If you have a moderate infection then it will take a few days to recover with the use of an anti-itching cream and pain relievers. But if you have a severe infection then you need to treat it properly.

• You should go to a local emergency and get help for poisoning control. 
• You can call at 1-800-222-1222 for help.
• You can also mention your address if it is possible. 
• It will include the amount and even the time of exposure for indigestion.
• It will also affect a person’s General Health status.

What parts of pokeweed are harmful for Humans to touch? 

All the part contains toxicity such as Phytolacca toxins and Phytolaccigenin protein as well. This indicates that each part such as roots, stems, leaves, and berries all are harmful.

Roots

• The roots contain a high concentration of toxic biochemicals.
• They help us to remove this plant but you have to be careful when you are removing it from the soil. 
• You need to be careful to remove it before removing pokeweed from the soil.
• You need to maintain the safety precautions.
• Because it is highly recommended for the health of children, adults, and the old as well. 
• You need to take care of your pet as well.  
• You can also remove the entire taproot with the help of your gloves.

Berries

• You should have the concept of biotoxins because this plant’s berries are biotoxins.
• Because this can easily spread to the body and is harmful to you.
• You are removing a Pokeberry. 
• This is one of the most important factors.
• You should remember that you have to wear rubber gloves as if you are removing this plant. 
• The single plant is able to produce tens of thousands of seeds. 
• It is highly recommended that you can’t eat or touch these pokeberries.

Leaves and stems

• You need a toxic oil to protect your skin if you touch its leaves and stems. 
• It is effective even if you forget to wear gloves, this will protect your skin.
• You need to protect your children and pets as well.

Seeds

• Seeds are berries that contain poisonous juice.
• These can toxic the roots as well because they exist inside the plant.
• If you want to save your property, you should remove all the seeds from your property. 
• Some fatal symptoms when digesting pokeweed leaves or stems.

How can you remove pokeweed from your garden?

There are mainly four methods that can help you to answer the question of how to get rid of pokeweed. You need to  follow them:

Make Use of Your Hands

You can remove pokeweed with your hands. Simply make use of your hands and pick them out as you pick the carrots from the garden. But in this process, you need to cover your hands, skin, and eyes as well because this plant can cause irritation in your body.

Use preventive measures to protect yourself from this toxicity. Now you need to examine your clay, if the clay is hard then this method won’t work.

Digging the Plant Out

To save yourself from pokeweed toxicity, you have to get rid of the plant. But if the plant is big then it will carry a packed soil with it so you have to dig the plant out. This plant will help you get rid of it. To do this process, you will require a rake, safety gloves, long sleeves and pants, a wheelbarrow or cart, a soil screen, a shovel, and a tarp sheet. 

After having all these, start digging the ground and take the plant out of the soil. You need to do it only if your plant is bigger.

Cut the Plant Down

The next method you can follow is to cut the plant down. Take sharp scissors and protective clothing and cut the toxic plant to save the area. After cutting them, collect all their parts and place them in the trash bin.

How to get rid of pokeweed safely should be your first concern so make sure to use preventive measures.

Weed Killer Application

The last method to follow so that you can remove the pokeweed from the garden is to use the weed killer. This is considered to be the most quickest method of all. Use caution while doing this, otherwise, it can cause cancer and some other serious health issues. Pokeweed cancer treatment is not affordable to all so protect yourself from this.
If you are using dilute glyphosate herbicides like Roundup Max Control, this will work well. You need to spray this on the plants, they will eventually die. Killing pokeweed with vinegar is another good way to kill the plants.

The Dangers toxins in Pokeweed

You should know all about the toxic elements that exist in the plant. These include Phytolaccatoxin, Phytolaccigenin, and Triterpene Saponins. These are the main factors of these toxins so they cause weakness, unconsciousness, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle spasms, stomach pain, respiratory depression as well as convulsions.

As everything has positive and negative impacts that’s why you need to know that you can also find some proteins such as hemagglutinin, mitogenic, and antiviral proteins. All of them can cause eosinophilic as well as thrombocytopenia when it is touched by damaged skin or when it is consumed.

You can also find some arguments in the market that pokeweed is not toxic. The plants are poisonous in nature and used in food as well as in medicine. 

Conclusion

Pokeweed is a poisonous flowering plant. Pokeweed scientific name is Phytolacca decandra. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if I touched pokeweed with bare hands. It has poison in it and can be harmful to touch with bare hands. 

It has positive uses so in traditional Chinese medicine, it is known as chui xu shang lu. But it is a poisonous plant and it can harm you as well. So you need to take care and also should know the treatment if you happen to touch.

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