I have walked with my dog the same trails in Deer Lake for years and suprised to have gotten plant poisoning this week. My symptoms are some very rapidly spreading blisters on my skin. Within 48 hours, it has grown from 2 blisters to all over my neck and scalp. The pain on my head was like a drill constantly drilling on it. (My condition matched with the Poison Sumac when I looked it up in the internet.) I thought it must have caused by a branch of something poison that touched my neck when I leaned over to pick a Salmon Berry. The cream subscribed by the Doctor caused more irritation. I stopped using that and then went to the Chinses herbalist. After 2 drinks of the special prescribed herbal tea, I was elated that my problems has gotten subdued. Mystically, I felt this sense of calmness inside me. To-day is day 5 since the fist blister appearing, and is also my first day that I have the energy and appetite for a meal. My neck lesions are purlple, shown sign of drying and will take time to heal. I am very thankful I have made the right choice of choosing Chinese herbal medicine. It would be interesting if someone would identify the plants that caused this problem in the Deer Lake trail area. For sure, I will be very cautious from now on when walking on trails!
Re: Poision plants Thank you. That's good to know anout the danger of this Giant Hogweed. I will keep my eye on them and see if they are in the area.
Re: Poision plants Poison sumac is an eastern species not found out here. There are some patches of poison oak in western WA, here and there in suitable environments. South of the Vashon glaciation there's lots of it - especially in Oregon and California. Giant hogweed you can't miss, even young plants produce large conspicuous leaves. The only basis for confusion is the general similarity of the native cow parsnip.
