Orchids poisonous to touch?

[BillC]

I recently read that some of the Cypripediums are known to be poisonous to the touch, and C.reginae is poisonous to the skin much like poison ivy. At least fifty per cent of people are susceptible. C. parviflorum is also
poisonous but less so than the former, while the variety, hirsutum,
is said to be as poisonous as C. reginae.

Do any members have knowledge of this and should people take care when handling these plants?

Bill

[kmarch]

Where did you read this?

To my knowledge orchids are not poisonous. That isn't to say they couldn't cause an allergic reaction in some people. That's what a poison ivy rash is, an allergic reaction, not a reaction to poison.

[BillC]

Originally Posted by kmarch

Where did you read this?

To my knowledge orchids are not poisonous. That isn't to say they couldn't cause an allergic reaction in some people. That's what a poison ivy rash is, an allergic reaction, not a reaction to poison.

Kevin, isn't that something of a contradiction; why is ivy called ' poison ivy ' instead of say, allergic ivy? I do not believe the author intended to imply that C.reginae was a poisonous plant per se, just that it could cause skin problems, and that is why I asked the question. I have not heard of anyone suffering from contact with these plants hence my post.

Bill

[Hummer344]

There is someone, somewhere, at sometime, !!!!!!!!! that is allergic to almost everything. BUTTTTTTT, I have never heard of an orchid being poisonous to touch. Someplants cause some problems if you eat them, & you can even make poison out of some of them.

Soooo In Sumation!!!!!!!!!!! grow them, enjoy them.

[janet_a]

well, maybe not unheard of:

cyms etc

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi...ournalCode=jde

cyp & vanilla

http://bodd.cf.ac.uk/BotDermFolder/BotDermO/ORCH.html

now the hitch with some of these is that where the dermatitis is experienced in a greenhouse environment, the reaction may be being caused by a chemical or the media rather than the plant itself. but as for the cyp & vanilla, that seems to be the leaves/sap.

see also

http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Recreation...cv064.html#dan

http://ncnatural.com/wildflwr/ladyslip.html

http://www.scib.gc.ca/pls/pp/ppack.i...sci=sci&p_x=px

[snowballsarebad]

I have heard that Cyp reginae can be irritating, but not poisonous. The stem and leaves and even the flowers have tiny hairs. I'm not sure if it gives a rash, but a lot of plants with hairs like that will make you itch for a bit after touching them

[brookn]

Poison Ivy causes an allergic reaction because of the oil in the plant. The oil is tenacious and will stay on your skin and clothes for a long time unless washed off. You could wear clothes during your exposure, wash them and if not washed well could put the same clothes on days later and expose yourself all over again. There is also a risk if you are not susceptible, and say a family member is, by touching them you can expose them if the oil is on you. Also wherever the oil is on the skin can move it to other areas of the skin. Kind of gross, but that is why you hear of people getting it on their delicate regions. I am allergic to poison Sumac, and I was exposed once and rubbed my eyes without realizing it, they swelled shut.
I have no knowledge about the orchids, but snowballs comments about the hairs makes sense.

[BillC]

Janet, thank you for the links which certainly got my attention. I will file all the info. in the links in the event I get close to any of the plants mentioned. Far more than I first imagined.

Brook, your adventure with Ivy was desperate reading. I tried to imagine what you felt when your eyes became swollen.....ugh! I am very susceptible to nettle rash and it sometimes takes days to recede, thus I have to be careful of handling any plants.

Forewarned is forearmed!

Bill

[pikevi]

The terms allergens and toxins are used non-specifically nowadays. Allergens only affect some people;toxins affect 'all' people. 'Poison ivy' name is correct since urushiols found in them are toxins and more exposyer they get to CO2 the more potent the urushiols become. I believe it(they) is also found in Cashews.

It was believed , until recently , that allergens have to be proteins ( or an amino acid) but we see many are allergic to some carbohydrates as well.

As janet_a's reference point out most of the orchid chemicals are allergens, which is to be expected with any other plant and almost 6.5B people in the world.

I did check the 'net and there was one study involving Cypripedium in N. Carolina with 9 people ; 2/3s had dermatitis. That may be significant to show it is poisonous and not just allergenic. But the active principle apparently is 'unknown' that leaves the door wide open.

[gore42]

I get a rash from one (or more) of my Paphs... I think it might be Paph parishii, but I handle so many during any given day that I've never narrowed it down.

- Matt

[pikevi]

That may be some sort of an allergy. I always wondered why the paph. flowers, especially the stalks, are hairy. May be they produce some exudate than can be allergenic. I am sure kmarch may have more info on that.

Wearing latex gloves may help in avoiding any skin reaction.

[gore42]

Yes, the lady of the house says the same thing... "Wear gloves!". But the rash is a minor one, just some small hives, and they clear up quickly, so I never bother.

- Matt

[chefatplay]

I'm sure the lady of the house has told you this, too, and Pikevi will substantiate it, a small amount of hives can at any time turn into a full fleged anaphylactic reaction, not good. Go for the gloves. I worked for a top allergist in my community for 6 1/2 years, I've seen a lot. Not trying to be mean, just care a lot for my geek family. i'm done now......

[janet_a]

hmm, i recently acquired a paph; haven't had to handle it yet but when it comes time to repot i may swipe some latex gloves from someone....

[pikevi]

gore42: chefatplay is absolutely right.

It will be a good idea to use the gloves since you already know there is a skin reaction.

Anaphylaxis usually occurs after the second or third exposure to the antigen but it is a fairly complex issue if you are sensitive to other allergens as well. Our body occasionally gets a wrong signal about a foreign body (if it is already sensitised) and reacts too severely towards a 'perceived' allergen. This reaction can be more harmful than the normal allergic reaction.

No harm done if you use the gloves and the charcoal won't stick to the skin either