Cow Parsnip Burn Treatment
- Cover exposed area with a cool wet cloth
- Immediately Rinse with Rubbing Alcohol if Available
- Apply a triple antibiotic cream or try PURIYA the Mother of All Creams for relief.
- Try to avoid popping blisters for as long as possible
- If blisters pop, try to leave skin in place as it acts as a natural “bandage”
Full Answer
Why Is Cow Parsnip Demonized?
1. It’s casual resemblance to hemlock (I don’t think they look like each other at all) 2. The fact that it’s sap can cause dermatitus if it hits the skin and is exposed to sunlight (the culprit are compounds called furanocoumarins) 3.
Facts
1. Common garden parsnip also has sap that’s a phototoxin, and people eat it all the time ( Source, Forager’s Harvest) 2. The plant has been used (and still is although less commonly) by nearly all indigenous people of North America as a food (Source) 3.
Harvesting & Safety
The phototoxin compounds are said to react with sweat, and sun. Given that, I generally cut them with a scissors and avoid touching any of the sap.
You Lie, My Cow Parsnip is Bitter!
I’ve heard a few accounts of this, both from reputable sources. Both sources were also from California. I’m speculating, but I think bitterness in this plant could be from differences in species being picked.
General Cooking
As I mentioned, Indigenous people would often eat the peeled stalks raw. Generally they were peeled before eating. Know that eating the stalks raw seems to have been like a treat and there is evidence for over-indulgence of the raw plant causing indigestion. Milkweed can do the same thing, from my experience.
Young and Tender
It’s important to look at the age of the plant that you’re going to eat Like with so many other things you can forage, younger plants will be the best to eat, older plants can be stringy, become bitter, or have their flavor change as they age.
Pro tip: use cow parsnip like an herb
As far as wild greens and vegetables go, cow parsnip does have a stronger flavor than many. To ensure you enjoy what you make with this plant, here’s a helpful tip: think of adding cow parsnip to a dish like you would add an herb. Would you cook a pound of basil with bacon and onions and eat it? No, and I won’t with cow parsnip.
Toxicity
Like the closely related giant hogweed, cow parsnip sap contains furanocoumarins, chemicals that can cause chemical burns due to increased sensitivity to sunlight (phytophotodermatitis). The burns caused by cow parsnip are much less severe than those of giant hogweed, but can still cause a blistering, itchy rash.
Identification
Seedlings: Cow parsnip seedlings appear in mid to late spring. Seedling leaves are deeply lobed and toothed. For the first and occasionally the second year, cow parsnip will remain in a basal rosette.
Species Similar to Cow Parsnip
Table 1: Shows cow parsnip (Heracleum maximum) similarities and differences in identification compared to its similar species .
Management
Larger patches of cow parsnip may need to be managed with herbicide applications. A systematic herbicide should be used when there is enough foliage, and the plant is actively growing.
What Does Cow Parsnip Look Like?
Cow parsnip ( Heracleum lanatum) is easy to confuse with several other plants in the carrot family. Some of these plants can actually be dangerous, so identification is extremely important. What is cow parsnip? It is an herbaceous, flowering wild plant that develops umbels of tiny white flowers in a cloud atop tall stems.
Cow Parsnip Information
Cow parsnip’s relatives are all poisonous to one degree or another. Can you eat cow parsnip? It is not toxic, but the juice can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals. Washing the affected area and avoiding sunlight for a few days can reduce irritation.
Cow Parsnip Growing Conditions
Differentiating the five species can be done by the sizes of the plants and their flowers but also by the areas in which they grow. Cow parsnip may be found in United States Department of Agriculture zones 3 to 9. It originated in Europe but naturalized in the United States and across Canada.
Identification
Before carrying out a treatment program, you will need to first be certain that you are dealing with Wild Parsnips and not some other weed. Careless identification can lead to using the wrong treatment methods which can be a waste of time and money.
Inspection
After you have confirmed that you are dealing with Wild Parsnips, you can then move on to inspection. During this phase, you will locate areas where Wild Carrot is thriving and observe the conditions that are allowing it to thrive. This information will help you in knowing where to focus your herbicide application.
Treatment
If you have confirmed where the Wild Parsnips are growing on your property then treat them with a post-emergent herbicide treatment of 2,4-D Amine Weed Killer. This professional-quality herbicide is labeled to control Wild Parsnips. It is easy to use and is selective so it will only target the weed and not harm your desired vegetation.
Prevention
Once you have gotten rid of Wild Parsnip from your lawn, you will need to implement some lawn maintenance practices which ensure that the blister-inducing weed doesn't make a return. This can be difficult because the Wild Parsnips seeds can be blown onto your property by wind or other ways that may not be in your control.
Key Takeaways
Wild Parsnips are a common weed that grows on properties, roadsides, along train tracks and is known for its sap that can causes painful rashes and blisters.
The Effects of Poisonous Cow Parsnip Burn
I didn’t think too much about the itching at first. I assumed that I had been repeatedly bitten by the famous Alaskan mosquito or was just experiencing the effects of bare leg bush whacking in Alaska. But then the stripes began to appear. The itching got worse and a couple of blisters began to appear within the next 24 hours.
What is Cow Parsnip?
Cow Parsnip ( Heracleum maximum), also known as Indian Celery or Indian Rhubarb, is found in most of the United States except the Gulf Coast area and surrounding states. It is particularly prevalent in Alaska and can grow in elevations between 0′ and 9000′. It is often confused with it’s look-a-like called the Devil’s Club.
Why is it Poisonous?
The stems of the cow parsnip contain furocoumarins, which cause the blistering and burning when the juices come into contact with the human skin. When the skin comes into contact with the juices, the skin will turn very red and often blister within a few hours. Itching and burning are very common with exposure.
Cow Parsnip Burn Treatment
Once a hiker has been exposed to Cow Parsnip, the first priority is to treat the symptoms and try to make it as comfortable as possible as the body begins the healing process. A great Here are some steps to relieve the effects:
The Best Solution: Avoid the Plant
The best obvious solution to Cow Parsnip burns is to avoid the plant at all costs. I learned my lesson the hard way. Know what it looks like and work hard to hike around it. It is not worth the discomfort.
Know the Dangers of Hiking in Alaska
It is important if you are going to do unguided backcountry hiking in Alaska to understand the dangers. Study up on whta you may encounter in Alaksa before you hop on the plane. Below are some potential dangers you want to understand before you go.
