Skin reaction to Choysia

Hi
New to the Forum but been intrested in gardens since being a child (many many years ago)
Just had a friend ring me to say they have been pruning in the garden and her face has swollen. The plant she was pruning was a choysia.

I seem to remeber that when I had some in the garden that they made my arms irritate.

Can any one else comment on this.

Graham
by Eric by the sea

ps not sure if this is the correct section to post this but here goes.

 

as with all allergic reactions she will need an antihistamine. Not a doctor but it sounds pretty severe if her face has swollen. Take a zirtec-or better still diphenhydramine (nytol one a night) but she will need to see the doctor otherwise as its sunday nhs direct online.

 

Hi Thanks for that advice. Furtunately she is a trained nurse so treatment is not a problem. It is whether I am correct that you can get a reaction to Choysia whilst pruning or if you touch the flowers that I am enquiring about.

Many thanks
Graham

 

As far as I am aware, Graham, Choisyas are not known as skin irritants. That, however, doesn`t mean that same people MAY have a reaction to the sap.

 

As David says, differnt things afect folk in differnt ways. for instance i come up in blisters from contact with rue and often get a rash after pruning raspberry cans. Personally I get no reaction to choisia.

 

Hi David and Paul

Many thanks for you comments. It looks as though it may have ben something else that has caused the rash and swelling.

Graham

 

No, they do cause skin irritation. Ive had exactly the same thing and my little gardening book just confirmed it