Educating the Immune System: The Ancient Art of Hormesis

I recently read a Wall Street Journal article titled "I Couldn’t Escape Poison Oak. So I Started Eating It." It delves into hormesis, the concept of using small amounts of a poison to promote healing. I’ve written extensively on this in my book Stopping Pain.

Urushiol is the primary allergen found in poison oak. Some don’t react, but for those who do, the rashes can last for weeks and sometimes be severe. It's essential to approach exposure to poison plants like poison oak and ivy with caution. This is not medical advice, but a discussion on the concept. Some people are highly sensitive to these plants, suffering severe rashes and even asthma, requiring medical intervention. At least 100,000 people seek medical treatment for exposure annually, with severe cases often resistant to home remedies. The best prevention is learning to identify and avoid the plant.

The article begins by discussing the practice of inducing hormesis through the consumption of small pieces of poison oak, even add…