No, Gympie-Gympie pain doesn't just go away; the intense pain can last for days, weeks, or even months, with lingering sensitivity, as the venomous hairs (trichomes) inject a potent toxin that creates a new pain pathway, requiring careful removal of hairs and sometimes medical attention for persistent symptoms. The initial severe pain fades, but the area can remain hypersensitive to touch, cold, or water for extended periods.
The sting lasts as long as the hairs are in your skin. The pain from broken hairs can last for days to months. The stinging-tree neurotoxin doesn't break down over time or from cold or heat.
To treat a Gympie Gympie sting, do not rub the area, instead, carefully remove hairs with tweezers, wax strips (or even strong tape) to pull embedded stinging hairs out, and manage pain with over-the-counter pain relievers like paracetamol, as the neurotoxin can cause severe, long-lasting pain. Some sources suggest applying diluted hydrochloric acid (HCl) to break down the hairs, but this carries risks and should be discussed with a doctor, while other folk remedies like Cunjevoi sap are ineffective.
The Gympie-Gympie stinging tree is one of the world's most venomous plants and causes extreme long-lasting pain.
Stinging nettle
The leaves and young stems of this herbaceous plant are fitted with stinging hairs tipped with formic acid and other irritants. If touched, these needle-like hairs inject the stinging acid into the skin, triggering a burning, tingling sensation and an itchy rash.
If you are exposed to a poisonous plant: Immediately rinse skin with rubbing alcohol, poison plant wash, or degreasing soap (such as dishwashing soap) or detergent, and lots of water.
Poison hemlock can really impact humans, 100x worse than poison ivy. In fact, exposure can be lethal under certain circumstances (ingestion for example). Don't be panicked if you see white flowers, not all of them are poison hemlock. Look for those purple splotches on the stem, immediate giveaway.
Shortly after this, your joints may ache, and you might get swelling under your armpits, which can be almost as painful as the original sting. In severe cases, this can lead to shock, and even death. Stories abound of gympie-gympie's notorious side effects. Stung horses have been known to die within hours.
Prohibited invasive plants
CAUTION: May cause phytophotodermatitis where sap touches the skin and is exposed to sunlight; wear long sleeves if handling. Also can easily be confused with the native, yet deadly, poison hemlock. Queen Anne's lace should be reported.
If you've fallen in stinging nettles or taken a reaction to something you've touched which has made you itchy, rubbing on toothpaste will bring instant relief and help the healing process. Stain remover. Just like toothpaste can clean your teeth, it can also remove stains from fabrics like clothing or carpets.
It's generally safe to sleep after a scorpion sting if symptoms are mild. However, avoid sedatives and monitor symptoms closely. Keeping the sting site elevated can help reduce swelling and discomfort. If you notice any worsening symptoms during the night, seek medical attention immediately.
The two species are similar, but can be distinguished by the leaf stalk, which is attached at the margin of the leaf in giant stinging tree (Dendrocnide excelsa), while in the stinging tree or Gimpie-gimpie (Dendrocnide moroides), the leaf stalk is attached some distance from the margin.
A general gympie gympie treatment is to take pain medicines — like over-the-counter anti-inflammatories — to help manage your symptoms. You can also try applying various soothing creams to the affected area. Ask your doctor for the best brand recommendations. Eventually, symptoms should clear up on their own.
Grade IV scorpion sting has dysfunction of both the nerves and muscles with a combination of Grade III symptoms. Other symptoms of the scorpion sting includes: swelling at the sting site, high blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, elevate temperature, fast heart rate, fast breathing and/or problems with breathing.
Soap and water
Wash your skin with soap and water as soon as possible after a nettle sting. This helps gently rinse off any leftover stingers and chemicals. Don't rub or scrub your skin too much. If any needles are still stuck in your skin, rubbing and tugging can push them and their chemicals deeper into your skin.
It is against the law to use, possess, cultivate or traffic a drug of dependence, including marijuana (cannabis), heroin, amphetamines, cocaine, LSD and ecstasy.
Australia's two worst invasive species, based on widespread impact and threat to native species, are generally considered the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) for its devastating effect on plants and habitat, and the feral cat (Felis catus), a major predator of native mammals, with feral pigs (Sus scrofa) and the Phytophthora root rot fungus also ranking extremely high. Rabbits are the most destructive overall, impacting over 300 threatened species, while cats and pigs impact hundreds more through predation and habitat destruction.
The most famously dangerous plant in Australia is the Gympie-Gympie (Dendrocnide moroides), a stinging tree known for its excruciatingly painful sting, delivered by silica-tipped hairs that inject a neurotoxin similar to that of spiders and scorpions, causing long-lasting pain and severe reactions. Other dangerous Australian plants include the Yellow Oleander (Thevetia peruviana) and Pink Oleander (Nerium oleander), Castor Bean, and various poison peas (Gastrolobium) that are highly toxic to livestock, posing significant threats.
The plant's toxicity is not limited to ingestion; it can also cause irritation if touched or if the sap comes into contact with skin or mucous membranes.
Stinging nettle features sharp hairs on its leaves . These hairs contain chemicals, such as formic acid and histamine, which can irritate the skin and cause stinging, itching, and redness. Stinging nettle hairs also contain a range of other chemicals that can affect humans, including acetylcholine and serotonin.
At this point in time science shows no evidence that plants suffer from pain. There is some evidence they react to being cut, but this is a basic stimulus response that is similar to how they react to sun light. It's not painful for them, it's just like a mobile phone that flashed low battery.
Don't touch these plants!
Aconitum (Aconite, Blue rocket, Devil's helmet, Helmet Flower, Leopard's bane, Monkshood, Queen of poisons, Wolfsbane, Woman's bane) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.
Botulinum toxins, exotoxins of Clostridium botulinum, are the most toxic naturally occurring substances known to man.