Why is bamboo itchy?

Answer 1

Once my mum was sundrying bamboo to get rid of the itchy sensation that would occur if eaten or touched.

I stupidly put a piece in my mouth. After a few seconds it felt really irritable and it hurt like a b***h!

I didn't tell her I put it in my mouth thinking she'd tell me off.

I tried everything trying to get rid of the pain

Lemonade

Fresh lemon juice

Toothpaste

Mouthwash

Brushing my teeth

Rinsing my mouth

Drinking loads of water

Putting ice in my mouth

Hot water

Containing my saliva

As my glands were produ ing heck loads of it

I finally got round to telling my parents

They didn't tell me off

But were laughing crazily!

My dad told me to keep Gaviscon in my mouth

Several minutes later the pain diminished slighty

My mouth was itching mildly for several days later

So I'm guessing the molecules in the juice of the bamboo, when in contact with the skin, send some sort of weird chemical message to the brain through the nerves and the receptor is left feeling itchy/irritated