I should mention my UNPROFESSIONAL THEORY for WHY this happens:
The "poison" in the plants isn't really a poison at all; that is, it won't toxify a creature to death, but it is just an oil-and-protein combo that simply tricks the immune system into reacting drastically to it. (This is essentially what most "allergies" are; a well-intentioned mistake of our immune systems.) Our immune systems have some sort of memory, because any threat is likely to show up again, and we benefit from being "better prepared next time". Think of antibodies to a known germ as examples, or even callouses against wear-and-tear for that matter. If the body remembers, then the presence of vague or all-present stress says to the body "something's wrong, but I don't know what". The body sometimes replies by randomly trying to treat some of the problems it's had in the past. I know it may sound a little screwy, but I believe this is essentially correct. |
