When my daughter was younger, we lived in New Jersey for a while. Poison Ivy is the state flower and she was usually covered in hives. A local Dermatologist gave her a series of three shots and it made her immune to the stuff.....only lasted a year but it sure worked!
Can you become poison ivy proof?
- Thread starter Spiveyman
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quicksandfarmer
Elite Member
I grew up with it all around, but didn't have my first case until I was 15 or so. My two worst ever cases were this year (I'm 41) but I think that has more to do with exposure than sensitivity. I have three elementary-school age kids, my youngest gets it, the other two never have.
From what I've read there is anectdotal evidence that ingesting urushiol can desensitize you. The problem is that if you have an allergic reaction, ingesting it makes it much, much worse and can damage your internal organs, particularly the kidneys. There is also anecdotal evidence that drinking the milk of cows or goats who eat poison ivy provides some protection. I will say from personal experience that both cows and goats love the stuff, the pasture is the only part of my farm where poison ivy doesn't grow.
The worst kind of poison ivy outbreak is when it goes "systemic," where urushiol gets into your bloodstream and reactions start popping up all over your body. I had what I believe was a systemic reaction last summer. I had been drinking goat milk, but I stopped, because I felt (with great certainty and zero evidence) that the goat milk was making my reaction worse.
From what I've read there is anectdotal evidence that ingesting urushiol can desensitize you. The problem is that if you have an allergic reaction, ingesting it makes it much, much worse and can damage your internal organs, particularly the kidneys. There is also anecdotal evidence that drinking the milk of cows or goats who eat poison ivy provides some protection. I will say from personal experience that both cows and goats love the stuff, the pasture is the only part of my farm where poison ivy doesn't grow.
The worst kind of poison ivy outbreak is when it goes "systemic," where urushiol gets into your bloodstream and reactions start popping up all over your body. I had what I believe was a systemic reaction last summer. I had been drinking goat milk, but I stopped, because I felt (with great certainty and zero evidence) that the goat milk was making my reaction worse.
slowrev
Elite Member
I eat very few cashews, but poision ivy does not bother me. I can weed eat it as well with no problems.
A strong dose of roundup seems to kill it though which I do as my wife is very allergic to it and she loves cashews. go figure.
A strong dose of roundup seems to kill it though which I do as my wife is very allergic to it and she loves cashews. go figure.
ScottAR
Veteran Member
I've had the systemic reaction when I was about 15. I was completely covered in the stuff. I'd say my allergy level is about the same as then at 29. I haven't had any major exposures but several minor ones.
(Last one was from the cat, Thanks alot, Snowball...)
I eat cashews fairly regular so I'm not sure that pans out. I use Tecnu soap to
clean up if I get exposed.
(Last one was from the cat, Thanks alot, Snowball...)
I eat cashews fairly regular so I'm not sure that pans out. I use Tecnu soap to
clean up if I get exposed.
DieselPower
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I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I have not had a reaction to poison ivy/oak or sumack since I was a kid. The down side is that once your friends and relatives find out they are calling you all the time to remove it for them. 
OP
Spiveyman
Platinum Member
slowrev said:
Well, I still don't have any idea if the cashew thing makes a difference or not. From the stories here there are those who don't eat them and don't have a problem with PI, and those who do eat them and it still bothers them. Sounds like it may be more of an old wive's tale than anything. One thing I learned though is the deal about cattle and goats eating the stuff. Sounds like I may be better off turning my herd loose in the woods than trying to spray for it. Looks like I've got some fence work to do, but with grass in such short supply, if I can get some weight gain on my cattle AND get my PI under control that's a win-win!!
DieselPower said:
Ha! Never thought about that, but do you plan to be in KY any time soon? I have a favor to ask of you...
sandman2234
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A friend and I had this conversation a few days ago. He is extremely reactive to mosquito bites, and the stuff he took seems to have made him immune to the posion ivy. I haven't been bothered by it in years, either due to knowing to watch for it, or maybe the cashews I eat. However, I do know that elephant ear plants will cause me severe itching just by mowing them, never getting in direct touch with them.
David from jax
David from jax
Soundguy
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Hmm.. I'm not effected at all by poison oak/ivey.. etc.. but I love cashews.
I'd never heard this connection before?
interesting..
Soundguy
I'd never heard this connection before?
interesting..
Soundguy
Spiveyman said:We had a family reunion on an old family farm over Labor Day weekend. While there I noticed tons of poison ivy all over the woods next to the fields they mowed so that we could camp out and stuff. I asked who did that and how they faired with all that poison ivy.
One of my uncles said he'd gotten poison ivy really bad earlier in the year and had to go to a specialist. The specialist told him to eat a handful of cashews every day and that would help him develop an immunity to poison ivy over time because the two plants are related and the oil in cashews is very similar to the urushiol found in poison ivy. Is that just crazy?
So the uncle who mowed and weed eated (weed ate? how do you say that past tense?
I did a quick google and found one site saying that's bunk, but also found some saying it's for real. Anyone had experience with this, or better yet actually know the medical facts? In the mean time, it's a small price to pay for the potential benefits. We bought two cans of cashews today.
N80
Super Member
I'm not an allergist, I don't play one on TV and I have not stayed at a Days Inn. However, some of this (most of it) does not compute. Always beware of anecdotal evidence when it comes to medicine. People and their immune systems are too variable to draw any conclusions about how you, Uncle Bob or your friend Timmy respond to poison oak or its various remedies.
I never got poison oak as a kid. I do get it now. I like and eat cashews. How does that apply to anyone else? (Hint: not at all).
And there are just way too many variables. Different people obviously react differently, but there are seasonal and regional differences in the plants as well.
Remember, when it comes to allergens and desensitization there is a huge difference between a contact reaction and a food reaction. When you ingest a substance a lot of things happen to it. There is mechanical breakdown and there is heat, but most importantly we have acids and enzymes that break down the proteins so that they no longer are capable of producing an allergic reaction. So just because something reacts with skin does not mean it will react if ingested. In fact, that is why almost all allergy desensitization is done with allergy shots, not pills. There has never been any proof that the poison oak oleoresin pills ever provided desensitization for anyone. However, there were documented cases of people getting itchy butts from undigested amounts of the oleoresin touching the **** at the time of defecation.
I am not aware of any poison oak allergy shots.
The cashew tree is a relative of poison oak. Cashew pickers are known to get contact dermatitis from contact with the leaves. The nuts may contain small amounts of the oleoresin, but obviously not enought to cause a rash on most people, including most people who are sensitive to poison oak. Quantities that small are highly unlikely to provide desesnitization, especially from ingestion.
One final thing; invariably the worst cases of poison oak I see are from people who thought they were immune. Keep that in mind.
I never got poison oak as a kid. I do get it now. I like and eat cashews. How does that apply to anyone else? (Hint: not at all).
And there are just way too many variables. Different people obviously react differently, but there are seasonal and regional differences in the plants as well.
Remember, when it comes to allergens and desensitization there is a huge difference between a contact reaction and a food reaction. When you ingest a substance a lot of things happen to it. There is mechanical breakdown and there is heat, but most importantly we have acids and enzymes that break down the proteins so that they no longer are capable of producing an allergic reaction. So just because something reacts with skin does not mean it will react if ingested. In fact, that is why almost all allergy desensitization is done with allergy shots, not pills. There has never been any proof that the poison oak oleoresin pills ever provided desensitization for anyone. However, there were documented cases of people getting itchy butts from undigested amounts of the oleoresin touching the **** at the time of defecation.
I am not aware of any poison oak allergy shots.
The cashew tree is a relative of poison oak. Cashew pickers are known to get contact dermatitis from contact with the leaves. The nuts may contain small amounts of the oleoresin, but obviously not enought to cause a rash on most people, including most people who are sensitive to poison oak. Quantities that small are highly unlikely to provide desesnitization, especially from ingestion.
One final thing; invariably the worst cases of poison oak I see are from people who thought they were immune. Keep that in mind.
OP
Spiveyman
Platinum Member
N80 said:
That's probably akin to the person who thinks they are absolutely safe on their tractors. I always keep a healthy respect for my tractor and the dangers it brings. That's pretty much how I will treat poinson ivy/oak. I have no plans to EVER come in contact with the stuff, and if I think I have, then I usually wash up thoroughly as quickly as possible. However, if there's something I can do in ADDITION to wearing long sleeves, long pants, gloves... etc when trying to eradicate the stuff from my property to keep me from breaking out I'd love to know about it. That's why I thought the cashew thing was interesting.
So what about the idea of eating locally made honey helping with local allergies? Is that just an old wive's tale too? It makes sense what you said about your body breaking down those substances when ingested, but I thought that was kind of what allowed you to be more resistant. By having that stuff in your system (like allergy shots) your body wouldn't react as strongly to it. Now, I'm also not a doctor, that was just my understanding, but I could be way off here.
