Poison Ivy

Bird · Aug 10, 2001

Dave, I wonder whether the goat milk had anything to do with your immunity. I've read that some people are immune; some are not. And those who are immune may suddenly lose the immunity, while those who are not may suddenly become immune. The latest things I've read about it indicated that no one really knows why.

Bird

Harv · Aug 10, 2001

those who are immune may suddenly lose the immunity

That may be what just happened to me. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

For 53 years I was never affected by poison oak -- it was just another plant to me. First time I was even aware of its existence was during my high school golf days. Being the caliber of golfers we were, my buddies and I spent a great deal of time pawing through the bushes looking for our golf balls. I was better at finding them than the others 'cuz I would just dive into thick growth and not come out until I found the little buggers. When the rest of them came down with nearly incapacitating cases (eyes swollen shut) of poison oak, and all I had was my teenage zits, I realized I had immunity to the stuff.

Poison oak exists in scattered patches all over my tractor property, and for the last several years I have been ripping it out almost bare-handed and never had a reaction. Then, just a couple of months ago, I was clearing out some overgrown fire trails and my luck ran out. I was wearing gloves, but also short sleeves (mid-90's weather) and scratched my arms up pretty good, just enough to bleed a little. I'm guessing that it was the getting the oils directly into my blood stream that turned the tables, 'cuz I developed my first case of itchy rash all around the scratched up areas. /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

After that healed up, I got it again (slow learner), and this time it spread to other parts of my body that I must've just touched with my gloves. The free ride was over, fer sure. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

The good news is that I now use the Technu products, both the "before" and "after" lotions. They seem to work perfectly, as I have really put them to the test on recent trips to the property, and have had no further outbreaks. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bird · Aug 10, 2001

Harv, I was immune until I as 11-12 years old; climbed trees with it, pulled it off trees with my bare hands, etc., but then one day while helping dad build fence along a creek, I pulled some poison ivy off a tree and got a little piece of bark or something in my eye and rubbed it out./w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif As you might guess, one eye swelled shut and I could barely see with the other one. That was the only time I ever had to go to doctor with it, but I've sure gotten it on my arms occasionally since then.

And I still pay golf about as well as you did when you were a kid.

BirdEdited by Bird on 08/10/01 12:50 PM (server time).

Bill_Ryan · Aug 12, 2001

If you know you've come in contact woth Poison Ivy, grab some Jewel Weed leaves, mush them around between your fingers and rub it on the area. You can also rub it on during early signs of Poison Ivy contact (small initial blisters).

Jewel weed prevents further blistering, etc....

It typically grows near Posion Ivy (convenient, huh?).

Bill

Bird · Aug 12, 2001

Bill, that sounds good, except for one small problem. I have no idea what Jewel Weed is, what it looks like, or whether it grows in this part of the country./w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

Bird