poison oak shield

KCB · Jun 2, 2000

Last time I had a really bad case of poison ivy it from my dog (yorkie lap dog). Apparently he had been rolling in it and then decided to take a nap on my lap while I was wearing shorts. Got so bad on my hands it became badly infected. Doctor gave me steroids which dried it up quickly. Also said never to use salt on it because it could cause infection (she was right). Steroids made me feel very hyper and energetic (temporary superman complex - good time to move tose boulders or dig that hole the tractor couldn't quite handle). I found that 1% hydrocortizone (sp?) relieved the itching pretty well.

Good luck!

scruffy · Jul 8, 2000

Another 'home' remedy for poison oak is to boil pepperwood leaves in water, let the water cool and dampen (soak) your poison oak with the water. Best do the boiling outdoors, as it does smell, but also does a great job knocking your case of poisen oak down!

Bird · Jul 8, 2000

scruffy, I don't recall ever hearing of "pepperwood"; don't know what that is.

Bird

scruffy · Jul 8, 2000

It is a tree quite common in Northern California. It is a common 'scrub' tree that does make good firewood. If I remember correctly, (been a few years now) the leafs look and smell the same as a bay leaf, as well as taste same for seasoning. I cannot express strongly enough the need to cook it outdoors, because the smell can be quite overpowering.

Bird · Jul 8, 2000

scruffy, I'm afraid I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to identifying trees, but I don't guess we have pepperwoods in my area.

Bird

scruffy · Jul 8, 2000

Bird, I am not surprised, I cannot tell you normal 'range' of this type of tree, but I do know it to be a standard item in the Northwestern part of California.

Cowboy · Jul 8, 2000

Hey!

I wish you guys would knock it off...you are making me itch all over /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

My method is, spray...and stay away.

I use rubbing alcohol to dry the nasty stuff out and, swallow a benadryl or two. Works great on me every time.

Cowboy
BigBoyz Toyz

Bird · Jul 8, 2000

Cowboy, I swallow the Benadryl pill and apply the Benadryl gel and that works as well as anything I know.

And scruffy, I suppose both the climate and the soil are just a tiny bit different in Northwestern California and Central Texas./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Bird

scruffy · Jul 9, 2000

Bird, I suppose you are totally correct. The main difference is the amount of rainfall. NW CAL gets (depending on location) up to 200 inches (out at Honeydew) in Humboldt County, but a friend of mine who lives in Texas, and as far south in central Texas as you can get and still be in Texas, swore to it being the best for everything. Of course he was a truck driver (note was) and thought central Oklahoma was one of the most scenic areas that he ever saw. Not saying he was nuts mind you, but his deck just had to be short of being full! By the way, he still is a good friend, and we still harass each other.

Bird · Jul 9, 2000

Whew, 200" of rain; last year I got 20.7" (normal should be 30" to 35"). And your friend was right about Oklahoma./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I was born at Ardmore and lived in Oklahoma the first 16 years of my life./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Bird