poison ivy remedies?

[salty87]

only in the last few years have i had allergic reactions to run-ins with poison ivy. i hate it, i'm not used to looking around for it.<br /><br /><br />last friday, i got caught at the boat ramp in a hail storm. i was helping a buddy put his boat on the trailer, hoping to beat the storm. we were at the bottom of the ramp, he just got the boat on the trailer...i was outside helping where i could when i heard the hail coming toward us. <br /><br />i got smacked on the top of the head by what felt like a golf-ball sized piece. it hurt! so, i thought it would be better to hide under a tree right next to me rather than make a run for the passenger door of the truck. hail was ricocheting of the truck and hitting me, riocheting off the ground and hitting me too. i hunkered as close to the tree as i could and found a safe spot to ride the storm out. hail was gone in a few mins, my head had a nice knot and i had a few assorted bruises here and there. not a horrible experience.<br /><br />then i woke up the next day itching like mad....went back to the tree and saw it was covered in a poison ivy vine! i had pretty much wrapped myself up in that and rolled around in it for a few mins. i'm talking everywhere....back of the neck, behind my ears, head, back, arms, legs, stomach, face. my eyes were halfway swollen shut easter morning.<br /><br />so i've had prednisone pills and a cortizone shot. those seemed to help but the one thing that has made all of the difference in the world is HOT showers. i made sure i had all of the oil cleaned off my skin first and then let the hot water at it. it felt so good, i almost fell down in the tub. i'm talking real hot. you can feel it clear up, feels like your skin is being scratched from the inside out. so so good.<br /><br />anyone have any other home remedies or hints about how to deal with this stuff? like i said, i'm not used to looking around for it and can't imagine have to put up with it again.<br /><br />disclaimer: don't burn yourself

 

[rwise]

Re: poison ivy remedies?

salty<br />kerosene (sp) wash the affected area/s with it, if you get kerosene in your hair do not go out in the sun! it will catch fire!!! <br />oatmeal, uncooked oatmeal mixed with water will help relieve the itch, make a past and aply to affected area/s<br />some years ago the guy next door got into some poison ivy, had it head to toe. he ask what would help him and he went outside, in the back yard, stripped and waashed off with kerosene right there! the next day he said it was completly gone.

 

[NathanY]

Re: poison ivy remedies?

I am very allergic to poison ivy, oak and sumac. Its so bad that I get it every spring when it pollenates. The best thing that I have found for it is VERY hot showers like you said and a product called IVAREST or something like that. Its in a tube like toothpaste. I also take bathes in bleach water. I fill the tub and add about a cup of bleach. Chlorine dries oput your skin which inturn dries out the poison ivy.

 

[one more cast]

Re: poison ivy remedies?

My dad used to get poison ivy and so old timer told him to use some kind of plant juice. I don't know what the plant is called but it usually grows by old buildings and also in damp places near where the poison ivy is. It has a hollow, pale green stem, 2-4 feet tall, has orange flowers similar to snap dragons, and little pods that explode if you touch them. Crush up this plant and rub it on your poison ivy. My dad swore by it.

 

[NathanY]

Re: poison ivy remedies?

Originally posted by One More Cast:<br /> My dad used to get poison ivy and so old timer told him to use some kind of plant juice. I don't know what the plant is called but it usually grows by old buildings and also in damp places near where the poison ivy is. It has a hollow, pale green stem, 2-4 feet tall, has orange flowers similar to snap dragons, and little pods that explode if you touch them. Crush up this plant and rub it on your poison ivy. My dad swore by it.

Think it is called bleeding heart, use to hear my mom talk about it when I was younger and have an outbreak.

 

[one more cast]

Re: poison ivy remedies?

nope, not bleeding heart...I found it, Jewel Weed. http://www.hbci.com/~wenonah/hydro/jewelwed.htm

 

[chuckz]

Re: poison ivy remedies?

In drug stores and in outdoor shops there are special cleaners that break down the oils that cause the allergic reaction. Look in the first aid sections.

 

[lakelivin]

Re: poison ivy remedies?

Anyone know to what extent kerosine is systemically absorbed through the skin? I'd hate to trade off short term relief for possibly bigger toxicitiy problems....<br /><br />I'd guess that the quicker you can get the oil washed off using hot water and something that does especially well w.r.t. grease & oil, say maybe a shop type hand cleaner or even Dawn dishwashing detergent (the blue one) the better. <br /><br />Then a topical treatment like Ivarest or some other hydrocortisone. Some swear by Calamine lotion. If really bad, a prescription corticosteroid ointment.

 

[NathanY]

Re: poison ivy remedies?

Thats right, jewelweed<br /><br />more info I found:<br /><br />In accordance with FDA regulation, we do not make any therapeutic claims for any Dietary Supplements in accordance with the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act. <br /><br />Beneficial Dietary Supplements<br />Jewelweed is effective for treating a wide variety of natural irritants. It is used by various US Forest Service and National Parks service Personnel. Jewelweed can be used to treat Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac, Stinging Nettles, mild burns, blisters, cuts, insect bites, sores, sprains, sunburn, warts, ringworm, eczema, and dry skin.<br /><br />Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids is used to prevent infection and spreading of the rash.<br /><br />Calamine Lotion has drying properties for faster healing.<br /><br />Shark Cartilage reduces inflammation.<br /><br />Vitamin A is needed for healing of skin tissue.<br /><br />Vitamin E Oil or Cream aids in healing and scarring.<br /><br />Zinc is needed for skin tissue repair.<br /><br />Aloe Vera helps relieve burning and itching.<br /><br />Marshmallow Root soothes and heals skin.<br /><br />Tea Tree Oil disinfects and heals skin condition.<br /><br />REFERENCES: Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 3rd Edition, Phyllis Balch, CNC; James F. Balch, M.D.

 

[ED21]

Re: poison ivy remedies?

I have an uncle that swears jewelweed works, but haven't tried it. I never knew what it looked like until now.<br />Tecnu makes a barrier cream & a cleanser that is a modified mineral spirits.<br />The only problem is you have to know you are exposed to use it in time.

 

[fixin]

Re: poison ivy remedies?

I don't get poison ivy,but I got into something last year that was so nasty,I still have scars from it on my side.I'm guessing it was poison oak,since sumac isn't real common around here.The strange thing was,I didn't get it anywhere but on my side,and it was covered by a long heavy t-shirt.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: poison ivy remedies?

Originally posted by Fixin:<br /> I don't get poison ivy,but I got into something last year that was so nasty,I still have scars from it on my side.I'm guessing it was poison oak,since sumac isn't real common around here.The strange thing was,I didn't get it anywhere but on my side,and it was covered by a long heavy t-shirt.

sure it wasn't shingles (herpes zozter) Fixin? You only get that on one side and you only get it once. It will blister and scab. I suppose it could leave scaring.<br /><br />The picture in this link is a bit extreme, at least in my experience. I got a case of it about 10 years ago. They say that stress can trigger it.<br /><br /> http://www.skinsite.com/info_herpes_zoster.htm

 

[fixin]

Re: poison ivy remedies?

I think your right Boom <br />It wasn't as extreme as in the pics.but the description was dead on.Very painful.

 

[gewf631]

Re: poison ivy remedies?

My wife had shingles a few years ago (she works in a Hospital). The docs were all surprised to see it on someone that young (she was 33 at the time), but Boomyal is correct, it can be brought-on by stress.<br /><br />And man, was it painful (or at least that's what she said, and having delivered 3 kids, I think she's got a pretty high tolerance).

 

[crab bait]

Re: poison ivy remedies?

i get it bad.. <br /><br />read everyone will get it.. you just need to be exsposed to it more.. ( like your first 10 times it's free.. )<br /><br />when i was a kid,, boone an crockett were mother's houseboys compared to me in the woods..<br /><br />got ivy soooo bad.. even used it as kindling for fire an blew started the fire.. hospital time for lungs..<br /><br />most times ( like all the time ) dad would drive me to slaughter's beach ( lower delaware bay ) an throw me in.. the salt water did miracales.. dried it right up..

 

[tomatolord]

Re: poison ivy remedies?

1st go to your doctor and he can give you a pregnosin shot basically a cortison shot<br /><br />then go buy ZANFEL NOW<br /><br /> http://www.zanfel.com/ <br /><br />This works it breaks down the oil which causes the inflamation<br /><br />All that other stuff relieves the itching not the cause of the problems<br /><br />You cannot wash off the oil!! It binds immediately with the skin, so you need to break the Urushiol oil down - nothing else does<br /><br />Good luck!<br /><br />Remember the vines also carry the oil - so even if there are no leaves you can still get poison ivy...

 

[salty87]

Re: poison ivy remedies?

i felt so good yesterday, thought i was just about done with it. then i drove my truck for the first time since last weekend....picked up some more! itching, burning, miserable again.<br /><br />time to clean out the interior of the truck. at least i sat on a blanket after the storm, i was soaked. i guess i got the urushiol on the steering wheel, dash, who knows where.<br /><br />i'd like to pass on the shingles, no thanks! think i'm going get some zanfel and add jewel weed to the wish list for the garden.<br /><br />thanks for the replies

 

[crab bait]

Re: poison ivy remedies?

read where there was a study.. they took clothes rubbed in ivy.. then sealed.. for 10 years.. an still people got poison from the clothes..

 

[Bass Man Bruce]

Re: poison ivy remedies?

Good news - bad news salty87, the more you get the stuff, the better you get at spotting it. The more you get poison ivy though, the worse the reaction gets! I have learned to spot this scourge in the winter without the leaves, and without even looking. <br />I haven't tried Zanfel yet, but my son did and it worked well. I use tecnu and it works OK but like Ed says you gotta know your in trouble early.<br /><br />btw once got it and went to doc. She brought in every doc and trainee in the building to see. All agreed it was worse case they ever saw, my whole torso was so swelled I couldn't turn my head. No fun. It was opening day for pheasant and I couldn't hunt, but my huntin buds cheered me up by razzin me 1/2 to death Good Luck.

 

[rolmops]

Re: poison ivy remedies?

There is a simple readily available solution.Use a cleaner with orange oil.The orange oil dissolves the oily poison ivy and neutralizes it.You can get it as wet wipes in plumbing stores.I think they call it Hercules.