Poison Ivy/Oak

[Bird]

When I was a kid living out in the country, my Mother seemed to get a bad case of poison ivy every summer, even when she didn't know how she had been around any poison ivy. And eventually a doctor told her it was because she had a vitamin deficiency. I've forgotten which vitamin; maybe vitamin C. At any rate, she took the vitamins, and never again had poison ivy.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Dave,

I seriously hope you aren't going to expound on this any further ....

AMEN to that!

:laughing:

David

 

[phiferpharm]

I was up in Virginia at the Naval Amphibious Base teaching a class which included Ceremonial Drill stuff. I'm leaning against a tree taking a break and the SGM who worked with me says" Chief- do you have Poison Ivy in Florida?". I said yup, and he said "okay sir because thats what your leaning against". The stuff was all over the trees and I guess I was lucky I had my sleeves down and must not of touched it with my hands.

I'm sure we have it here where I live, but I try to wear a long-sleeve shirt and gloves whenever I'm working in the woods here.

 

[whistlepig]

A close friend of mine is allergic to poison ivy. His wife cut the vines but he burned the vines an inhaled the smoke. He was in intensive care for three days. He almost died. He was only 24 years old at the time. It's not something to mess with.

 

[ultrarunner]

Went to a local lake with my nieces last weekend...

Heard the sounds of kids horsing around down the trail.

When we rounded the corner there was what looked like a 10 year old boy chasing the girls with a length of poison oak... we immediately retreated the way we came in...

I can only imagine how their week went.

I've picked it up from the dog several times... was watching a friends puppy and went for a short walk... she was afraid of some dogs coming our way and jumped into my arms.... had real bad poison oak all over my arms.

When I'm spraying... I will also go around the neighborhood and spot spray any that is popping up... I have zero tolerance for the stuff.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Are there REALLY people who are immune or is that a "Rural Legend"?

I was cleaning out old scrap piles last couple days and I was PRETTY SURE some of it was in Poison Oak and I was in shorts and short sleeves.

But I have no issues today.

I'm NOT about to test this theory, but is it REALLY possible to be immune to it?

Thanks in advance,
David

 

[Don87]

Are there REALLY people who are immune or is that a "Rural Legend"?

I was cleaning out old scrap piles last couple days and I was PRETTY SURE some of it was in Poison Oak and I was in shorts and short sleeves.

But I have no issues today.

I'm NOT about to test this theory, but is it REALLY possible to be immune to it?Thanks in advance,
David

Yes.

When I was a kid, I could roll in poison ivy and not get it. I'm not a kid now though, and I'm not going to test it :laughing:

 

[milkman636]

Are there REALLY people who are immune or is that a "Rural Legend"?

I was cleaning out old scrap piles last couple days and I was PRETTY SURE some of it was in Poison Oak and I was in shorts and short sleeves.

But I have no issues today.

I'm NOT about to test this theory, but is it REALLY possible to be immune to it?

Thanks in advance,
David

When I was about 12 or 13 I remember cutting wood in a stand of poison ivy and not getting it. My dad freaked out when he came over to where I was cutting and found me in the middle of it. He wouldn't touch or use any of the wood that I was cutting. That's when I learned what poison ivy looked like. My dad was amazed that I was not affected. From then on I was not afraid of the stuff.

I was into my early 30's before I got the rash for the first time. I was always under the assumption that I was immune and paid the price for assuming. Had it from head to toe after clearing some woods around my house. I eneded up breaking out three times with it that summer, and learned alot about treatment and containing the oil to prevent future outbreaks. Now I liberally spray Round-Up Tough Brush Killer on the stuff at first sighting. After a week or so it looks like I used napalm in the area.

Moral of the story is that things change. I would never recommend testing your immunity or assuming you will not get the rash.

 

[ultrarunner]

Are there REALLY people who are immune or is that a "Rural Legend"?

I was cleaning out old scrap piles last couple days and I was PRETTY SURE some of it was in Poison Oak and I was in shorts and short sleeves.

But I have no issues today.

I'm NOT about to test this theory, but is it REALLY possible to be immune to it?

Thanks in advance,
David

According to the allergist at work... everyone is susceptible to some degree...

Some groups with high resistance can be found with Native Americans/Samoans/Tongans

Also... very important. Many will not have a reaction to first contact... the body has not yet become sensitized yet.

So, it is very possible for someone to roll around in it on first exposure and be OK... after the first exposure, all bets are off.

Over the years, there have been products to lessen sensitivity... I still have 5 vials of Immune Oak that was standard Bell System issue to rural lineman 50 years ago.

A person would take a small dose repeatedly over a number of weeks to reduce sensitivity... it worked well for some.

Cashews are related and if I eat more than 1 or 2... I will have a reaction...

 

[JDgreen227]

A bit late here in posting but....the back 5 acres of our property is unmowed except for ATV trails and has been growing wild since about 1994. Poison ivy is commonplace in the unmowed areas and because many of my neighbors use my brushpile and some of their kids walk the trails I have made POSITIVE everyone knows about the ivy. When I am mowing the trails with the tractor I always wear long sleeve pants and a long sleeve shirt and safety goggles because the wind may kick up shredded ivy from the discharge chute. I also place a plastic garbage bag over my leg on the discharge chute side and when I am done mowing I put on a pair of cheap gloves and remove the plastic bag, then the pants and the pants get washed in strong soap immediately. After getting a rash a few times I began keeping a better watch for PI and the only times I have had it recently are when one of our cats who roams picks the stuff up on his fur and kindly shares it with me...:laughing: thankfully it's not much.

I read a story one time where this kid was in the woods and had to go number two and to wipe he used a bunch of shiny green leaves, I don't know if it was true or not but don't you feel sorry for someone who has to endure that?

 

[NorTracNY]

Don't forget the roots too. When I moved into my place of poision ivy, I quickly learned to identify it. After a few months, I got a bad case of it between my fingers. I had heard your dogs could get it and I thought I got it from petting them. It was about 3 weeks later that I realized that it wasn't my dogs, but I was pulling up some roots in a section that I was putting a lawn in. When I saw the poison ivy growing up in the lawn, I remembered pulling up the roots. The dogs are happy to be pet again.

 

[JDgreen227]

I was just out mowing my ATV trails...got a really nice growth of PI in these pictures....this is probably one-tenth of a percent of what is growing back in those 5 acres....:laughing:

 

[chad22]

Also watch what you grab to wipe your bottom with when out in the wild. I posted on here somewhere. Where I had accidentally grabbed some poison Ivy and wiped my bottom with it. Well my bottom itched like crazy. If I go out in the wild I now bring Toilet Paper.

I think I was around 10 at the time.

Chad

 

[dmccarty]

...
Moral of the story is that things change. I would never recommend testing your immunity or assuming you will not get the rash.

I can't say that I have never had Poison Ivy/Oak. Since I dont remember having it I think it is safe to say I have not had it. :laughing: Given the amount of time I spend in the woods I certainly would have touched the stuff. I think I am "immune" to Poison Ivy/Oak but I am not stupid enough to put the theory to the test! :laughing:

I can remember my first run in with Chiggers and I can remember the last time Chiggers and I met but I don't remember any Poison Ivy/Oak. It must be the Indian blood that is rumored to be in the family somewhere.

My dad got a bad doze of Poison Ivy/Oak when visiting a few years ago. I told him to be careful and wear gloves but he did neither and boy did he catch it. He almost got some in his eye by wiping the sweet from his brow. The sweat carried the oil almost into his eye. :shocked:

He bought some of the over the county Poison Ivy/Oak ointments. One of them was using quite a bit of alcohol and I wonder if the alcohol was what removed the oil....

Later,
Dan

 

[MossflowerWoods]

One of them was using quite a bit of alcohol and I wonder if the alcohol was what removed the oil....

Later,
Dan

I always thought Alcohol removed inhibitions... Always worked for me

David

 

[remington270]

Yes, it is possible to be immune to the stuff. Haven't y'all seen the myth busters episode? They rubbed the stuff all over their arms and one guy didn't get any reaction. Supposedly it's one ten that are immune.

 

[pclausen]

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones then. I'm 46 years old and am exposed to that stuff all the time. Never had a reaction. Friends of mine have had severe reactions helping me clear woods, weed eating, etc, so I know I got plenty on my property. I often pull it down off trees with my bare hands, and/or cut down trees covered it in and burn them.

After reading about the dangers with burning it, I will stop that practice however. If not for me, then for the rest of my family & friends that might be around.

Back in Denmark where I was born and grew up, we had a plant called "Braendneller". Touching the leaves of this plant would result in a bad rash/blisters. It would actually start hurting within seconds of touching. As far as I know, nobody is immune to those suckers. The "Braend" part of the name of the plant translates to "burn" which is the sensation you get within seconds of touching the leaves.

What actually happens is that the leaves of the plant contain a toxin, and the walls of the leaves are like tiny "glass" hairs, and at the slightest touch, these hairs will break, leaving a slanted sharp edge that will easily penetrate the skin and empty the toxin, which is what causes large number of fluid filled blisters to form.

Interestingly enough, the toxin is not fatal, even in large doses, but is sure is uncomfortable! Some even grind up the leaves and make a soup with them then that supposedly can have medical benefits.

Here's what the plant looks like in case you ever plan a trip to Scandinavia that includes hiking:

 

[pclausen]

I always thought Alcohol removed inhibitions... Always worked for me
David

Me too! :laughing:

 

[Yellowhair42]

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones then. I'm 46 years old and am exposed to that stuff all the time. Never had a reaction. Friends of mine have had severe reactions helping me clear woods, weed eating, etc, so I know I got plenty on my property. I often pull it down off trees with my bare hands, and/or cut down trees covered it in and burn them.

After reading about the dangers with burning it, I will stop that practice however. If not for me, then for the rest of my family & friends that might be around.

Back in Denmark where I was born and grew up, we had a plant called "Braendneller". Touching the leaves of this plant would result in a bad rash/blisters. It would actually start hurting within seconds of touching. As far as I know, nobody is immune to those suckers. The "Braend" part of the name of the plant translates to "burn" which is the sensation you get within seconds of touching the leaves.

What actually happens is that the leaves of the plant contain a toxin, and the walls of the leaves are like tiny "glass" hairs, and at the slightest touch, these hairs will break, leaving a slanted sharp edge that will easily penetrate the skin and empty the toxin, which is what causes large number of fluid filled blisters to form.

Interestingly enough, the toxin is not fatal, even in large doses, but is sure is uncomfortable! Some even grind up the leaves and make a soup with them then that supposedly can have medical benefits.

Here's what the plant looks like in case you ever plan a trip to Scandinavia that includes hiking:

That looks a lot like Stinging Nettle.Yes,cooked it's safe to eat.I've heard it makes good wine too.

 

[John47]

Got both poison ivy and poison oak around here, nearly every tree has ivy growing up it and I only have to look at it to get a rash and blisters.
Only thing that works for me and brings instant relief is Chlorox bleach, rubbed on neat, dries the irritation up within hours, and gives relief instantly.