Poison Ivy cure?

[dodge man]

I use Benadryl for allergies, 1 or 2 a night. It helps with poison ivy a little bit but not much.

 

[ning]

my guess is that they contained small amounts of urushiol

presumably larger amounts than the homeopathic product

 

[Straightgrain3016]

It might appear to be tenuous to some people, but I quit getting the nasty effects from poison ivy, poison oak, & poison sumac after I quit drinking A1 dairy.

In fact, my overall gut health has been really good since-then; going on 12 years now.

 

[kenmbz]

It might appear to be tenuous to some people, but I quit getting the nasty effects from poison ivy, poison oak, & poison sumac after I quit drinking A1 dairy.

In fact, my overall gut health has been really good since-then; going on 12 years now.

Being severely lactose intolerant, I can't have regular dairy.
Poison ivy, in my case, does not seem to care.
Glad it works for you, wonder if anyone has done a study, would be great if this could work for others.

 

[1 Old Man]

I've read all 6 pages of this thread. I can definitely relate to
being absolutely miserable with poison ivy/oak. My farm has plenty
in the woods and some around the field edges. I try my best to stay
clear especially in spring & summer. Winter time...easier to spot.
Anyway, Dawn and cool water shower helps a lot. But, if you get a bad
case there's nothing that really helps the infernal itching, except...
scalding hot water shower or a hair dyer on high heat. Crazy? No. Before
you poo poo the idea you need to try it. Hate to use the term"orgasmic"
but it will stop the itch long enough for you to get some sleep. I use the
hair dyer (keep it moving so you don't burn yourself) if during the
day or at night the itch gets too unbearable or keeps me awake.
I can just look at PI and it jumps all over me. I've tried what has been
stated in the last 5 pages and the heat is what works for me. Steroids
will help but my Dr won't prescribe until 7-10 days after exposure. By
then I usually can handle it myself.

 

[ponytug]

I've read all 6 pages of this thread. I can definitely relate to
being absolutely miserable with poison ivy/oak. My farm has plenty
in the woods and some around the field edges. I try my best to stay
clear especially in spring & summer. Winter time...easier to spot.
Anyway, Dawn and cool water shower helps a lot. But, if you get a bad
case there's nothing that really helps the infernal itching, except...
scalding hot water shower or a hair dyer on high heat. Crazy? No. Before
you poo poo the idea you need to try it. Hate to use the term"orgasmic"
but it will stop the itch long enough for you to get some sleep. I use the
hair dyer (keep it moving so you don't burn yourself) if during the
day or at night the itch gets too unbearable or keeps me awake.
I can just look at PI and it jumps all over me. I've tried what has been
stated in the last 5 pages and the heat is what works for me. Steroids
will help but my Dr won't prescribe until 7-10 days after exposure. By
then I usually can handle it myself.

The soothing effect is due to the breakdown of histamine, which kills the itch. I also use hot showers or hair dryers to calm things down before bed. Steroid creams work, too, but I try to limit my use of them.

The histamine effect may explain why some folks can alter their diet, and see a reduced response. It is by no means universal, doesn't work for me either @kenmbz, but it seems to work for some. The problem is figuring who, and which histamine rich/inducing foods are to be avoided by which person. Definitely a bit of trial and error, and histamine content of foods is variable.

All the best,

Peter

 

[1 Old Man]

The soothing effect is due to the breakdown of histamine, which kills the itch. I also use hot showers or hair dryers to calm things down before bed. Steroid creams work, too, but I try to limit my use of them.......



All the best,

Peter

Good to know. Thanks. I never thought about why it works, just that it works
for me. I just wanted to pass the tip along to someone who may be going crazy
with the poison itch, not getting sleep and what to do if they wake up itching
to death etc Hit the hair dyer for a couple of minutes then go back to sleep.

 

[ultrarunner]

Never tried a hair dryer but a steaming washcloths did wonders.

 

[JasperFrank]

It is strange that, I can be immune but my brother was not. We walked through some thick woods, not a trail, through the woods, and I was all okay, and he was in complete distress the next day. Rash all over him, and he was having difficulty just breathing. Thought maybe he should go to the hospital. We covered him with Calamine and put him in a hot bath. He recovered in the next few days. But it was odd that this was nothing to walk through in the woods to me, and nothing, I could predict. Cause its my brother, so he should have had the same thing, immunity, I do. And this was not the case. And one time said to a guest, we can see the fire works, if we walk out to this place of viewing. It was full off flowers. Didn't give a second thought to walk into. And AFTER getting to the end point of the walk she tells me, she has an issue with bee stings. She can go into shock if stung. "Do you have an ep pen? In you car?" "No." Don't ever expect other people can go where you can go.

 

[DennisfromCincy]

Poison ivy - if it touches me I get it. I used to be on a plow crew and line crew and we have plenty of it in southern Ohio. Besides not touching it either with skin or touching infected clothing, I suggest taking a bottle of Dawn with you to coat an area of your skin you may have encountered it near immediately. Then first chance you get rinse with water.

We have little poison oak and nearly no poison sumac in my area. Nettle creates a lot of discomfort.

Good luck.