Poison Ivy Remedies

Discussion in 'Health and Fitness' started by Aerianne, Nov 30, 2015.

  1. Aerianne

    Aerianne Lifetime Supporter Lifetime Supporter

    Messages:
    37,095
    Likes Received:
    17,162
    Help! Please give me your best remedy for poison ivy.
     
  2. Tyrsonswood

    Tyrsonswood Senior Moment Lifetime Supporter

    Messages:
    34,218
    Likes Received:
    26,293
    Is it already active?
     
  3. Aerianne

    Aerianne Lifetime Supporter Lifetime Supporter

    Messages:
    37,095
    Likes Received:
    17,162
    The neighbors had a tree with some horse hoof fungi on it. The tree fell. I asked if I could harvest the fungi. I had 4 little kids with me, trying to keep them away from the knife, and the poison ivy vine that was on the tree. I knew I touched it with the back of my hand so I came home and washed. I didn't wash up as far as my forearm. Now, I'm starting to break out.
     
  4. Tyrsonswood

    Tyrsonswood Senior Moment Lifetime Supporter

    Messages:
    34,218
    Likes Received:
    26,293
    Witch Hazel if it's just starting...
     
  5. Aerianne

    Aerianne Lifetime Supporter Lifetime Supporter

    Messages:
    37,095
    Likes Received:
    17,162
    Oh, Yes it's just starting but I don't have Witch Hazel in the house.
     
  6. hotwater

    hotwater Senior Member Lifetime Supporter

    Messages:
    50,601
    Likes Received:
    38,892
    Baking Soda helps

    It's so common here in New England that most folks recognize it immediately and avoid it [​IMG]-

    just saying


    Hotwater
     
  7. Aerianne

    Aerianne Lifetime Supporter Lifetime Supporter

    Messages:
    37,095
    Likes Received:
    17,162
    Yes, I recognized it but I really, really wanted the horse hooves.
     
  8. GLENGLEN

    GLENGLEN Banned

    Messages:
    27,031
    Likes Received:
    6,515
    Mother Nature Is Now Punishing You For Your Greed, May You Suffer And Shed Many Tears...... :bigcry:



    Cheers Glen.
     
  9. hotwater

    hotwater Senior Member Lifetime Supporter

    Messages:
    50,601
    Likes Received:
    38,892
    Yeah I saw Bear Grylls start a fire with it once on Man vs Wild - it was pretty cool


    Hotwater
     
    1 person likes this.
  10. Irminsul

    Irminsul Valkyrie

    Messages:
    62
    Likes Received:
    105
    Vinegar?? Any abrasion I get I douse with white vinegar. If I remember my first aid training which I don't, I think I remember white vinegar cures anything and everything from insect stings to marine life stings. :D so any itchy bite or scratch that flares, I dab vinegar on that.
     
    1 person likes this.
  11. SpacemanSpiff

    SpacemanSpiff Visitor

    put some honey on it (just filling in for the squirrel who is probably asleep)
     
    2 people like this.
  12. Aerianne

    Aerianne Lifetime Supporter Lifetime Supporter

    Messages:
    37,095
    Likes Received:
    17,162
    We just don't have the horse hoof fungi around here. It was one of those things. I saw them on the tree and the next week I read what you could do with them. The week after that the tree fell and I just had to have them.

    Anyway, I got it calmed down with a single layer of toilet paper, wet with apple cider vinegar. You lay it on the skin and when it's dry in about 15 minutes you can take it off. It still took about 20 minutes to stop itching.
     
    1 person likes this.
  13. Irminsul

    Irminsul Valkyrie

    Messages:
    62
    Likes Received:
    105
    :) vinegar! I knew it, what a guess.
     
  14. GeorgeJetStoned

    GeorgeJetStoned Odd Member

    Messages:
    2,426
    Likes Received:
    1,097
    You're dealing with what is essentially a chemical weapon, in this case a blister agent. Each time you encounter this agent, be it Poison Ivy/Oak/Sumac, you actually lose your ability to counteract it. This means each successive, systemic exposure will have worse or longer symptoms or both. My last bad bout lasted nearly 5 months with a horrible 3 month center! When it's systemic it can pool and flare up anywhere on your body, not just the exposed area.

    But I had a more recent exposure and I handled it like I would a weaponized agent, with harsh chemical neutralization. As soon as I became aware of the exposure, whilst gardening at our Atlanta hovel, I ran to the shed where I keep water treatment chemicals and cleaning supplies. I poured regular household bleach onto a rag and wiped the area several times. Then I rinses it with water, dried it and then wiped it with ammonia (yes, a big fat bottle of Windex) several times. Be certain you don't mix ammonia and bleach or you will form another chemical weapon, change rags and rinse water. I rinsed again and wiped the area down with acetone, though I would have used gasoline or any other number of harsh solvents. Then I took a shower, a long hot one. Wait a day before applying any sort of lotion or oil.

    Aside from a bit on my foot (I was wearing sandals like a moron while cutting weeds), it didn't flare up at all. Yes, it was a horrible thing to do to my skin and I did get a bit of reddening from the chemicals. But neutralizing a chemical agent on the skin means that some of it is already mixed into the skin (it's more of a thin, dense sponge than a plastic sheet). But skin is pretty durable and I'd do just about anything to avoid another systemic outbreak. Think of it as a weaker form of Mustard Gas (which was more effective as droplets) and avoid repeated exposures.

    And absolutely never collect poison Ivy/Oak/Sumac into a pile to burn it. The smoke carries the agent and will blister exterior AND interior parts (like sinuses and lungs)!
     
  15. Heat

    Heat Smile, it's contagious! :) Lifetime Supporter

    Messages:
    9,814
    Likes Received:
    1,840
    Baking soda and oatmeal baths helps as well. Just not in really hot water, a cooler bath.

    I am fortunate as I do not react to poison ivy but my ex sure did. From head to foot. :(
     
    1 person likes this.
  16. Aerianne

    Aerianne Lifetime Supporter Lifetime Supporter

    Messages:
    37,095
    Likes Received:
    17,162
    Wow. I'd probably react the same way if I'd ever had it as bad as you.

    So far, so good. I've only got 3 bumps on the inside of my forearm. I think I'll be okay if I can manage not to scratch at all.
     
  17. Tyrsonswood

    Tyrsonswood Senior Moment Lifetime Supporter

    Messages:
    34,218
    Likes Received:
    26,293
    Odd thing about poison ivy/oak/sumac... The plant oil is actually harmless. It's the body's immune system that "thinks" it's harmful (chemically it looks harmful) and over reacts thus causing the blisters and itching. This is why some people never get it and others have been known to get it from just seeing the plant with no contact. I've met some people that have had full blown "poison ivy" attacks that have lasted for months from handling English Ivy or Virginia Creeper just because they thought those were poison ivy. It's sort of psychosomatic...


    When you have had contact, before any breakout occurs any dish detergent and COLD water will remove the oil. Hot water will drive it into the skin deeper causing a breakout in places where there was no contact. There are several soaps available that claim good results but dish detergent cuts oil, because it is oil, and it just rinses away.


    For a partial, or breakout that just started, Witch Hazel works very well.... It cuts the oil and soothes the itching. Should be on the shelf anyways for insect bites/stings. Benadryl helps too because it's an allergic type of reaction, topical is best but oral forms can help too.


    Once it's a full blown breakout... You're on your own. Drying the oil seems to help some people but not others. (Oatmeal, baking soda, calamine lotion, etc. dry the oil or absorb it and draw it away from the skin) There's a shyt-ton of products that claim results, but they don't work for everyone either. Tecnu Oak and Ivy seems to be pretty good stuff for removing the oil immediately after contact or after a full blown breakout to keep it from spreading.



    I always recommend wearing socks on your hands when you sleep... so you don't wake up in the middle of the night ripping your skin off in chunks.
     
    2 people like this.
  18. GeorgeJetStoned

    GeorgeJetStoned Odd Member

    Messages:
    2,426
    Likes Received:
    1,097
    It was never so bad throughout my entire life, but as I was told, it gets worse with each exposure. And yes, scratching will spread it.
     
  19. Aerianne

    Aerianne Lifetime Supporter Lifetime Supporter

    Messages:
    37,095
    Likes Received:
    17,162
    For several years, my husband would break out on his upper arms when the poison ivy started growing outside. He never had any contact those years but he broke out.
     
  20. egger

    egger Member

    Messages:
    33,589
    Likes Received:
    35,490
    1 person likes this.

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice