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Archiver > ARIZARD > 2009-05 > 1243432574


From: Beth Cooper <>
Subject: Re: [ARIZARD] Poison Ivy!
Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 06:56:14 -0700 (PDT)
References: <906771.68403.qm@web57803.mail.re3.yahoo.com>
In-Reply-To: <906771.68403.qm@web57803.mail.re3.yahoo.com>


Gen,Hi!
I haven't gotten back to the origin of this discussion about poison ivy yet but as a sufferer of long standing (since the first spring I was in Helena/West Helena, AR in 1979, I mistakenly attacked undergrowth in the corner of the backyard---only to find out about a week later that the vines were interlaced with poison ivy) I had blotches of breakouts in spots everywhere but not as bad as my dear husband who actually had the stuff in his eye. We were a real mess that spring! Well, it certainly taught us a lesson about pulling up things before they have their leaves!

Needlessly to say, dear guy had to get a physician's help about the eye and the blotches on his face. If I am remembering this correctly they gave one injection to counteract the emergency so I assume that was like the famous e-pin that so many carry that suffer from bee/wasp and other stings. But then, I learned through a chirocpractor about Technu outdoor skin cleanser by a company called Oak-n-Ivy. It works, you can use it to clean skin when you know you have been accidentially exposed---it decontaminates laundry, pets and tools, too----I can truly attest to that. This company's other saving graces are a medicated gel to dry up the weeping sores the ivy causes (you can do the same thing with baking soda and golden seal tea in dampened gauze----if you have all day or night to pay attention to re-wetting the gauze when it dries out!) Even aloe vera gel from the health food store works well to stop the itch of it and cut off the oxygen to the sore and
stop the spread of the blistering. It can be really serious stuff when let get out of hand----so whoever was impacted do be careful with it and get the spread stopped just as soon as you can.

This company, Oak-n-ivy also make a product that I am now out of that is a pre-exposure product------for me, it's great because if I know there is a possibility that I'm going to be exposed (like going on a hike) you can preapply and not be as much in danger but always wash everything with something like Technu to decontaminate everything that came in contact with the stuff.

Gen, I didn't know they were doing the antigen shots anymore----that is a new one on me. Your brother was lucky then that he got them when he did! I can't imagine being that sensitive, it must have been horrible. But that is one reason burning yard stuff is so bad----it's better to compost it but people can still get exposed.
Beth




________________________________
From: Gen <>
To:
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 3:02:39 PM
Subject: Re: [ARIZARD] This and That



In the early 1960's my brother took a round of 'allergy' shots specifically formulated for poison ivy.  Before, if the wind blew from the wrong direction, he would break out without ever touching the plants.
Since those shots, he's never gotten it again.
NOW they no longer give these shots, it appears they've been determined as harmful by the medical assoc., but they sure saved him a lifetime of misery.
In fact, I'm not sure if today's doctors have ever heard of them.  I don't know what they were for sure.

???
gen




     

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