Poison Ivy/Oak/Sumac

[Matt In Oklahoma]

The other night my neighbors kids came to the house stating they needed help because their goat had escaped. They were just on the other side of the fence having a grazing and browsing heyday in the neighbors overgrown pastureland. I pulled down a portion of the fence used a bucket of feed to lure them in to arm length grabbed a horn and pulled them to to fence gap. Several followed willingly not wanting to be left behind or more likely not wanting to miss anything the others were getting. My daughter and I repaired the fence and I looked at her and said I gotta go wash up quick cause that was all poison oak. Guess what, didn't matter it got me.

As an outdoorsman I have always had issues with this stuff. Poison sumac is the worse for me. it's white berries are a warning to me even from a distance. I love the red berry sumac for it's tart juices and will even carry it in my pocket while hunting but they are sure not the same.
I treat the itching caused by the rash with a variety of manmade creams and paste of oatmeal.


I treat the rash with rubbing the inner portion of banana peel on the rash. Whatever it is causes the fluid to come to the top and seems to help dry it. It also temporarily inflames it but after it subsides the healing begins usually within 15 minutes or so. The fluid is drawn to the top and while ugly and messy it's a good thing. Sleeping is always a challenge because my body temps seem to rise when I sleep and the fever caused by the initial rash keeps body temps uneven causing a fitful sleep at times. Motrin or a substitute helps with some of the discomfort.

Avoidance is always best but stuff happens. When I was a young man in puberty the reaction was so bad I had to receive medical treatment on several occasions. Keeping your body covered with sleeves etc is always a good option just remember to take those clothes off and wash them. This was my mistake this time. I didnt follow protocol as I was trying to get to church.

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

This is Rhus dermatitis. The resin can be on the skin and clothes and equipment. You can transfer the resin from clothes and equipment so washing with soap and water is important. Many times the man will be in the woods and get some on their jeans and the wife will get the clothes to clean/wash and get the resin on them. The wife breaks out and the man doesn't. The fluid from the "blisters" is not contagious. The rash will sometimes continue to develop over a few days. Oral steroids are the answer to really get quick relief. Topical steroids will help with the inflammation and help some with itch. Oral benadryl can help with itch and sleep, so use cautiously if using during day...stay away from dangerous equipment if using benadryl until you know how it affects you. There is a product called Ivy Block that you put on your skin prior to exposure. It blocks the resin from effecting the skin. I've heard from many of my patients that it works. I've never tried it out, so no personal experience from me. I'll try many things, but I'm not really wanting to put a lotion on and roll in poison ivy to see if it works :-)

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Awesome input! I use ivy block and it does work from what I can tell. Didnt put it on because I was just gonna run out wrestle a goat and be the good guy LOL. oops
I gotta be careful with that benadryl if I take it more than a day or 2 it makes my heart race and messes with me when I sleep.

[dilli]

jewel weed... The bars of soap you can buy for poison can be made at home very simply using jewel weed oil and making it into a soap. I get poison ivy all summer long but as long as i have my soap i dont worry over it much as I come in and wash with it daily.. you can also just use the oil or even the plant itself

[Matt In Oklahoma]

jewel weed... The bars of soap you can buy for poison can be made at home very simply using jewel weed oil and making it into a soap. I get poison ivy all summer long but as long as i have my soap i dont worry over it much as I come in and wash with it daily.. you can also just use the oil or even the plant itself

Got a link or reciepe for that? Today I'd eat that bar of soap if i could get some relief! LOL

[dilli]

http://frugalhomesteads.blogspot.com/2010/04/poison-ivy-and-jewel-weed-oil-soap.html

i will say that if i make it again I will make a tea with the jewel weed rather than an oil for the soap.. soap comes out a bit too oily and does not store very well. with the tea it stores like any other soap.

btw, the seeds from jewel weed are edible and can be used in recipes n such as a replacement for walnut bits

[Matt In Oklahoma]

http://frugalhomesteads.blogspot.com...-oil-soap.html
i will say that if i make it again I will make a tea with the jewel weed rather than an oil for the soap.. soap comes out a bit too oily and does not store very well. with the tea it stores like any other soap.

btw, the seeds from jewel weed are edible and can be used in recipes n such as a replacement for walnut bits

Awesome, Thanks!!

[monkeybird]

Sorry Matt about your itch. Sheepdog is giving good advise about the topical steriods and the benedryl Fortunately I've never had a case of anything like it. No poison oak, ivy or sumac. Thank the Lord.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Sorry Matt about your itch. Sheepdog is giving good advise about the topical steriods and the benedryl Fortunately I've never had a case of anything like it. No poison oak, ivy or sumac. Thank the Lord.

Thanks, got me some steroid cream, took the benadryl last night. I'm doing alright, kinda used to it. I get it several times a year. It's something to plan for in the bags, preps and meds.
I guess it coulda been worse, someone coulda seen me wrestlin the goats and posted a picture! LOL

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

Oral steroids are better, but you have to have a higher dose and taper down. Topical Rx steroid second choice, but the stronger the better. Try and get some Clobetasol cream as it comes in a generic. triamcinolone cam 0.1% also comes generic $4 at Wally world for 80gm tube, but it's less potent. Aveeno oatmeal soaks for the tub can also help with the itch.

Where I practice I see many farmers that seem to get into it. My first line, depending on other health issues, is Prednisone 40mg per day for three days, then 30mg for three days, then 20mg for three days, then 10mg for three days then 10mg every other day for three doses. They also get a topical steroid, and possibly Atarax which essentially is a stronger benadryl. They usually are feeling better the second day, and significantly better in 3-4 days.

Oral prednisone might not be a bad thing to have if you can get your medical provider to give you a prescription.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Oral steroids are better, but you have to have a higher dose and taper down. Topical Rx steroid second choice, but the stronger the better. Try and get some Clobetasol cream as it comes in a generic. triamcinolone cam 0.1% also comes generic $4 at Wally world for 80gm tube, but it's less potent. Aveeno oatmeal soaks for the tub can also help with the itch.

Where I practice I see many farmers that seem to get into it. My first line, depending on other health issues, is Prednisone 40mg per day for three days, then 30mg for three days, then 20mg for three days, then 10mg for three days then 10mg every other day for three doses. They also get a topical steroid, and possibly Atarax which essentially is a stronger benadryl. They usually are feeling better the second day, and significantly better in 3-4 days.

Oral prednisone might not be a bad thing to have if you can get your medical provider to give you a prescription.

Thanks, I've only got one real bad spot on the right wrist where I was grabbing hold of them and they were rubbing the oil deep into the skin the rest are dotted or smaller and drying. The weather has been cool and Praise God we have some rain so that has helped in controling it too!

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

Glad to here things are subsiding. Poison anything on the skin can be a real *itch (yes i intended that pun).

[MustangGal]

Well, 'tis the season again. The Man Cub has it BAD! Day before yesterday his face was a bit red after school, he said he had a "collision" with another kid. I thought he might have a black eye the next morning. When he woke yesterday, his left eye was swollen shut! Poison ivy and bad. It is on his face, his tummy, and that other place little boys (and some bid boys) can't keep their hands off of!

DH took him to the doctor at the walk-in clinic. The patient before the Man Cub had... yup, poison ivy! Anyway, the Man Cub got a steroid injection and is on benadryl every four hours. She suggested nothing topical - mostly I think because it might get in his eyes. :( It was quite a bit better when I got home from school, but it is worse again this morning. If it isn't considerably better by noon, I am going to have to take him back to the doctor!

In a PAW situation, he could be in a world of trouble. :( I am planning on making lye soap this summer, but what treatments should we keep around?

[All Talk]

I am in an unending war with poison ivy infestation. I know i will never completely win the war, but that doesn't mean it's not worth fight. large swaths of my property are no poison ivy-free (for now).

If you don't kill the poison ivy, it will spread. If you do kill the poison ivy, it will spread from the plants or patches you missed. But it can only spread so fast, so it is good to wipe out any patch you find. Join my war!

You cannot kill poison ivy with weed killer. You need brush killer or special poison ivy killer (which may just be re-labeled brush killer for all I know), available at hardware stores. Read the instructions, you will be amazed at exactly how pernicious and stubborn PI is. It tells you to thoroughly drench the plant, leaves, stems, vines, etc. In about TWO WEEKS, it says you should see some slight browning on the plants! Reapply and you just might kill it this time.

This leads me to often make my original quip: "This poison Ivy killer is awesome! If you spray the patch thoroughly, in two weeks you'll really be able to spot the poison ivy -- since it will be thriving and every other living thing around it will be completley dead."

On a serious note, never burn or compost poison ivy -- the dead plants and even the smoke carry the chemical.

[MustangGal]

Goats love the stuff! I guess I need to fence off more land and let them go after it!