mutha efin skin

[classicman]

Just left work - got some more crap... was looking on the net and found this ...


OMFG - I'd probably shoot myself.

[Spexxvet]

I was/am so allergic to poison ivy that for several years in my tween/early teen years I got a series of 4 weekly shots that was supposed to help reduce my sensitivity.

[footfootfoot]

OK, this time I am being sincere and I will share my remedy. It takes about a week to prepare so it won't be much help this time around, but it will keep for years.

You will need:
1 Quart of cheap vodka
2 cups of whole cloves
Two, 1 quart jars or one, half gallon jar.

If using one jar, just dump everything into a single jar, cover, shake briefly once or twice a day for a week or so.

If using two jars, measure equal amounts of Vodka and Cloves into each jar. Cover, shake briefly once or twice a day for a week or so.

You can strain out the cloves or you can keep them in the jar, topping it off with more vodka as it is depleted. The tincture should be as black as coffee.

You now have tincture of Clove which is a fairly strong anaesthetic. Flood some cotton balls (No, I just walk that way) with the tincture and dab it on the rash to 'numb the area.'*

*Joke not included.

[glatt]

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Learn what poison ivy looks like. Practice spotting it while outside. I see it everywhere around here. I saw some yesterday in my back yard, but was too tired to get rid of it. A tiny little plant sprouting up in the back corner of the yard. I need to remove it before my son's birthday party this weekend.

It's a tricky bastard. Sometimes the vine grows up a tree and blends in with the leaves of that tree.

I avoid touching any plant until after I've confirmed it isn't poison ivy.

[Undertoad]

OK I didn't express this well enough.

Look: I have actually seriously considered re-infecting myself so I can do the hot water trick again. I was actually sad when I healed and it stopped working!!!

It is a feeling of intense pleasure. I give it my second-highest endorsement... only because there is no orgasm at the end. I bet if that dude with the arms does it...

But I had the benefit of working from home, and so I could water it every four hours and not have itching.

[infinite monkey]

Even scratching doesn't spread poison ivy/oak, despite popular belief:

Can Poison Oak Be Spread By Scratching?

The rash doesn't appear until after the oil is absorbed into your skin, because it is caused by your body's immune system.
So the answer is no, once you get the rash, you can't spread it around by scratching. The oil that seeps from your wounded body isn't urushiol, its secreted by your body.

The reason most people think it will spread is because of secondary infection. You touch a poison oak plant, the oil is on your hands. You rub your face, it gets there. The oil is spread. Now after a while, there isn't as much oil to spread around, so some parts get hit more heavily. What this means is, the rash appears soon is some spots, and takes a couple of days in other spots. This gives the illusion that you've spread the rash by scratching or whatever.

Just make sure you aren't getting brand-new infection from your clothing. Whenever I go hiking, as soon as I get home I put all my clothes, shoes, everything in a bag, and wash it all. Only through extreme paranoia can you avoid poison oak. The alternative is to never go anywhere fun.

Does hot water help?

There are different schools of thought on this subject. My opinion: Hot water makes it feel better only so long as you are running hot water over it. As soon as you stop it feels a whole lot worse. Other people find that hot water can help.

Submission: Another way (Dr. Bob Sheppard of Carrollton, AL) has found relief (for poison ivy) is to hold the affected area under running, hot water. "For temporary relief, go to the faucet and turn the hot water on to the point where it is almost uncomfortable. Put the infected area in the running water," he said. "What you will notice is that the area will itch intensely," he added. "Continue to do this for a minute to a minute and a half, (and) finally, you'll begin to notice that the rash area is not itching anymore. And for four to five hours, you won't itch."

Submission: I really enjoyed your information that you provided although I do dissagree with one of your no nos...which is the hot water trick that actually for some gives tremendous relief...what it does is allows all the histimine that is building up in your system to become released. Histimine is what causes the itch..itch...itch.It is only a temporary relief but it does last up to 8 hours or untill the histimine builds back up. Also you should tell everyone the shower should be a very COLD one at the time of infection to close the pores and wash off the poison oak.

http://knoledge.org/oak/

[classicman]

@glatt. I totally agree. Excellent advise. I am constantly surprised at how many have no idea what it looks like.

I too just noticed some out back of my place. I buy a bottle of bleach and put a spray nozzle on top. I liberally hit as much of the plant as possible. Leaves, stems, vineage (yes I made that up) ... It is usually dead in a day or two.


FWIW - my exposure was know and happens almost every weekend. There is no getting around it. The reason I got it this time is because there were thorn bushes mixed in with the ivy. The oil was in my bloodstream and under the skin before I even got home.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

http://knoledge.org/oak/

You expect us to believe a link that cant even spell the word knowledge correctly
Humor intended

[glatt]

It's too bad that it's poisonous, because poison ivy is a really attractive plant. All green and lush with perfect leaves. I'd plant it around the house otherwise.

[infinite monkey]

Originally Posted by classicman

@glatt. I totally agree. Excellent advise. I am constantly surprised at how many have no idea what it looks like.

Originally Posted by classicman

You expect us to believe a link that cant even spell the word knowledge correctly
Humor intended

It's just some advise.

humor intended

Maybe knowledgeDOTorg was taken.

[classicman]

I was just joking IM...
I thought it was kind of ironic that they have a web address with the word spelled incorrectly, yet their site used to get correct info - no?


ETA - nevermind - I just looked at the rest of the site... EEK!

[infinite monkey]

I know. Them's sum bad spelers.

But I was joking too, the irony of ur badd spilling then ponting oot MAI badd spilling.

Did you not catch that? Advice? Advise?

Please advise.

[classicman]

nah - I missed it.

[Pico and ME]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

OK I didn't express this well enough.

Look: I have actually seriously considered re-infecting myself so I can do the hot water trick again. I was actually sad when I healed and it stopped working!!!

It is a feeling of intense pleasure. I give it my second-highest endorsement... only because there is no orgasm at the end. I bet if that dude with the arms does it...

But I had the benefit of working from home, and so I could water it every four hours and not have itching.

There must be a masochistic side to you because if I remember correctly the sensation is so over the top that it is pain and pleasure at the same time.

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by Pico and ME

it is pain and pleasure at the same time.

You mean you can have them separately?