I have no reaction to the stuff. Once when I was a kid at camp we were playing capture the flag and I staked my teams flag out in a huge patch of the stuff. 
I have no reaction to the stuff. Once when I was a kid at camp we were playing capture the flag and I staked my teams flag out in a huge patch of the stuff.
foxtrapper wrote: Jewel weed works about the best of anything I've ever found. Free, and generally grows nearby to poison ivy. Fantastic on stinging nettles too.
aloe (for me) works even better than jewel weed
I get poison ivy very badly, but do not get blisters, just a scaly rash that itches but then becomes very painful. It is agonizing. I recommend seeing your physician for a cortico-steroid shot or tablet prescription. It will slow it down and lessen the symptoms immediately.
I have tried every over the counter remedy there is, and nothing works for me, and some of them are more expensive than an insured physician visit.
Poison Ivy grows all around one of my properties. I have come to spraying it with vinegar repeatedly in the summer. The acid int he vinegar will cause the ivy to die, but it will also kill everything else. Its the cheapest most effective measure I have ever found to remove the plant.
Here is me during one of my worst attacks, about six years ago.
1988RedT2 wrote: Don't get it on your hootus!
Many years ago, a young ZW thought it might be productive to take a new girlfriend to his favourite spot off the beaten path for a little smoke, a few drinks, and possibly a little extra curricular activity. All went as planned, and a good time was had by all, until the next day when that burning desire turned into a burning itch in the same region. It was hell for a week.
Take his advice, Don't get it on your hootus!
Matt, you're certainly allergic, but not in the classic poison ivy style (Type II hypersensitivity reaction.) As you have found, a blast of prednisone is what you need when that happens.
May I suggest:
for your personal War on Poison Ivy. That is some serious bad stuff. I have declared War on Poison Ivy myself, and that's my primary weapon now. I have 10 acres of the stuff.
The urushiol oil isn't water soluble.
It is alcohol soluble and lipid soluble. If you carry alcohol wipes (Gojo wipes are good for this) with you and rub the affected area immediately on contact, that might help a bit. I've found the best way to treat it is to wash with alcohol then soapy water twice. Get all of the oil off in 2-3 minutes, and you might not even get a rash.
I've gone so far as to take some paper towels, alcohol wipes and a spray bottle of dawn/water into the woods with me.
foxtrapper wrote: Jewel weed works about the best of anything I've ever found. Free, and generally grows nearby to poison ivy.
Amen! When I was ~12 I got in the smoke where a neighbor was burning out a fence line loaded with Poison Ivy. I swelled up to the point that my eyes were closed. My father took me to the doctor who gave me some pills and said it might take a week or so to heal.
On the way home we saw one of Dad's old hunting pals. He took one look and said he would bring something over to take care of it. He showed up at the house later with some Jewel Weed. My mother was hesitant to try a "home remedy" but did mash some up and smear the juice on one arm.
Next morning my arm was all cleared up so I got a bath in Jewel Weed juice. Any time I got Poison Ivy since then I have gone hunting for Jewel Weed.
I love the feeling of a hot water rinse (as hot as you can stand for 10-15 seconds or so) on PI or bug bites - I believe it releases the histamine (sp?) and relieves the itching sensation.
Tip - don't try it until you've wiped down/washed up and are sure the urushiol is all gone; the hot water opens up your pores and could lead to the spread of the rash if the urushiol isn't completely removed.
Just picked up my prescription for prednisone. If you're thinking about wearing shorts instead of long pants when weed whacking, think again. The funny thing is I always wear pants when weed whacking, but I was in a hurry that day. Paying the price now 
Dr. Hess wrote: Matt, you're certainly allergic, but not in the classic poison ivy style (Type II hypersensitivity reaction.) As you have found, a blast of prednisone is what you need when that happens. May I suggest:
I bought the jumbo "pump can" of that for my yard.
I got Fels Naptha soap and Technu for possible exposure, which I've used whenver I've been working in THE SHRUBBERIES in my yard. So far, so good.
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