Poison Ivy- treatment recommendations

[Dan Worden]

Originally posted by Tedd:
You guys ever hear of the poision ivy vaccine?

I got 2 parts of the 3 part shot about 20 years ago. (1 part per year was the treatment. Then it was taken off the market, never approved by the FDA. I got two big shots in my butt by a nurse  that enjoyed her self greatly.

I used to get poison so bad I can still feel it! I think I have had it twice since then, not nearly as bad though. And I really havn't had it at all for 2-3 years. Still, I take no chances, I avoid it like I avoid two hot wires.

Was the vaccine ever approved and back on the market?

Tedd

Heard of it?? You betcha!! Mine was a series of 8 shots in the early 70's. Two a week. The doc said "most people will never get it again. I'm just hoping you don't get it as bad."  He was right, now I get it like a "normal" person. I looked into a booster about 5 years ago. It seems it was never approved because of its sketchy record. It either worked great or not at all with about a 30% ratio of working.

[White Oak]

I feel for ya. I usually get into the stuff several times a year. My doc ordered some stuff called Betamethasone Dipropionate. Couldn't pronounce it if I had to. It's a cream and it works great for me.Wasn't expensive either. If the home remadies don't cut it and you want to give medicine one more try see if you can talk your doc out of a tube of this stuff. I keep it handy.

             Good luck,

                        Ed        

      My doc is a hunter and trapper. I believe he has tested this stuff himself.

[gregg dudley]

I never got poison ivy until four years ago and then I got it two years in a row.  I haven't had it again since then.  Zanfel works for me and so does Technu.  The place I hunt most is flat eat up with poison ivy.  After I find a good spot to hunt, I spend another 30 minutes finding a tree with the least amount of vines on it. After I tear down the vines, I set the stand and head straight for the shower with Technu.  I use the Technu on my clothes in the wash as well.  It works great as a preventative measure.

I will tell you that when I did get it, I went with the brillo pad and treat crowd and I swear to you that it worked better than when I tried to treat it alone.

[STOBBER]

Jewel Weed or Jerusalem Oak as Granny called it...works real good. She would boil the cleaned roots in 50/50 water/lard Boil it till only the lard is left and water is boiled out. strain it through a clean cloth of some sort and let it cool too a paste. Kinda smells but it does work.
Hardwood ashes....like oak or hickory ...mix with water to a paste...apply and let it dry 4 to 6 times a day...old injun recipie.

[captaincaveman]

Originally posted by captaincaveman:
dude, this is gonna sound stupid, but, scrape the blisters with a knife until they are ALL open and dump rubbing alchohol on them. It will be dried up in 2 days I promise

Josh

I missed the part about where you had it when I suggested this.  I would not advize knife scraping anything in that area  :eek: .  It does work on less sensitive areas though


Josh

[Dustin Waters]

I have always just scrubbed it with hot water and soap then dried it by blotting a towel on it.  Then spray it down really good with hair spray that stops the itch and keep you from reinfecting everything you touch.  I get the stuff like there is no tomorrow and have gotten shots a couple times a year for the last several years.  Seems turkey season is the worst for some reason.  The stuff sucks for sure... good luck I have had it in the areas you are describing and it is the worst.  I have even gotten it on my eye lids before... that really sucks.

[Todd Rothermel]

Banana peels.  Put the inside of a fresh banana peel over the area and keep it there for about half an hour.  Seems to really help with the itching, don't know if it helps clear it up though.

[Bryan]

Your most likely reinfecting yourself...Once you get it on your skin, and wash it all off it cannot spread it on yourself, or to anyone else. The ooz that comes out of your skin isn't the poison, its just your bodys reaction to it. Make sure to wash everything you were wearing that day, including your bed sheets that you slept in that night...and any tools you used. The oils from ivy can stay on clothing, shoes, and tools for over a 2 years...so if you don't wash that stuff you'll be reinfecting yourself for the next 2 years.

Besides what you've already done I am not sure of anything to quicken the process...the shots and steriods always do the trick for me...

If you EVER EVER EVER think you have come into contact with it, get in the shower and cover your body from head to toe in dish washing detergant (Palm Olive...etc.) These soaps are designed to surround oils and remove them from the dishes (in this case your skin) were as regular soaps (dial/dove) are designed to keep moisture and natural oils in your skin....thus they're just holding the oils in your skin...

Hope you get well soon...I remember one time I had a perfect hand print of rash on my face from Posion....it was pretty rough, it was on my eyes, nose and ears....then eventually down my neck....so I feel your pain!

Bryan

[Labs4me]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the input. I guess I overlooked the ovious- I was more than likely re-infecting myself. Upon reading your advice, I have taken the time to wash EVERYTHING that I took into the woods with me on the day that I became infected. On a positive note, since I posted this topic, i seem to have turned the corner toward my recovery.

Again thanks for the tips and empathy.

Huck

[Recurve50LBS]

Huck,
I've heard that soaking in the ocean works wonders for getting rid of poison ivy. But I see you are a bit far from making a trip down the shore. You might try using kosher salt in your bath tub and soak in it for a while.
Another remedy I was taught by my father was,"Leaves of 3 let be."

[doug77]

hey guys go to the pharmecy counter at wal-mart and ask for ZANFEL. best thing for poison ivy.
we work around it all the time it does work but cost about 30 bucks a tube


doug77

[troutms]

Go to your health care provider and get a decadron shot. It will dry it up in a few days and relieve the ithching.

[Molson]

Use Jewelweed.  Pull the whole plant out of the ground, crush it up, and rub it on.  If you got into the ivy heavy, you can wrap crushed Jewelweed on the area with an ace bandage. Apply the fresh plant every few hours. Once pulled, it dries out quickly and loses its potency.  It works better than anything and is probably growing somewhere near your house.

[BobW]

I am alergic, and if/when I get it bad.....

sounds silly, but:

Oatmeal bath.  Check the local drug store.  Medicinal packets, warm as you can stand tup and soak in it.


Don't you just love all of these home remidies?