poison oak/ivy

[lyne]

we seem to have an abundance of poison oak/ivy this year and my father is highly sensitive to it. does anyone have a good cure for his rashes and a good way to get rid of it? thanks lyne

[remington]

Lye soap is said to work well but I don't see a difference. To ease the itching run the rash in water so hot you can barely stand it for a minute or so. The rash will release its store of the chemical that causes the itching and for the next half hour there will be no itching. All in all poison ivy is a miserable experience. I am fighting a case right now (covers both forearms and forearms are swelled up to almost twice normal size) Can't even get a decent night's sleep.

[MadTripper]

I'm not sure if you are looking for something natural or not but cortizone 10 will help alleviate the symptoms.

As far as killing it, I have some stuff from my grandmother that you mix about a tablespoon per gallon of water, spray and I've never seen it come back in the same spot. I'm sure it isn't healthy but I use caution with it. Our local agway sells some liquid that is designed to kill it also but you need about a cup per gallon of water so the potency must be different. If I think of it, I'll look at the brand names. You may know this already however don't burn it. The fumes can cause havoc to anyone in the area.

Tripper

[remington]

I have found the cure! If you get the rash rub it with sand paper until the blisters ooze. Then rub bleach into it. It is safe, actually many doctors reccomend carrying bleach as something to clean wounds. Do this a couple times and it will be gone within two days.

[Catalpa]

I'm immune to poison ivy. ;D At least for now...I've heard that folks can suddenly get sensitive as they get older. My Mom suffers from it terribly; the best they've found - aside from having me go out spray all of it with roundup - is the scrub with comet cleanser in the shower. Kind of doing Remington's idea, in one step without the sandpaper. The abrasive cleanser breaks open the blisters and the bleach in it seems to break up the oils and ease the itch. And again - don't burn it!

[StephiLou]

My sister is very sensitive to it as well. While she hasn't been able to completely stop the outbreaks, she swears by drinking milk from goats who have been fed poision ivy. She doesn't break out nearly as bad. meaning no hospitalizations from it. Don't know if it really works, but it would be something to try.

Steph

P.S. I just read a blurb somewhere about how the poison oak/ivy is getting worse because of the change in the weather patterns. It has something to do with the fact that it makes the oil stronger, harder to get off of clothes, etc.

[Delmar_Morgan]

I use jewel weed it grows beside poison ivy.

[RobJob]

Ortho makes Brush B Gone, Bayer makes Brush Killer. I mix these with Round Up and it kills pretty much anything. Usually don't get it all the first time.