HERB - Poison Ivy help

[Carl/Anne Adamczyk]

For those with no background in medicine -

Poison Ivy is not truly a poison.  The sap of the plant presents a
substance which individuals are highly allergic to.  Like some species of
fish and other plants, this presents the plant with a sort of protection
device.  Once you have come in contact with the sap of the plant, if you
are one of those who are allergic, you will develop a localized allergic
reaction - blisters.  The blisters will form where ever the sap came in
contact with skin.  The sap does not necessarily need to come directly
from the plant.  The household pet could trot right through a patch
without consequence, yet when you  pet good ole Fido, the sap passes onto
your skin and you get the blisters.  Likewise, garden tools, hoses,
shoes, socks, fencing, or whatever is in contact with the sap can pass it
onto your skin with the resultant allergic reaction.  This may occur as
long as a month after you've been around the stuff.  The liquid in the
blisters is your body's reaction to the offending substance.  It will not
spread poison ivy when the blisters break.  You cannot catch poison ivy
from another person unless they are covered with plant sap.  The best way
to treat an exposure is to wash the area with plenty of good old
fashioned soap and water, profuse amounts of water.  Then, you also must
wash all your clothing, your shoes, garden gloves, and any tools you may
have used when the contact occurred.  Afterward, if the blisters form,
you can use an OTC produce called Rhuligel.  Don't break any blisters as
they can get infected and impetigo is a real tough infection to treat.  

The best treatment is prevention.  The Girl Scouts say, "Leaves of three,
let it  be".  If you can't avoid being around the stuff, stay covered. 
Get a competent landscaper or someone who is not allergic to spray it
with an exfoliant (weed killer). Never burn poison ivy.  Imagine the
blisters that you get on your skin developing in your bronchus and lungs.
 

Good Luck

Grania
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