For over a week I have been affected by poison ivy on my throwing hand. It is so bad and swollen that I cannot even grip a disc, and it is getting worse. Needless to say, It has kept me off the golf course all week. I got it while playing disc golf, as many of you probably have. What are some home remedies that work for you? My grandfather used to take a non-perscription pill that kept him from getting poison ivy. Do any of you know what it is or where I can get it? Now, if I only could learn to throw it where I want it to go I wouldn't have this problem at all!

PB, what you may be looking for is this:

Poison Ivy Extract

Washington Homeopathic Products, Inc.
4914 Del Ray Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814

It's extract from real poison ivy. By taking small doses, it allows your immune system to build up a tolerance. I don't use it as I'm not particularly susceptible, so I can't offer first hand experience. My dad, however, swears by it. He's so allergic to poison ivy that he can't even eat mangos or cashews (both in the same family as poison ivy).

years ago i worked on a bee farm (apiary)

the guy who ran it told me that the honey he extracted from the hives near poison ivy infested areas was the sweetest tasting and would prevent you from getting PI.

at first it sounded like a wives tale to me.

but he was right about the taste. awesome honey.

i don't get poison ivy. or just barely, if at all.

maybe that old cajun was correct.

Old Cajuns are always correct Vic! Young ones too! ;-p

Around here, we get a lot poison oak as well.

Here's a good site that gives home remedies for poison ivy, oak and sumac and honey is right at the top of the list:

[poisonivy.aesir.com]

i have never had poison ivy until this year and i have gotton it 4 different times all over my body. some old woman told me that putting clorox on the affected area would heel it so i tried that but it did not work. I gave in and went to the doctor to get some cortizone pills which works. I suggest going to the doctor.

Jay,
Karma will kick your butt. And I quote: "I never get poison ivy."-Jay Middleton, MD. I laugh at you now. I got bit by a spider and have to go back to the doctor for a check-up tomorrow. I'll get him to give me a nice big cortizone shot in the rear.

Goby,
I think you have hit the nail on the head. It sounds like the stuff my grandfather used. I'll have to check into it. Thanks!

Jay and PB, we missed you guys tonight. We had a bang up time tonight. Gracen hit #13 for the ace pot. We changed up the strokes a little and would you believe Fair didn't cash? I know. I know. The moon was out of alignment and things are looking pretty chilly down in hell. Hope to see you guys next week. Also either of you going to make it over to Cossar?

PB,

Because I am so allergic to it I have learned a few things about poison ivy over the years. 1st - if you are allergic to anything don't go to Rivendell! 2nd - the chemical responsible for your reaction is called "urusiol". It is an extremely sticky oil that is easily spread from one place to another. It is spread the day you come in contact with it (wash your clothes as soon as you get home!), not by scratching the sores afterward, as believed. 3rd - aside from getting shots, if you get a bad case of PI it will take about 3 weeks of pure misery to exorcize the "creeping crud".

The key to recognizing poison ivy (or oak/sumac) is not to count the leaves (3,5,7,etc), but to look at the leaf at the very end of the branch. If the last leaf (the odd leaf) has it's own stem it is poisonous.

I have read that poison ivy has been spread through smoke while burning it and also on top of flood waters if you wade through. If you are highly allergic don't touch your eyes as it can cause blindness in severe cases.

Lastly, if you are a veteran of PI you will dicover that it also can be spread systemically, meanig that areas which have been in contact before can and will break out again when you come back in contact with it, through your bloodstream!

I hope I havn't depressed you.

high-stepping chernobyl

Speaking as a pharmacist, I would have to agree with most of what Chernobyl says. The oil on the leaves is the problem. If it is still on your clothes or discs, you will continue to get the rash--wash everything. As far as treatments, you can try calamine lotion if you want to have itchy skin with pink stuff all over it--although some pink paint will likely give you similar results. You will suffer for 10-14 days. I have not tried the product, but I hear that Ivy-Block works well as a preventative measure.

dc

I just finished washing my bag, minis, sharpie, and every disc in my bag. My hand has been pink all day. It helps the itch, but in the meantime, I can only touch my palm with my pinky finger. I can't wait until the doctor's office opens in the morning.

When washing everything don't forget about your shoes, especially the laces. Think about how much PI you tromp through during a round. You can wash everything off, but the next time you tie your laces you are getting the oil all over your fingers. I've used the Ivy Block lotion and it seems to work pretty well. The only thing is it keep it off of your hands because it works by forming a film on your skin which will mess up your grip.

My money says you played Hobbit Park.

There is a new treatment for Poison Ivy. It is called Zanfel and can be found near the Clamine lotion at CVS. If not go to Zanfel.com.
It is expensive, but it works. If that stuff has you itching in the middle of the night, it is really not that expensive. Good luck

Hello

I am also allergic to PI. Calamine lotion pour out about 1/3 of the bottle and add 1 tube of cortizone 10 shake well. This really worked for me and it only took about 5 days. to get rid of the PI.

Happy Golfing!
Lori

I'm in the midst of of a 3-year battle with severe poison ivy(pi) on my arms due to its presence on my property. I will say that cloro (diluted if you want) will stop the itching. Tonight, I'm trying sulfur on my face because I read about it on one of the web sites I checked.

Another solution I found tonight while web surfing was:
"A tablespoon of broadleaf herbicide (I'm assuming they mean a Round Up type product) diluted in a gallon of water, rubbed over affected area 3 times in 12 house. Rinse with water after application." I guess it's risky, but no more risky than the extreme itching which has left many unattractive scars on my forearms. (I'm really hoping the sulfer works before I try the herbicide solution).

I will give this a go, as I also always seem tp manage to get it on my forehead, no matter my efforts at prevention.

Take care... eseeker.claire

Good Luck! I am finally over it and ready to get back on the course, but it seems that work, church, and family keep getting in the way.

Hey PI2much5490,

Your situation sounds extreme. Maybe you should consult a dermatologist before you use the DDT! I was not too clear in my last post, I was trying to say that once an area of your skin has been in contact with the poison ivy, it becomes sensitized and is reactivated systemically (through the blood stream). I have also heard that if you are highly allergic you can begin to take antihistimine a couple of days before you know you'll be in contact with it, but benadryl gets me too gittery!

Hoping your condition improves,

Chernobyl

I started reacting to PI a couple of years ago. I seemed to have developed an allergy to it in my later years (I'm only thity-nine), because living in the south, I'm sure that I came into contact with it during my youth. However, the best remedy I've come accross is Zrytec (a prescription antihistamine - non-drowsy type). Since I started using it, I've been able to clear up outbreaks in only two or three days without the oozing scabby sores. Good luck.

Hey PB, did you find the Zanfel, did it work for you?

Please don't put roundup on your skin. It is extremely dangerous, and can be absorbed through mucous membranes and your skin. The absorbtion will be very easy if you have oozing sores. Roundup causes cellular and organ damage, and should absolutely not be put on your skin on purpose.

Hey there, Rich ... good to see you posting on the board, cuz .... and PI2, I'd definitely recommend seeing a doctor before using Roundup on your poison ivy ...

Roundup is used to kill plants, dont you think that stuff is going to be bad for your skin? Why dont you just get HCL, that will burn the stuff off. Might take a while for the sores to heal.

Other than seeing a doctor, you are just going to have to keep the sores dry and wait for them to go.

I too am suffering from poison ivy right now. I bought the antibiotic cream and got the cortizone shot, but after 3 days no better. Read on the net, to apply hot wtaer ( as hot as you can stand it) to all of your infected sites. This will burn and itch terrible the first 15 secs. After heat treating the areas for 10 to 15 minutes remove and pat dry. Then apply calamine lotion so thick you have to chip it off. I have found that the heat from the hot water releases the histamines that cause you to itch, providing from 4 to 8 hours of itch free relief. My ivy cleared up in about 4 days. I definitely recommend it, at least for the itch therapy.

Ok, this rememdy isn't as extreme as using Round-up but it works if you do it right. I've only done this to PI as it is just coming in and has developed the lovely "bubble" blisters on my skin. Standing at the sink with water running over the irritated area scratch is all you want. Also use soap to clean it as you go. You are trying to open these puppies up as much as you can. It'll go between feeling oh-so-good and hurting as the water hits it. Dry the surrounding area off, trying to absorb everything that is oozing out of the wound. After the oozing has slowed pack it with baby powder. The baby powder will dry it out. You have to pile on the baby powder because if there isn't enough to absorb everything that is there it won't work. After adding the powder wrap it up (to keep the powder in), keep it dry, and ignore it for a day. I've done this several times and if you use enough powder to dry everything out it'll quit itching and be gone the next day. I did this yesterday on two fingers and today all that is left are some pink spots (like what's left after the PI finally dries up on its own). I know this sounds strange but I promise it works.

I've always tried a mix of alcohol and vinegar. I know it may sound like some sick cajun remedy, but the stuff works. Hey, what isn't alcohol good for. Dries the crap in no time.

If you were using Zanfel, it would be gone by now.

When I went to camp... I got poison ivy. You know. Well don't you?

And this one time ...... at band camp .......