I generally think we have all come in contact with Poison Ivy... as a 10 year old boy I would go and play in the farmers fields of Chester County and come back covered head to toe and ready for the trip to the hospital. Three times I was covered 80 percent in blisters that burst. I had blisters where people should not scratch... But I started a year later an allergy therapy for all the things I was allergic too. I repeated this series of injections every ten years - getting scratch tested and injected weekly - in all three years of injections for lots of things like ragweed - oak and poison ivy... The last set was 14 years ago and I had lots of questions. turns out the oil of poison ivy is a tiny drop amongst other thing in the injection... So when you see advice like this....
Instructions
Things You'll Need
* Epsom salts
* Poison Oak-ivy Soap
* Calamine Lotions
* Baking Soda
* 1 Immediately wash everything that might have touched the plant. You may be able to remove the offending oil completely or at least reduce the impending rash.
* 2 Soothe itching with cool, wet compresses.
* 3 Add approximately 5 c. ground oatmeal or baking soda to a cool bath and soak for 15 to 30 minutes.
* 4 Add baking soda or Epsom salts to your bath, or make a paste of either of these and apply it to the rash.
* 5 Opt for lotions containing calamine, alcohol and zinc acetate; these will dry the blisters and help speed healing.
* 6 Leave the rash open to air. That will help it heal.
* 7 Talk to your doctor about taking an oral antihistamine if you are extremely uncomfortable or if the rash is covering a large area of your body.
I will add one more thing to that advice - if you are ever looking for a quick solution to that advice - For adults - two Prednisone Tabs and possibly two quick acting - allergy tabs of antihistamine. (Keep in mind this is from experience -consult with a doctor) this is how I avoid reactions on the first onset of hives and other reactions, I will try this before the Epi Pen and the 911 call.
So today I am on another page I actively look for poison Ivy and grab the leaves bare handed and rub a few leaves on the back of the arm and expose myself annually! Today I am not allergic - I get one scratch spot and life is good.
So lets take this to a new level - very recently a large group of kids allergic to milk were ask to eat one cookie a day (Study over several years)http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AAAAI/25448
The cookie or muffins had cooked or raw milk in small amounts & the kids get better.
How long does it take to get over an allergy?... How do we trick the immune system? In a blind test, my son who is allergic to dogs came home from college and we had a new dog here in house that we rescued from the pound. He coughed and sneezed himself silly for six months -and then he stopped! - so what are we actually allergic too when it comes to animals? -SALIVA! Most pets lick themselfs - in the case of Rugby -my dog.. he licks himself terribly, this is also a sign or doggie bordom... So you pet the dog and transfer the dried saliva to your eye when it needs a scratch... in the case of people visiting others with dogs and cats - you are touching objects that the dried saliva has been deposited - or in another situation the active presence of a lot of animals on a farm. The dried saliva is airborn and coming directly in contact with the water in the eyes. Why are you not allergic to Poodles & Lasa's? They do not lick themselves.
This is to open a discussion that I will revisit. Please post thoughts or questions....