Faster than Indiana Jones’ bullwhip, a long strand of poison ivy lashed out and wound itself around my leg; it dragged me to earth and hog-tied me and…
OK, I exaggerate a little bit — but not much. I was working in my garden pulling vines and brambles out of the flower beds. In that tangle of green, it was hard to see the “leaves of three” that the old wive’s tale admonishes us to leave alone. If I had I certainly wouldn’t have touched it. I’m not as dumb as I look!
Danger! Danger! Count those leaves!
As I said, though, I didn’t see it. A couple of hours later, I noticed my leg itching and saw a few red welts rising. Those welts began to spread. A welt here, a welt there.
I tried using peroxide on it, and rubbing alcohol as my friend Cindee over at CiNdEeS’ GaRdEn suggested. She said that she uses rubbing alcohol when she gets into poison oak (another “leave’s three”). While it seemed to soothe the itch, the welts were still spreading. After I doctored them, every bit of skin I later touched grew a welt. And, sure enough — I touched my face!
A Bottle in Every Cupboard
Thorne told me that I needed to use witch hazel for its astringent qualities, so today I went to get a bottle of it. Either it really works, or the poison ivy is tired of messing with me. I seem to finally be on the mend.
Robin, at Around The Island, is encouraging bloggers to share photos of summer in her Summer Stock Sunday project. This is my contribution this week because poison ivy is, unfortunately, often a part of summer in Texas (unless you are smart enough to stay indoors).
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
That sounds utterly miserable. I’m glad the witch hazel is helping a bit.
Robin´s last blog ..Summer Stock Sunday #9 – Sailing, Sailing…
Glad you are on the mend, not sure we have poison ivy? I will have to check……
Dina…UK´s last blog ..Summer Stock Sunday #9
Uh oh. I think I saw some leaves like that yesterday on the golf course!
Ginger´s last blog ..Summer Stock Sunday #2 – Sharing a Boogie Board
I just couldn’t pass by and not give you some information that’s important re poison ivy. I nearly died from it; am terribly allergic to it, and have had several serious (even critical) bouts with it.
First of all, you should wash with warm water and baking soda – use something like Viva paper towels that hold up in water, and don’t use the same towel for more than about a 6×12 inch area of your skin – wash; leave the residue from the baking soda on, and discard the towel. Once you’ve washed all the areas; being sure to wash AWAY from the mucus membranes such as your eyes; nose, etc., then discard all those towels.
Next, you apply the witch hazel also with either cotton; gauze pieces or a piece of paper towel – doing the same thing. Now you let it air dry an when completely dry, you apply Calamine or Caladryx lotion (from the drug store). Let it dry – a good coating is necessary.
I used to cut out the feet of old socks; pull them up and over my arms and elbows to cover as well as pulling up and over your legs and ankles. Do your best to cover the ‘weeping’ parts with old soft stockings; cotton – nothing that will irritate and will let the air flow through.
Peroxide and Alcohol will ‘feel good’, but they will potentially induce a poisoning via the open wounds, and you can end up as I did with additional poisoning by using either of these.
Taking Benadryl tablets which will dry up the internal mucus membranes, also is necessary because it aids in cutting the weeping down.
This is not something to fool with; with me it ended up inside my eyes; ears, nose, throat and into my lungs which nearly stopped my breathing.
Obviously when working outside, you should wear gardening gloves; keep your legs and arms covered and wear garden boots – while it’s not as fun, it will protect you from this again. Poison oak is also even more deadly; I’m allergic to many ‘plants’ that aren’t even on the ‘poison’ list, so I’ve learned the hard way, what I had to do to keep from getting terribly ill from these plants.
If you go longer than 2 weeks, then see a doctor – they have injections that will quickly clear the infection.
Diane
Dadgum! Diane, thanks for sharing the information! I’m going to take your advice. I had noticed that taking Benadryl seemed to help, but was afraid of getting sleepy. I’d rather feel sleepy than get poisoned! I appreciate you taking the time to stop and share your info.
I sympathize, as a tourist in the midwest I picked some up and suffered for weeks after getting home. my summer stock photo can be seen here
kaye´s last blog ..Sunday Psalms: Concerning Fathers
Oh, I’m sorry you had this tussle with poison ivy! Good ole’ witch hazel! I’ve never had an encounter with either poison ivy or poison oak but now feel well prepared for how to treat it if I every do.
Sara´s last blog ..Summer Stock Sunday #9
I have no firsthand experience with Poison Ivy, but I’ve heard it itches like heck! Ouch! Glad to hear you’re feeling better. They used to make a calamine lotion with benadryl in it. I don’t know if they still do, but that might help you some, too…
Jessica The Rock Chick´s last blog ..Backstabber
The Calamine mixed with Benadryl is called Caladryx or Caladryl – depending on the manufacturer. The nice thing is now that you no longer need a prescription for Benedryl, you can buy the liquid that people take for allergies (also to sleep), and use it topically if you can’t find the Calamine with Benedryl mixture.
Since the Benedryl is to dry it up, you apply that first and the Calamine is to soothe the itching, you put that on last.
One shouldn’t be using Witch Hazel; Alcohol, or Peroxide because it only feels good going on; the properties in these 3 products are not only astringent but will induce a different reaction because peroxide if used too much, causes nausea and mild poisoning. Alcohol can do the same. Witch Hazel is the least hazardous, but use the products formulate specifically for this to avoid complications and to heal more promptly without risk.
Also shower rather than bathing, because sitting in the bath water helps to spread the poison ivy.
Use the disposable paper towels to wash with and any towels you use to dry with, should be washed with detergent; bleach, and hot water so you don’t spread it further to yourself or others.
Do the same with poison oak – they are both dangerous to a person with many allergies like I have, and for me it’s like being allergic to a bee sting – it means doctor and/or hospital, so I protect myself when working in ‘weeds’………..
Shelley, I hope you are feeling better soon! Definitely not a good reward for tending to your garden.
Wishing you a scent-sational week ahead!
Patty
Patricia Reiser´s last blog ..Summer Vacation – Telling Your Story
Eek. I’ve been told that whatever plant cures poison ivy tends to grow right next to it, but I don’t remember what it’s called! Big help I am!
Typically the impatiens grows in the same area, find one, find the other. I was taught that the sap from the impatiens counters the affects of the toxin/oils in the poison ivy. I have seen this in several sources. Also you can buy Cortaid creme. The doctor will give you a cortisone shot or creme – normally in tablet form as well as creme, is Prednisone.
Oh honey!!! I’m glad the Witch Hazel helped! (Witches know these things… hehehe) and Diane’s info was super!! I’ll remember that, for sure.
Thorne´s last blog ..A Prickly Proposition