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surveys / poisonivy
| Surveys |
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Poison Ivy
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COMMENTS |
I. R. Walker
Submitted:
Saturday, July 14, 2001
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I much enjoyed your article on poison ivy. A few
years ago, while on a sabbatical leave at the
Geobotanical Institute of University of Bern,
Switzerland, I noticed the familiar leaves of three
draping one corner of the institute's buildings. A
small plaque confirmed the plants' identity. This
impressed in me the devotion of the gardeners to
maintaining a great diversity of plants in the
institute garden. It also provided a measure of
security - a formidable barrier for thieves hoping
to enter the building via a window adorned by the
ivy's tentacles.
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Heather Sutherland
Submitted:
Tuesday, July 10, 2001
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After a long early springtime walk through
Gatineau Park a couple of years ago, I was
stricken with a terrible outbreak of poison ivy
and made even sicker by the cortisone treatment
prescribed by my doctor. Luckily, a local
homeopathic practisioner recommended RHUS TOX -
taken with her specific directions I have never
had poison ivy spread beyond a mild spot, even
though I have become extremely sensitive to it and
been exposed (thanks to my animals) many times
since. Important that it be taken early or even
before exposure, this is a permanent item in my
first aid kit. It is also interesting to note
that Jewelweed always grows in the same general
area as poison ivy - if an adequate amount is
bruised and squeezed between your palms, it
produces a watery liquid that if rubbed over the
exposed area of skin within the l0 to l5 minute
timeframe, will neutralize the poison. |
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Diana Mae Boychuk
Submitted:
Monday, July 09, 2001
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During the May long weekend of 1991, I went
camping along the Winnipeg River, near Pinawa, MB.
My future husband and I found a lovely campsite
on high rocky ground overlooking the water. After
pitching the tent, I felt nature call. In the low
bushes behind the tent, I did my business in
blissful ignorance of the impending consequences.
It wouldn't have mattered had I even known what
poison ivy looked like, as the leaves weren't out
in full yet. That night I started to itch; the
rash covered the back of my legs from knee to
buttocks. Two days later I visited an emergency
clinic in Winnipeg, where I was told it looked
like herpes. Obviously wishing for a second
opinion, I visited a Doctor in Pinawa and was
given the appropriate diagnosis. I suffered for
close to two weeks. Two years later I sat on a chair that had been
used by someone else who had the poison ivy rash
and I caught it again. This time, after suffering
for several days, I began searching for folk
cures. A native friend of mine gave me the
following 'miraculous' cure: The first thing in
the morning, pee into a cup (the urine is
particularily strong at that time of day).
Apparently it has to be your own urine, other
people's urine won't work. I didn't quibble.
Then, take a cotton ball, wet it in the urine, and
apply to the rash. I kid you not, I experienced
instant relief from the itch and within three
days, the rash had dried and scabbed over. Hope this helps someone, disgusting as it is! Cheers!
Diana Mae Boychuk
Balmoral, MB |
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Roy Mundt
Submitted:
Monday, July 09, 2001
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My grandfather was a blacksmith in Golden Lake,
Ontario. He kept a tub of water beside the forge
to cool the metal down when he worked. People
used to come all the time to get a jar of this
water when they had poison ivy. I remember, in
particular, when one of my cousins had poison ivy.
He thought my grandfather was trying to play a
joke on him when he suggested using this water.
Reluctantly he put some on his arms and legs and
before he left that afternoon the sores were
drying up and the itch was gone. |
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scotty
Submitted:
Friday, July 06, 2001
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One should know what poison ivy looks like, you
can find pictures of it on the web and in plant
books. First thing is never cut poison ivy with a
weed eater. (in shorts and low cut shoes with no
socks) I'm not quite sure exactly where the ivy
was but i certianly realized that i had found it. The first two days were not too bad, i was using
cortizone cream. Within the next few days the
irritation became worse, after a week i went to
see the doctor. He gave me a prescription for a
steroid cream. This helped the ichy feeling but
did nothing to stop the irritation from spreading.
After a week of this i went to see another doctor
who then prescribed a oral steroid.
A week on this prescription and it was finally
over. I tried not to scratch but at times i
couldn't take it. I used straight JAVEX on my
skin, Calimine, baking soda, i tried everything i
went through three weeks of nasty. So when it was finally over everyone tells me
I'll get it easier next time and maybe with
greater side effects. I can't wait until winter. |
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Eric Mathurin
Submitted:
Friday, July 06, 2001
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I went canoeing in Algonquin Park for a long
weekend. A few days later I found a big patch of
rash developing... at the back of my waist. I
couldn't figure out how I could have it there and
not anywhere else -- especially since I was
wearing sandals the entire trip. A few days later I (finally) cleaned up my camping
gear and put it away. A few more days after that I
started getting itchy dots and patches on my legs
and arms. I couldn't figure out where it was
coming from until it occurred to me I may have set
my backpack down in poison, and some of the oil
may have gotten on the hip belt, transferring it
to my waist. Later, when I put the backpack away,
I spread it on other parts of me. The moral of the story, I suppose, is to watch not
only where you're stepping but where you're
setting things down. (I shudder at the thought of having to go back
under the stairs for my backpack anytime soon.
And who knows; maybe it's lurking elsewhere. This
is the only plausible theory I can come up with!) |
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