Poison Ivy

Yes!

Ditto, poison Ivy remains infectious in any state, other than ashes, but don't be near the fire while burning

Dave

Absolutely. I had a bad case of it this summer and did some research. I don't remember the specifics but it surprised me. I'm wanting to remember that the oils (that's where the active stuff resides) in it can remain "active" for several months to a year on a completely dried plant and up to

5 years in some cases and even on clothes. Double check those numbers but it was something outrageous.

A fantastic person on this list told me about Zanfel. It's terribly expensive and not easily found but it works wonders with ivy rash. I nearly cried when it took away the itching/burning in 30 seconds as advertised. It took 3 treatments over a day to finally kick it but from the first treatment I was so much better I couldn't hardly believe it. THANK YOU to whomever it was.

I used to be only allergic to the smoke (figure that one out!) but I got this case from brushing up against it with a bare leg. Man, I hope this isn't something new. I'm in this stuff all the time!

- Andrew

Yes. I've seen kids handle dead dry, vines thinking they were safe and wind up with severe rashes. The volatile oil (sorry- forgot the name of it) can still be active for months after being dead & dried. Wearing double latex or rubber gloves should protect your hands from a re- infection. Wear a respirator- you DO NOT want to breath any of the oil into your lungs, and above all- DO NOT BURN THE VINES!!!!! The oils can be carried by the steam into your lungs.

As much as I like elm, I'd be tempted to dump the stuff and call it a loss. Although there may be someone here who knows how to neutralize the oil... wouldn't surprise me.

/vic

There's an understatement. Poison ivy smoke is a good way to get killed. Burning brush or wood contaminated with poison ivy is a very bad idea.

Errh, gentlemen! Once more LDD rides to the rescue. The detergent will dissolve and vanquish those nasty oils!

As a former land manager we control burned scrub and dead wood over many acres. We knew and expected Poison Ivy and Oak to be present in most of those areas. We needed to inform the town, get permits, and have some oversight before burning. All person were supplied with respirators and chemical suits. Other precautions were taken as well. But no fatalities.

Dave

Leif, Good idea, it may work very well. I agree with vanguish, but dissolve? I'm feel compelled to correct your chemistry. Only solvents can dissolve a substance (note the common root word) and detergent is not a solvent. It is more likely the detergent is saponifying the oil. Dan

Look up URUSHIOL

It's an allergy, not an infection.

I'd think with gloves you could pull the vines off the bark, perhaps even peel off the bark in that area. The rest of the wood would be ok.

Instead of Zanfel, try wild Jewelweed. It's a folk remedy for stinging nettle. Supposedly Jewelweed will always be growing in the same area as stinging nettle (though not the reverse, it often grows alone). I have found that it works very well on all types of dermal problems, includind contact dermatitis and poison ivy. It even takes the ich out of mosquito bites. If you can't find some growing wild try your local nursery and get some New Guinea Impatiens. I've found these effective also. Just crush the succulent stems and rub the juice on the affected area.

You wrote I used to be only allergic to the smoke (figure that one out!) but I got this case from brushing up against it with a bare leg. Man, I hope this isn't something new.

I hate to say it but it sure sounds like it. People can go a long time with multiple exposures before receiving a single "sensitizing dose" and becoming (fully) allergic. As far as I know there is no understanding of why, all of a sudden, people go from being immune to being allergic. You might want to be real careful around it from now on.

Thanks for the response. I really did think that it would be safe to handle now, probably avoided another exposure by reading this group. I am going to try and salvage the logs. Rubber gloves and long sleeves should allow me to remove the bark. They should be safe to take in my shop then.

Kirk

Damitol works well if used as directed.

not only will it still give you a rash after months, but botonists have gotten a rash from specimen of poison ivy years old.

The chemical (urushiol oil) doesn't deteriorate with time, vaporizes with heat (so its in the smoke when burning).

It also binds very quickly to the proteins in your skin, and once bound to the proteins doesn't wash off. According to my dermatologist friend, you only have a few minutes after exposure to wash it off.

Exposure is usually culmulative, which means if you don't get a rash at first, you will get one eventually, and each time it will be worse.

You do have to crush or bruise the plant to get the oil out onto your skin, so lightly brushing up agains the leaves often doesn't result in a rash.

tim

I'm getting in on this thread about a day late, so bear with me. As others have said, the oil, urushiol, in the plants sap causes an allergic reaction in people that have become sensitized to it.

Urushiol breaks down in contact with water which is why LDD and water is effective in making items that have been contaminated safe.

Clothing that may have been contaminated should be washed as soon as practicable. The length of time that the urushiol stays dangerous on clothing that hasn't been washed depends upon the humidity of the area of storage, which is why you see varying answers about how long items stay contaminated.

As has been stated by others, the urushiol binds with the proteins of the skin after which, it takes special treatment to remove it. Here's one possible cleanser:

an aside: Some people never become sensitized to urushiol and because ofthis they EAT poison ivy as an herb/salad green. Urushiol is also why we don't/can't buy casews in the shell.

As to your problem, keep yourself covered, wear gloves and boots that can be thoroughly wash/rinsed afterward. Hose down the vines and pull them off the logs. Keeping everything wet will reduce the chance of getting a rash to near zero. Prepare a place ahead of time to bury the vines to let mother nature dispose of them for you.

In my war against the poison ivy on my property, I'm worrying it to death. I wait for a good soaking rain then cover up all skin below my collar and go into the woods with a machete. Every vine I see on a tree trunk or anywhere else gets 6 to 12 inches removed from it close to the ground. I hose myself down, wash the rubber gloves and rubber boots, then go into the

garage, close the door and strip to my skivies. The clothing goes straight into the washing machine and I go straight to the shower. After six years of this,I see very little new growth of ivy and a lot of dead vines on the trees. I now feel a lot safer going into the rear part of my lot now.

ARM

Is that really true? I think such people are nuts if it is. :)

I've always wondered whether or not I'm allergic to poison ivy. I've been in woods and gardens as long as I can remember. I'm always vigilant about spotting and avoiding it. When I do get into it, I come home as soon as practicable and get in the shower. I take all the precautions, and I've never experienced a rash, but I still wonder if it's my precautions, or some inate lack of sensitivity to the irritant.

It is, isn't it? I forgot about that. Cashews are a /Rhus/ too.

Yes. The rash is an autoimmune reaction to compounds in the plant.

djb

Your precautions can help maintain "inate lack of sensitivity". Once upon a time, I could use creosote (nasty carcinogenic preservative they don't sell to the public anymore) with impunity, and I did. One day, I could not. Probably just as well (it is nasty stuff) but I went from no reaction to pretty severe reaction, without any sort of transition.

Alan McClure wrote: (clip) As to your problem, keep yourself covered, wear gloves and boots that can be thoroughly wash/rinsed afterward.(clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^ I have been told that firemen, when they have to work a fire where poison ivy or poison oak may be present, use one of the skin creams that keeps dirt and grime out of the pores. This is the stuff which is meant to be applied to the hands PRIOR to doing filthy work, and rinsed off afterward. I wish I could remember one of the brand names, but memory ain't working.