		POISON IVY AND ITS TREATEMENT

The following files on First Aid come from News groups so enjoy!
Many of them files deal with Poison Ivy and its treatement!

		August 1996

Newsgroups: misc.survivalism
Subject: Re: Survival:where do I start???
Date: Tue, 09 Jul 1996 23:21:10 -0500

A. T. Hagan wrote:
 
 hambidgesis.bms.com (Al Hambidge, Jr.) wrote:
 
Once you've got the rash, try some Jewelweed (a marshland plant).
 I just pack the leaves over the rash and cover it with a loose
 dressing; seems to dry it right up.
 
 Jewelweed is also known in some parts as touch-me-not, because
 the fruits (small, green, football shape), when ripe, pop open
 at the slightest touch and release the seeds.  It is very good
 for relieving the itch of poison ivy, though the effect lasts
 only about half an hour to an hour.  Or so say friends and family;
 I've never had poison ivy.  Either I'm immune or very lucky,
 and all things considered, it's probably the former.  :-)
 
 Hmm, I thought the cultivated form of Jewelweed is commonly known as 
Impatiens? I haven't seen Touch Me Nots in a long time, maybe they're related?
 
As Charles Scripter said in another post, just because you're immune doesn't
mean you should just ignore the stuff.  Until I turned twenty five or so I used
to be immune myself.  Even used to pull the stuff up when weeding with my bare
hands.   I brushed some hanging off of a fence while bike riding and thought my
finger was going to rot off.  It took me the longest time to figure out what the
eruption was since I knew I was immune to poision ivy I didn't think that was
what it was.  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\Alan.

                      e-mail c/o dunrossdkeep.com

Welcome to walking on the wild side. I had this crap three different times this 
year
so far. I know, I know, stay out of the woods. Best thing I have found is when 
you 
know, or think you have been exposed, wash the affected area with lye soap. I 
now 
carry a bar in my butt pack when I know I am going out into the woods. ( didn't 
have
with me the last time, because I wasn't expecting on going out, doom on me.)
Once it breaks out, use Benadryl Itch Stopping Gel. It REALLY dries the weeping 
and
stops the itching. Best regards, Rick

From: campmikeais.net (Camp Mike)
Newsgroups: misc.survivalism
Subject: Re: Survival:where do I start???
Date: Sat, 22 Jun 1996 11:52:40 -0500

 hambidgesis.bms.com (Al Hambidge, Jr.) wrote:
 
 In article <31C0E2CC.3F73fastlane.net, "R. Bowen"
<rbowenfastlane.net writes:

 Al Hambidge, Jr. wrote:
 
  I remember when I was a kid, and had an abrasion or cut which
  became infected, my father would mix shavings from a bar of
  yellow laundry soap with sugar and enough water to make it
  a uniform paste.  

A nice glob of this on a bandage, and
  it would draw pus, etc. out of the wound.  After a few
  days, the infection would be gone, the wound clean and
  drained, and the normal healing process was on it's way.

The soap was probably Fel's Naptha Soap. It is still available. I remember
it well for having my mouth washed out with it for swearing as a child.

Michael J. Gallagher, RN

From: cescriptmtu.edu (Charles Scripter)
Newsgroups: misc.survivalism
Subject: Re: Survival:where do I start???
Date: 24 Jun 1996 22:01:14 -0400

On 17 Jun 1996 13:15:21 GMT, Al Hambidge, Jr. (hambidgesis.bms.com) wrote:

 I really don't know.  All I remember was that it was some brand
 of yellow laundry soap (not detergent) , which was in the form of
 a bar roughly the size of a brick.  The next time I'm in a
 supermarket I'll take a look around; I probably would recognize
 the stuff, and/or the brand, if I saw it.

As someone else pointed out, it is Fels Naptha.  Since there was
some mention of using it on poison ivy, it only really helps if you
use it *immediately* after contact.  It latches onto the oil and
removes them quite effectively.

Once you've got the rash, try some Jewelweed (a marshland plant).
I just pack the leaves over the rash and cover it with a loose
dressing; seems to dry it right up.

--
Charles Scripter   *   cescriptphy.mtu.edu
Dept of Physics, Michigan Tech, Houghton, MI 49931

From: mamacampaol.com (MamaCamp)
Newsgroups: misc.survivalism
Subject: Re: Survival:where do I start???
Date: 25 Jun 1996 22:52:15 -0400

In article <4qnh9a$6qvfishlab5.fsh.mtu.edu, cescriptmtu.edu (Charles
Scripter) writes:

Once you've got the rash, try some Jewelweed (a marshland plant).
I just pack the leaves over the rash and cover it with a loose
dressing; seems to dry it right up.

The nice thing is poison ivy and Jewelweed (also known as touch-me-nots
because if you touch the ripe seed pods, even slightly, the pod will
explode) often can be found very close to each other.

If you squeeze the juice from the stems onto your skin where you had
contact with the ivy, it works quite quickly to neutralize the poison.
Joyce!

From: hambidgesis.bms.com (Al Hambidge, Jr.)
Newsgroups: misc.survivalism
Subject: Re: Survival:where do I start???
Date: 1 Jul 1996 13:30:55 GMT

In article <4qnh9a$6qvfishlab5.fsh.mtu.edu, cescriptmtu.edu (Charles Scripter) 
writes:
On 17 Jun 1996 13:15:21 GMT, Al Hambidge, Jr. (hambidgesis.bms.com) wrote:

 I really don't know.  All I remember was that it was some brand
 of yellow laundry soap (not detergent) , which was in the form of
 a bar roughly the size of a brick.  The next time I'm in a
 supermarket I'll take a look around; I probably would recognize
 the stuff, and/or the brand, if I saw it.

As someone else pointed out, it is Fels Naptha.  Since there was
some mention of using it on poison ivy, it only really helps if you
use it *immediately* after contact.  It latches onto the oil and
removes them quite effectively.

Once you've got the rash, try some Jewelweed (a marshland plant).
I just pack the leaves over the rash and cover it with a loose
dressing; seems to dry it right up.

Jewelweed is also known in some parts as touch-me-not, because
the fruits (small, green, football shape), when ripe, pop open
at the slightest touch and release the seeds.  It is very good
for relieving the itch of poison ivy, though the effect lasts
only about half an hour to an hour.  Or so say friends and family;
I've never had poison ivy.  Either I'm immune or very lucky,
and all things considered, it's probably the former.  :-)

Newsgroups: misc.survivalism
Subject: Re: Survival:where do I start???
Date: 1 Jul 1996 21:53:47 -0400

   As someone else pointed out, it is Fels Naptha.  Since there was
some mention of using it on poison ivy, it only really helps if you
use it *immediately* after contact.  It latches onto the oil and
removes them quite effectively.

Urusiol (SP?) oil is the agent in poison ivy that causes the
itch. It is neutralized by water *if* applied immediately after
contact. If not...

I live in central Virginia on a farm. There is poison ivy
everywhere around here. The best thing you can do is to learn
how to identify it. However, I also have dogs. They go through
it at every chance. Apparantly they aren't affected. If I touch
the dogs after they have been through it, well...you know what
happens.

The rash from poison ivy is an allergic reaction, and some
people are indeed immune to its effects. 

What I do when affected by poison Ivy is pour chlorox bleach on
the affected limb. Don't worry, it doesn't burn immediately.
When the burning starts, wash it off.

I also take benadryl capsules, open them up, mix with sulfur
powder, and mix in listerine mouth wash to form a paste and
paint it on. It will usually dry up the infection in 24 hours
or less.

It doesn't hurt to ingest the benedryl capsules, as well.
Sort of a two-pronged attack.

Newsgroups: misc.survivalism
Subject: Re: Survival:where do I start???
Date: 2 Jul 1996 17:40:18 -0400

In article <4r9vfb$ss1freenet.vcu.edu, mmoodyfreenet.vcu.edu writes:

What I do when affected by poison Ivy is pour chlorox bleach on
the affected limb. Don't worry, it doesn't burn immediately.
When the burning starts, wash it off.

I've done that too. Personally, though, I just prefer massive use of Dial
and calamine and water.   Mike S. Medintz

From: celmsaol.com (CElms)
Newsgroups: misc.survivalism
Subject: Re: Survival:where do I start???
Date: 3 Jul 1996 21:47:06 -0400

The type of soap is Fels Naptha it works great on poison ivy. I know from
experience.
                         Celmsaol.com


From: cescriptmtu.edu (Charles Scripter)
Newsgroups: misc.survivalism
Subject: Re: Survival:where do I start???
Date: 4 Jul 1996 10:52:53 -0400

On 1 Jul 1996 13:30:55 GMT, Al Hambidge, Jr. (hambidgesis.bms.com) wrote:

 for relieving the itch of poison ivy, though the effect lasts
 only about half an hour to an hour.  Or so say friends and family;
 I've never had poison ivy.  Either I'm immune or very lucky,
 and all things considered, it's probably the former.  :-)

I'm also more-or-less immune.  However, if you walk through the
stuff and then decide to scratch some misquito bites....  ; 

Only had it once, and it was hell to get rid of.  Jewelweed is what 
I used on it.

   BTW, if you are "immune", still avoid contact since you will
eventually become sensitive (as my "immune" father just recently
learned ;).

Charles Scripter   *   cescriptphy.mtu.edu
Dept of Physics, Michigan Tech, Houghton, MI 49931

From: cescriptmtu.edu (Charles Scripter)
Newsgroups: misc.survivalism
Subject: Re: Survival:where do I start???
Date: 4 Jul 1996 10:56:33 -0400

On 1 Jul 1996 21:53:47 -0400, mmoodyfreenet.vcu.edu wrote:

 Urusiol (SP?) oil is the agent in poison ivy that causes the
 itch. It is neutralized by water *if* applied immediately after
 contact. If not...

   You sure about this?  My sister is quite sensitive, so we used Fels
(a fat soap) to remove the oils without spreading them around.  Normal
soaps are oil based and spread the lovely stuff all over.  Wouldn't
water do the same?

(as for neutralizing, does this oil actually mix with water?)

Charles Scripter   *   cescriptphy.mtu.edu
Dept of Physics, Michigan Tech, Houghton, MI 49931


From: hambidgesis.bms.com (Al Hambidge, Jr.)
Newsgroups: misc.survivalism
Subject: Re: Survival:where do I start???
Date: 8 Jul 1996 14:25:06 GMT

In article <4rgls5$4glfishlab5.fsh.mtu.edu, cescriptmtu.edu (Charles Scripter) 
writes:
On 1 Jul 1996 13:30:55 GMT, Al Hambidge, Jr. (hambidgesis.bms.com) wrote:

 for relieving the itch of poison ivy, though the effect lasts
 only about half an hour to an hour.  Or so say friends and family;
 I've never had poison ivy.  Either I'm immune or very lucky,
 and all things considered, it's probably the former.  :-)

   I'm also more-or-less immune.  However, if you walk through the
stuff and then decide to scratch some misquito bites....  ; 
Only had it once, and it was hell to get rid of.  Jewelweed is what I
used on it.

   BTW, if you are "immune", still avoid contact since you will
eventually become sensitive (as my "immune" father just recently
learned ;).

Good point.  I certainly don't go out of my way to contact it.
I've heard the same thing about bee stings; you can be immune
from severe reaction for years, but if you get stung regularly
(whatever that means :-) )  it is possible to all of a sudden
have a nasty reaction.  I believe it's called anaphylaxis, and
it ain't pretty.

Al Hambidge, Jr.   hambidgebms.com    Standard disclaimers apply.

Newsgroups: misc.survivalism
Subject: Re: Survival:where do I start???
Date: Tue, 09 Jul 1996 02:58:04 GMT

hambidgesis.bms.com (Al Hambidge, Jr.) wrote:

Once you've got the rash, try some Jewelweed (a marshland plant).
I just pack the leaves over the rash and cover it with a loose
dressing; seems to dry it right up.

Jewelweed is also known in some parts as touch-me-not, because
the fruits (small, green, football shape), when ripe, pop open
at the slightest touch and release the seeds.  It is very good
for relieving the itch of poison ivy, though the effect lasts
only about half an hour to an hour.  Or so say friends and family;
I've never had poison ivy.  Either I'm immune or very lucky,
and all things considered, it's probably the former.  :-)

Hmm, I thought the cultivated form of Jewelweed is commonly known as Impatiens?
I haven't seen Touch Me Nots in a long time, maybe they're related?

As Charles Scripter said in another post, just because you're immune doesn't
mean you should just ignore the stuff.  Until I turned twenty five or so I used
to be immune myself.  Even used to pull the stuff up when weeding with my bare
hands.   

I brushed some hanging off of a fence while bike riding and thought my
finger was going to rot off.  It took me the longest time to figure out what 
the eruption was since I knew I was immune to poision ivy I didn't think that 
was what it was.  e-mail c/o dunrossdkeep.com

From: vancera.isisnet.com (Vance MacLaren)
Newsgroups: misc.survivalism
Subject: Re: Survival:where do I start???
Date: 22 Jun 1996 05:08:14 GMT

In article <4q7dvt$fe5news.cftnet.com, kmcelhincftnet.com says...

In article <4pnfuo$pvhnewsbf02.news.aol.com, pfzouaveaol.com says...

plain ole sugar sprinked on a scrape or abrasion will also prevent
infection.

Steve


This is not a flame Steve, but I REALLY think that suggestion is a bad
idea. Stop and think about it for a moment: What happens when you 
dissolve sugar in water and then leave it in a jar or bottle in the open air? 

If you're lucky, you'll get alcohol, if not, you'll get some putrid
something-or-other. Either way, you find that you have fed and 
encouraged the growth of bacteria.

To take an injury where your bacteria-barrier (skin) has been 
penetrated, and then "reward" ambient bacteria by feeding them, I think, 
is a very bad idea.

Hang on a second...

Steve was close.  You can use raw, unprocessed right from the hive honey
on an open wound and it will keep out infection as well as speed healing.
We all know that sugar and honey only have sweetness in common.

I got this from a survivalist magazine that showed up in '92, hung around
for 6 or 8 issues then went belly up it was called Practical Survival.
I have missed it sorely ever since.

Trish 

Here's what my family used to do. Clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide or 
soap and water. Then put baking soda on it and cover with a bandage. For a 
bruise or other inflammation, apply a warm towel soaked with salty water to 
draw out the infection. If there is any sign of pus, get to a doctor or use 
something antibacterial (penicillin). 

You'd be surprised what a hot water bottle can do. 
Of course, you should use ice to keep down swelling. 
I don't think I'd want to put lye or lye based laundry soap on an 
open wound - that could be pretty painful, I would think. 

