Poison Ivy

[Phalcycle]

Today was a great day for going out into the garden and weeding!
I did the normal spray of sun screen, and wore some latex gloves, and went to make back yard with hostas and liliropes, and started pulling weeds like crazy. I accidently pulled some vine that looked a lot like poison ivy, and I don't know if I will get a rash.
Usually how long does it affect?

And if it was poison ivy, how do I get rid of it, Its a big patch, that unfortunaly has spreaded and rooted into my hosta bed.

I looked online for leaves of the ivvy and they look alike... So I think I am going to have to go out and by some medication for the rash, if any, and try a poison ivy killer

[mehitabel]

Poison Ivy is unmistakable-- look for a leaf with three segments.

You need a "broadleaf killer" for Poison Ivy. Unfortunately that will kill hostas or any other non-grass plant it touches, so getting it out of a flower bed is quit a trick. You might be able to pull it out, cut it back and then paint the cut stem with the killer. Or not spray at all, just use a paint brush to paint the stem. You can sometimes shield other plants with a brown paper bag held between them and the PI.

Be sure to read the instructions carefully, and follow them to the letter. If you ask at the hardware store, they will suggests something.

Make sure you use it on a still day, as you don't want it to drift on the wind, much less breathe it. It's not really easy to get rid of all of the PV, as it's a vine that can sprout from underground. The poison has to work its way all the way to the roots to kill the whole plant. Sometimes you need two doses. Sometimes it comes back, but weaker and easier to kill.

The broadleaf killers I ever used worked best when used on the hottest days, like 90's.

I've never been afflicted with the rash from it, so I can't answer your other questions. Washing your skin well helps, and be sure to wash your clothes.

[Phalcycle]

Thanks!!

I went out and bought a poison ivy killed that came with a sprayer.
I just want to get rid of the poison ivy, so I will risk my hostas there. They were divisions about 6, so it doesn't worry me too much.

After the poison ivy is dead, is it safe to touch?

[exasperatus2002]

Before spraying, a good tip is to pour some water with dish soap on it over the plant to remove the oils on the leaf, then when dry spray it.

[mehitabel]

Don't touch it, dead or alive. In fact, I have read that burning dead PV, the smoke is poisonous. Use gloves, bags, shower and wash clothes after dealing with it. I would use a mask, too (the spray).

I should add that a "big patch" is going to be a honking strong vine with big roots, so definitely may need at least two goes, as it will probably resprout at least weakly after the first one. Be watchful to make sure it doesn't come back. Be sure to dispose of the dead vine carefully, as it's poisonous, too.

Exasperatus' hint about drying off the leaf oils with dish soap seems worth trying.

PS it turns red in the fall and is quite beautiful then-- still poisonous tho.

[Stitz]

some years, I can literally wallow in it without ANY consequences.
other years, I'm not as fortunate. I get the skin reactions, sometimes VERY irritating.
according to what I have read, my reactions are not unusual.

soapy water is the best remedy for me.
I have read that oral doses of chlor-trimeton and benadryl work well for especially reactive people.
Neither ever did much for me.

[Stitz]

Originally Posted by mehitabel

I should add that a "big patch" is going to be a honking strong vine with big roots, so definitely may need at least two goes, as it will probably resprout at least weakly after the first one.

mehitabel, is that weakly - weekly?

[Phalcycle]

Stitz, I think I have this same reaction, because About two years ago, I rememebr having sevare poison ivy rash, not know where I get it from.
I am now definately sure this is poison ivy, but this year I didn't get a rash when touching it

[PhalNewbie89]

Dead is bad too. My mother knew someone who drove by someone who happened to be burning it and they got it down their throat. Guess you knew he wasn't scratching it, but I can only imagine how irritating that would be.

I am apparently super allergic because I get it very easily, and I am so irritated by it. I bleached some out once to get rid of the rash on my leg. :P

[lmartiny]

Calomine lotion? My Mom used to use that on me as a kid. It is pink and milky and stinky.

[Stitz]

lmartiny, you made me do this....below, I include the lyrics to a FAMOUS song!

Poison Ivy

Artist: The Coasters (peak Billboard position # 7 in 1959)
Words and Music by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller

(Thought by some to not be about a plant at all, but rather a young lady with a social disease)

She comes on like a rose but everybody knows
She'll get you in Dutch
You can look but you better not touch

Poison iv-y-y-y-y, poison iv-y-y-y-y
Late at night while you're sleepin' poison ivy comes a'creepin'
Arou-ou-ou-ou-ou-ound

She's pretty as a daisy but look out man she's crazy
She'll really do you in
If you let her under your skin

Poison iv-y-y-y-y, poison iv-y-y-y-y
Late at night while you're sleepin' poison ivy comes a'creepin'
Arou-ou-ou-ou-ou-ound

Measles make you bumpy
And mumps'll make you lumpy
And chicken pox'll make you jump and twitch
A common cold'll fool ya
And whooping cough can cool ya
But poison ivy, Lord'll make you itch!!

You're gonna need an ocean of calamine lotion
You'll be scratchin' like a hound
The minute you start to mess around

Poison iv-y-y-y-y, poison iv-y-y-y-y
Late at night while you're sleepin' poison ivy comes a'creepin'
Arou-ou-ou-ou-ou-ound

Measles make you bumpy
And mumps'll make you lumpy
And chicken pox'll make you jump and twitch
A common cold'll fool ya
And whooping cough can cool ya
But poison ivy, Lord'll make you itch!!

You're gonna need an ocean of calamine lotion
You'll be scratchin' like a hound
The minute you start to mess around

Poison iv-y-y-y-y, poison iv-y-y-y-y
Late at night while you're sleepin' poison ivy comes a'creepin'
Arou-ou-ou-ou-ou-ound


la da la da la da
la da la da la da
la da la da la da
la da la da la da

[lmartiny]

Laughing!!! Do they even still make that stuff? I didn't use it on my son. I never even thought of it. Probably because of my own childhood "trauma" with it.

[exasperatus2002]

I grew up in the country and as a hunter/fisherman I run into it all the time. As a kid if I got it bad, mom would make me take a bleach bath. It'd dry up the rash quicker then calamine lotion. But if you're sensitive I wouldnt try it.

[lmartiny]

I definately have sensitive skin. Its plagued me all my life. Now out of curiosity, I'll have to check out Calamine lotion. Is it still out there??

[tangers40]

yep, they still sell calamine. in the pink bottles, no less i remember having that stuff all over, including in my hair, when i had chicken pox as a kid. but yes, most large stores should carry some. you can find it in the first aid section, most likely with the bandaids/hydrocortisone creams/antibiotic ointments.

[jessicalee]

i know this is a super old thread... but... just in case......... some one else gets the poison ivy rash..... try jewel-weed lotion to dry it up and relieve itchiness. i am super allergic to everything and this is the only stuff that has ever helped me.... generally available in the refrigerated section of your local health food or natural medicine shop

[Dendian]

I never saw this thread first time around, but I got into some poison oak today (west coast variety of poison ivy).

I have calamine lotion - its still around - but my best weapon against it is homeopathic poison oak pills (available at health food stores or some pharmacies). It works for poison ivy too. I don't know if they would work for super sensitive people, but it actually gets your whole body - inside and out - to fight the poison oak. I take two tablets under my tongue when I get the rash and it goes away - almost instantly. No itching - no redness - for two hours, then I take another two. My mom gets poison oak (she got it once really bad by driving past a brush fire that was burning poison oak - she got it in her lymph system), and I finally got her to try the tablets and they work for her also. Its safe to use for children as well - so long as they are not lactose intolerant (the pills use milk). It even builds up your resistance to the poison oak - so it affects you and less when you get into it.

[Daethen]

I never used to be affected by it, but that has changed since I cut down a huge patch of it and got the heart sap on me. I now get it really badly. I use caladryl which is a clear product. If you get super itchy, running the area under HOT water will temporarily take it away. The last time I got it bad I was on steroids for 45 days before it would go away. And that was after a cortizone shot. It is just as bad when dead as when alive. My hubby can wallow in it and get nothing out of it. I can get it from the dog!!

[Stitz]

Originally Posted by Daethen

I never used to be affected by it, but that has changed since I cut down a huge patch of it and got the heart sap on me. I now get it really badly. I use caladryl which is a clear product. If you get super itchy, running the area under HOT water will temporarily take it away. The last time I got it bad I was on steroids for 45 days before it would go away. And that was after a cortizone shot. It is just as bad when dead as when alive. My hubby can wallow in it and get nothing out of it. I can get it from the dog!!

The absolute BEST treatment?

AVOID IT!

warm, soapy water may ameliorate the results/symptoms....



GOOD LUCK!

--Stitz--

[Daethen]

I TOTALLY agree with you stitz!!!!!

[orchids4me]

Its the opposite of like example you get vaccines to expose you and help your immune system fight it. With allergies like to bees for example the mast cells have memmory but each time you are exposed or in my scenario stung you don't become immune its the opposite its worse each time mast cells and triggered histamines go nuts and inflamation. And somethings can cause anafalactic (spelling) shock resulting in death. Those of you exposed to it being burned especially you guys may need an epi pen in your arsonal talk to your doctors if your highly allergic like jonada sounds. She got a whammy dose of poison ivy juice so she's. At risk also.
Please be careful
Emmaye

[Daethen]

I got a light case of it while I was pregnant. That was the worst because they wouldn't even do a topical steroid. It didn't spread like it has in the past and that I attribute to devine intervention. I should have been head to toe.