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Poison oak can be a harmful plant if you touch it, as its urushiol oil will cause a nasty rash.
What's the Difference Between Poison Oak and Poison Ivy?
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I've always been told that poison oak is a western North America plant but you say there is an eastern variety. What does it look like and what is its range? Does it look very similar to the western variety and is it present on Long Island, NY?
I have been battling poison oak this past week. I finally ordered jewelweed salve from amazon and it worked so fast. I had scabby, pockmarked, quasi-modo cheeks and that salve worked right away. It is noticeably better after just a few hours and so much relief.
Our family had poison ivy growing around the base of trees in N. FL. When I took my young children to the local doctor with the rash, he recommended using All laundry detergent to wash off our clothes. It worked!
Many years ago I got poison oak symptoms while clearing brush from property in Northern California, I found a product I think it was called "Jack's Poison Oak Remedy", the main ingredient is "Phenol" the same as in Chloraseptic Spray ( for sore throats ). Since then "Jacks's" has been hard to find but Chloraseptic is readily available everywhere. What "Phenol" does is numb the nerve endings so you don't scratch the blisters which release the fluids and causes the spreading. It is not a cure but it relieves the itching. Washing the affected area with strong soap and gently drying with paper towels ( and throw them away ) helps. Once upon a time Fels Naphtha soap had "Naphtha" in it and it really worked and that would dry out the resins ( and your skin ) but that soap no longer has Naphtha in it. I do not recommend using any kind of product like Naphtha as it is toxic.
How do you get rid of poison oak or poison ivy?
Hi, Barbara. There are many things that you can try. But firstly, remember to protect your body and eyes from the poison ivy/oak while attempting to remove it. Wearing proper protection, you can dig up the plants. You will have to get the entire root system and then dispose of it. Others swear by pouring boiling water at the base of the plants. This takes several applications, but when the plants began to wilt and shrink back, you can stop. You can try filling a sprayer with undiluted white vinegar and spraying the leaves and crowns of the plants. After either of these techniques, it would be best to dig out the plants. And here is a little less conventional method—try goats! Depending on where you live, farms will often rent out goats to eradicate unwanted plants. The poison ivy does not bother the goats.
I have found that treating the rash with Witch Hazel is very effective.
Witch hazel is a fantastic remedy for so many things!
OMgosh I’m so allergic to urishol it’s NOT funny. My head yes head swells the size of a basketball my eyes sweep shut so much so I woke up and thought I had gone blind! My legs had pustules blisters and scarlet coloring all the while weeping pus down my legs as I was demented in itching and crying in pain! And that was the first time I’m came in contact wit it, I was 9 years old. Now it’s worse!!!
At first sign go directly to a hospital emergency room.