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Poison Oak is the Devil's Plant

euphoria

euphoria

Bluelight Crew
Joined
Dec 23, 2004
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So I've been cursed with the rash of the poisonous oak leaf. I am not really sure how this happened because I know what the plant looks like, and although I see it everywhere when I'm hiking I stay far away from it and am usually wearing pants and long sleeves. My boyfriend got it pretty much covering his body though, and I am thinking some of the oils from him got transferred to me at some point shortly after his contact with the leaves. He isn't from this area and didn't know what it looked like. So now we're both itching our skin until it's raw. Let me tell you, it's fun. I had to leave work early today because I was strongly considering taking a bath in bleach. I've had poison ivy before and I thought that was itchy, but bearable. Well this poison oak rash is on a whole different level. This is why I shall now call it the devil's plant.


Anyone know of any magical treatments, indian remedies, or drugs I can take? I'm crawling out of my skin here, pun intended. Shoooot meeee :!


Sincerely,
Chief Itchalot
 
^ If it's any comfort, let me tell you, I feel your pain! I just got over a bout of poison oak rash, not a couple months ago, covering my arms, hands, belly, and back (note to self: you can only get so high before the wilderness goes from beautiful to perilous :P). My hands were the worst -- they were covered with countless little blisters!

Sadly I can't recommend a magic cure. I just rode it out, myself. I've got the scars to prove it, too. 8(

Where do you live? I live in Southern California, and it's *everywhere* here!
 
I'm in norcal and its EVERYWHERE. a lot of the trails have gotten completely out of control and overgrown with poison oak everywhere. I think of it as a million barbed wire fences surrounding the sides of the trails....



Ugh I woke up at 6am so itchy I was going out of my mind so I took a shower, shaved everything, and covered my entire body in coconut oil. I feel slightly better. I am so lubed up right now hahahahha, if I was in a pool there's no way you could grab me :D lmfao
 
I am thinking some of the oils from him got transferred to me at some point shortly after his contact with the leaves.
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Said contact would have had to have occurred within a few ours of his exposure to the plant (very likely before appearance of the rash). Urishiol inheres in clothes for longer though.

Anyone know of any magical treatments
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See a physician and receive topical corticosteroids (but not simple hydrocortisone). In my experience, they are as effective as oral prednisone but with far fewer side-effects. I am highly allergic and have had roughly 9 cases of poison oak over my life time, and I am kicking myself for not having discovered this until the fifth or so (I had an inept pediatrician :P).

Michael said:
it's the same rash, caused by the same compound. you just have it worse this time.
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The concentration of urishiol in poison oak is roughly twice that in poison ivy.

ebola
 
I remember my botany teacher saying it is debatable whether they are truly distinct species or just named based on whether it is a woody plant or climbing vine.

Don't understand that as according to wikipedia the chemical structure of the oil was unique.

Just remember, shit could be much worse. I've heard stories of people doing controlled burns and inhaling it. I'm very glad I've never encountered this plant.
 
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