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  • From: "David R. Matusiak" <matusiak AT speakeasy.net>
  • To: InterNetWorkers <internetworkers AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Evil plants
  • Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 10:43:21 -0700 (PDT)


okay, not that i meant to touch off a full discussion of poison ivy factoids,
but while were on the subject...

Kelly Jo's suggestions are excellent. i *am* a little afraid of eating the
plants (errr... think i'll leave that for the bushmen), but she is dead-on
about the Tecnu and jewelweed. i just have a few to add.

the same company that makes Tecnu also make a calamide-infused soothing gel
called CalaGel. when it dries, it leaves a flaky muck on your skin, but it
does
a pretty good job of relieving pain and itching (for 2-3 hours).

the new pony out of the gate is Zanfel. now, i had never heard of this
product,
but everyone (online and off) is giving it rave reviews. oh, and did i
mention
that a tiny little tube is $41.00? (www.zanfel.com) however, in my misery and
desperation, i had to try it. picked it up at the pharmacy last nite and my
initial review is this:

pretty darn good. certainly no miracle cure (which some of the testimonials
allude to), but it did dampen the immense pain, itching and burning for
upwards
of 8 hours (READ: enough to get a decent nights rest). i don't know about
them
fancy, new-fangled chemicals in it, but one active agent is "grit." yup, just
like the apricot facial scrub you had at the spa last summer, Zanfel has a
"soothing, gritty texture" that goes a long way towards itch satisfaction.

no, apricotty smell, alas. is it worth the $41+? well, that has to be decided
by
each individual. i do intend on having this stuff around for next time. i
imagine if you wash your skin with Zanfel (or Tecnu) very soon after contact
that you will be a lucky-ducky.

so, anyone else need in-depth analysis of rash treatment, lemme know.
on that subject, i am "the man."
dave ;)
___ _ _____ . ....
m a h t o o z e e a c k a t s p e e k e e z e e d o t n e t
------ / / ......... . . .

On Fri, 26 Apr 2002, K. Jo Garner wrote:

> Well, since we're talking about grilling and plants...
>
> On Fri, 26 Apr 2002, David R. Matusiak wrote:
> ->2. please do not touch any poisonous plants while doing your yardwork. it
> is
> ->spring and everything is in bloom. beware the urushiol oil.
>
> You can eat the poison ivy leaves (very carefully - don't touch the sides
> of your mouth w/it, start w/small leaves and work to larger ones) which
> will give you a more-or-less immunity to minimal contact with the oil. Of
> course, some people have a "disastrous" reaction to this, so it's not the
> preferred method of prevention.
> http://wwmag.net/Pages/pivy.htm
>
> There is also a product called Tecnu which I saw in the CVS near calamine
> and other anti-itch stuff -- basically, you apply before you go out in
> woods or what have you, or just after you come into contact, and it
> breaks the oils down before penetrating the skin.
>
> Or, look near the poison ivy for jewelweed (nature's anti-poison ivy
> plant). kind of neat how it grows where needed.
> http://altnature.com/jewelweed_photo_page.htm
>
> Cheers
> KJ
>
>
> ----
> "WWJD? JWRTFM"
> http://www.ibiblio.org/kelly/ -=*=- kelly \@/ unc.edu





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