[pct-l] Poison oak - Seiad Valley to Ashland

Sat Mar 19 22:32:35 CDT 2011

first, you did not get "immune" to poison oak; you became desensitized.

it worked for you but others have had different results so research the 
issue for yourself.

Tortoise

<>  Because truth matters.<>

On 03/18/11 21:35, Edward Anderson wrote:
> Hey Mush-Shroomer,
>
> I'm surprised that, by now, realizing all the time you have spent mushroom
> hunting in N.California, and all the times you have suffered from PO, you have
> not immunized yourself to poison oak. I did it over 20 years ago and have not
> had it since.
>
>
> I used to get it every year - more than once each year. I first got it really
> bad when I was in grammar school and lived in Southern California. I had it so
> bad that one eye was completely closed by blisters and I remember that I could
> only see out of the other eye through a very narrow slit. I had it several times
> after that - a very bad case when I was in the Army and stationed at Fort Ord
> and living off post in Carmel Village. My wife and I both got it that time. It
> was winter and we were hiking in Point Lobos Reserve. We got PO from the bare
> branches.  After that I learned to recognize it in all seasons and rarely got
> it. It helps if you wash off as soon as possible with an oil-based soap. I used
> Dove.
>
>
> In the early 1980's we had discovered horses and bought a ranch in
> Comptche. There was lots of Poison Oak on our ranch and in many places where we
> rode and hiked (and picked mushrooms) on the Mendocino Coast. I started getting
> PO again, but not as bad as before (but bad)  even tho I washed. I would get it
> at least three times a year. Knowing what it looked like didn't help much
> because our dogs, our cats, and our horses would have it on their coats and I
> would get it from them. The horses would walk right through it while grazing and
> even sometimes eat it. I could not avoid touching them. 
>
> So, I had heard of poison oak immunization pills, and also drops. I knew and
> learned of others who had immunized themselves. Two brothers, who owned
> a Comptche ranch near ours (third generation) worked around PO all the time but
> never got it. They raised cattle and logged. They claimed that they were born
> immune to PO. How lucky. And they  were not Native Americans. When I tried to
> buy the pills I found that they were no longer available.  They had been taken
> off the market - perhaps because some people got PO from the pills - perhaps
> they were super sensitive - or perhaps they overdosed. Then I discussed the
> subject with my doctor. Dr. Robinson was unconventional, a country doctor who
> was very well respected in my area. He was into a holistic remedies and
> treatments that the Fort Bragg doctors were not aware of or didn't believe in. 
> As I recall, he pointed out that what the PO immunization pills included was an
> extract from the Poison Oak plant. You swallow them and over time, gradually
> develop a resistance and finally an immunity to PO. You don't get PO internally.
> Not inside your mouth, in your throat, in your stomach or in your intestines.
> You can get it in your lungs from the smoke of burning PO. That can be fatal!
>
>
> So, here is what I did - and it worked for me!  I hesitate to even tell about it
> on this list because when I did in 2008, two or three doctors gave me a lot of
> flack claiming that "No one is immune to PO". "It is impossible to immunize
> yourself". One doctor from Germany even said that if you do what I did you would
> get it inside your body - even in your intestines. She said, "This could kill
> you." One or two hikers who posted in claimed that they had successfully
> immunized themselves with the pills. One claimed that he had become free of PO
> for 18 years. He said that he used to get it often. 
>
> Oh yah, I was going to tell you how I immunized myself. Since the pills were no
> longer available I decided to swallow leaves. Please note that I did not say I
> "ate" them. No chewing.I started with a very small leaf - the size of a
> dime. Dr. R. said to be very cautious and use a tweezers and a mirror and wash
> it down with lots of water. Then wait three or four days. ( I should mention
> that I made a mistake the first time and allowed some of the PO oil to mix with
> my saliva and got a little PO on my lips. I learned from that to carefully
>   place the leaf on my tongue and then immediately swallow it with lots of water
> - two full glasses)  If no reaction repeat but with a slightly larger leaf. I
> always waited three or four days between leaves. At the end of more than two
> weeks I was up to a quarter-size leaf with no reaction. Since you can get PO
> externally, I always washed my butt hole with soap and water after a BM.  I
> repeated this treatment for the next two years. It has been over twenty years
> since I have had PO. Same horses, same ranch, until I moved to Agua Dulce nearly
> four years ago. There is quite a bit of PO in places in the canyons of Vasques
> Rocks Park. There is an obscure, hard to find trail (secret) in the park that is
> overgrown in places with PO. It leads, eventually, to a cave with impressive,
> old pictographs. I have gone through and cleared the PO so I could show them to
> friends. Of course I'm careful not to touch the PO. I wonder if I'm still
> immune. I have cleared that trail for the last three years and have not got PO. 
>
> Recognize that people vary in their body chemistry. What worked for me my not
> work for you. If you try this method do so with caution.
>
>
> MendoRider/Ed Anderson
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Scott Williams<baidarker at gmail.com>
> To: CHUCK CHELIN<steeleye at wildblue.net>
> Cc: PCT L<pct-l at backcountry.net>; "Tow, Doug"<DTow at americanriverbank.com>
> Sent: Fri, March 18, 2011 5:01:52 PM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Poison oak - Seiad Valley to Ashland
>
> Hi Doug,
> I get poison oak, and know it in all it's stages as you can get it winter
> and summer, from the leaves or just the sticks.  I mushroom around the stuff
> and have learned to be careful.  I can't remember if you are NOBO or SOBO,
> but last year I hiked NOBO, and down into Seiad Valley from the Marbles, and
> it was unavoidable.  The trail was overgrown with it pretty badly in places,
> and even pushing it out of the way with hiking sticks didn't stop me from
> getting it all over my ankles and lower legs.  Had I known it would be this
> bad, I would have brought along a tube or bottle of Tecnu, which is a
> cleanser specifically for poison oak, and a bit of industrial strength skin
> barrier.  I used to have a tube of skin barrier made to protect workers skin
> from caustic chemicals, but don't remember what brand it was, or what
> happened to it.  It was given to me by a petrochem worker, and I used it for
> several mushroom seasons, and liked it.  I'm sure if you research skin
> barriers, you'll find something.  Put that stuff on your legs before you
> enter a PO area, and remember it will be all over your shoes and socks, both
> of which should be washed in Seiad Valley, with detergent, before you wear
> them again.
>
> I had it so badly by Seiad Valley that I took a dose of prednisone to
> relieve it, and then walked up and out of Seiad Valley on the dirt road, one
> of the alternatives.  I just  didn't want to get it again, it was too
> miserable.  Also somewhat effective is to leave yourself really dirty, and
> with lots of your body's natural oils on the surface before you get into an
> area you know PO will be present, as your natural oils are quite effective
> as a skin barrier.  Not hard for thru hikers.  You guys will be filthy if
> you live up to your "Dirty Hiker Trash" name.
>
> I hope trail crews will have cleared the overgrowth on this section by this
> year.  Last year they were focused on the incredible blow downs, and I think
> the berries and PO were left for later.  Some of this section was completely
> covered by thimble berries, three to five feet high which we ate and were
> delicious, but plenty of PO was in there too.
>
> Shroomer
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