Poison Ivy

I thought it would take 'an ocean of Calamine lotion'. In Brothers and Keepers, I mention that my son and I had cut back a bunch of vines and weeds. I paid the price.

Poison Ivy is quite toxic re contact allergy. It can also make one sick. Even in the Winter, when all the leaves and berries are gone, the wood contains urushiol, the skin irritant that causes the rash that drives one crazy. And the smoke from burning can produce the same rash on the lining of the lungs -shudder-. If eaten, the internal rash spreads to other organs. Terrible. Contamination can continue if there are traces already spread of the urushiol on objects. The oil can be active for several years. Yipes! It runs its course usually within two weeks and can continue for up to four weeks in less severe areas.

The insides of my calves were hit and on my left forearm. I had a case once ALL over my legs and some on the um crotch. That was intense. I still have sensitive reddened skin with a bit of secondary non weeping rash from this current encounter. Geez.

I take antihistamines and dab witch hazel on the remaining rash. Before, I applied calamine to dry the fluid from 'weeping' (Which does not spread it interestingly. It's the slower affected areas that do that.). This just treats the rash. It doesn't cure it. It must run its course.

Clipping and cutting vines and weeds obviously has its risk. Bit by bit we pulled and cut. And as I said, so it must be with government. Thus, the risk is commensurate. The reaction can be the same.

We risk infection. We risk irritation, unrest, and a seemingly long treatment. The only 'cure' is long term, systematic extraction. Caution! That might include more risk of residual problems.

Once done, we must remain vigilant, and keep trimming when government threatens to overrun our lives (yards).

Then we must replant the tree of Liberty and nourish it.

It's worth the risk!