Recognizing Poison Oak Before It's Too Late

[@seanparchim9165]

Ever since a young boy I've known what it looks like,we used to call my brother balloon boy because he knew what it was and how bad his reaction was but still got it

[@HangtownDave]

Indian Soap root found throughout the western USA, aka Indian soap plant, Indian soap weed, etc.. Used by countless generations of indigenous Americans for a myriad of uses such as a cure for poison oak exposure, the washing of clothes, shampoo, etc. Works better than anything else available on the market. Grows wild along the entire US Pacific coast and inland areas of oak savannah woodlands . Can be utilized as a survival method of catching fish in creeks. Changes the ionic bonds aka surface tension/polarity of the water which in turn causes the fish to float to the surface for a brief amount of time due to oxygen depravation. Really enjoy your channel. Send me a line of you ever want to explore the southern coast of Oregon. Ciao!

[@WesternEclectic]

Wow, that's really cool; thanks for posting this! I hadn't ever heard of this plant. I assume this is it: www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/chlorogalum_pomeridianum.shtml And yes, this article mentions it can be used to stun fish and they'll float to the surface (although it also points out that doing so is illegal 😬). Thanks for checking in, and I'll take you up on that offer to hang out if I'm headed to the southern coast sometime. Take care!

[@brianl9944]

very informative and educational videos... oh and thanks for not adding music to them... subscribed

[@WesternEclectic]

Haha. You're welcome.

[@gus473]

👍 Good reminder about some nasty stuff! When I know I have been in it, my wash is Dawn dish detergent plus a spoonful or so of Borax powder! Then, as you recommend: scrub, scrub, scrub!

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Mike, good to hear from you, as always. I assume the borax provides some abrasive to help make all the scrubbing even more effective? Anyhow, thanks for checking in and sharing your remedy! 😊

[@gus473]

@@WesternEclectic Thanks, and you're exactly right: a bit of grit for scrubbing! Stay well!

[@jasonjones6428]

I have a relative who lives up in the foothills here in central California. His acreage has quite a bit of poison oak that pops up and he is often exposed to it. He absolutely swears by using GOJO Natural Orange pumice hand cleaner, and claims that it removes the poison oak oils from the skin better than anything else. He carries a container of it on his tractor when he’s out doing his yard work. It’s an interesting idea, and I do have to admit thst GOJO removes engine oil and grease from my hands more efficiently than any other product I’ve tried. It makes sense thst it would be good for poison oak as well.

[@maestrodiogenesbillionaire870]

Poison oak is awesome stuff , when I lived in California it would grow like small trees. Another thing not to do with poison oak is burn it . If you get the smoke on you or breath it in you will not have a good day. My father would get it and it would blister up like a burn from fire.

[@WesternEclectic]

Good point about the dangers of burning it! I have never experienced this firsthand (and I hope I never do), but I've heard it can be really bad. Thanks for checking in.

[@dhaliaseed]

Thanks you I am nanny to two small boys and they are always running thru the woods lol so I will be on the look out 👀

[@Exploer8591]

Did you have any reaction after washing?

[@WesternEclectic]

Haha, I had a feeling someone would ask that! I am happy to report that I am totally fine today; no reaction at all from handling the leaves yesterday. But I definitely scrubbed. A lot.

[@Exploer8591]

@@WesternEclectic Please let me know if you do. Symptoms can take up to three days to appear. I used to fish on the Rogue River bellow Rainie Falls. Out-of-state rafters would hike the trails down river as their rafts were being roped over the falls. People would walk right through that stuff without knowing what it was, glad to see you educating.them. A dose of poison oak can make one extremely uncomfortable.

[@WesternEclectic]

@@Exploer8591 I will definitely let you know. And if I do have a reaction, it would mean my "remedy" of lots of scrubbing is BS, so I would take down this video so I don't mislead anyone. But yeah, same here: Most folks I see who get into poison oak had no idea it was even there.

[@Exploer8591]

@@WesternEclectic 🤣 Well, I hope you don't get it, but, if you do have a severe reaction, a shot of cortisone will clear it right up. I've heard that scrubbing with a washcloth and dish soap does work, with cold to tepid water. I guess it's not good to use hot water because it opens up the pores in your skin and allows the oil in. You're a lot braver than I am. I'm highly allergic to it and won't go near it. I would never grab hold of it with my hand.

[@WesternEclectic]

@@Exploer8591 Haha, "dumb" might be a better word choice than "brave," but we'll see! 😁