Immunity through Mithridatism to poison ivy
So I'm very much an outdoorsman and currently have poison ivy spreading on my hand, arm, armpit, stomach. I know it's an allergic reaction to urushol (I think I spelt it right) which causes the rash and every other fun thing that goes with it.
I've read on some not so trustworthy sites that eating small amount regularly will give you immunity by the end of the year (yea real helpful for the summer) but will go away if you stop "taking" it. Basicly that means you would need your own personal vine to grow and harvest. Another thought I had but couldn't find any info about was making it into a tea or adding the oil to a drink in very small amounts to introduce it to your system. As a note unless you can roll around in the plant and not get it you are allergic to it and even if you are not right now that can change in the future. so don't roll around in it.
This is something that tends to happen with individuals who work with venomous snakes. They get bitten so much they start becoming immune to it (there is one man that is immune to one of the most venomous snakes). Is this able to be carried over to this application?
Also as a final not many animals are able to eat and touch the plant because they are not allergic and cannot be. Animals like this are dogs, deer, horses. Can we use that to mod ourselves to be immune and what kind of equipment would one need to test it (not saying human test) or even see it? Also I'm not rubbing poison ivy on myself without proof.
I've read on some not so trustworthy sites that eating small amount regularly will give you immunity by the end of the year (yea real helpful for the summer) but will go away if you stop "taking" it. Basicly that means you would need your own personal vine to grow and harvest. Another thought I had but couldn't find any info about was making it into a tea or adding the oil to a drink in very small amounts to introduce it to your system. As a note unless you can roll around in the plant and not get it you are allergic to it and even if you are not right now that can change in the future. so don't roll around in it.
This is something that tends to happen with individuals who work with venomous snakes. They get bitten so much they start becoming immune to it (there is one man that is immune to one of the most venomous snakes). Is this able to be carried over to this application?
Also as a final not many animals are able to eat and touch the plant because they are not allergic and cannot be. Animals like this are dogs, deer, horses. Can we use that to mod ourselves to be immune and what kind of equipment would one need to test it (not saying human test) or even see it? Also I'm not rubbing poison ivy on myself without proof.
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How do I access that?
I know that with other allergies (animal dander in particular), allergists can give small amounts frequently over the course of a year or so to induce immunity. I also know they will not attempt this procedure for food allergies, as the reactions tend to be more violent and deadly.
https://lacrosseallergy.com/why-the-la-crosse-method/treating-allergy-conditions/contact-allergy/
It talks about the study but nothing more.
https://twitter.com/search?q=#icanhazpdf
Worth trying it out?
@birdmachine if I have less success looking for information I'll definitely look at that.
The other thought I had was why are some animals truly able to not be affected by it like deer? My thought is it has to do with the fact that they actually prefer to eat it but I have no idea how to prove or disprove that.
Here's the paper I'm looking at currently. It doesn't give any real specifics on how what they dilute with that I could see. I'm also rusty with papers.
http://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/ja/2012/253879.pdf
http://www.waojournal.org/content/7/S1/P10
Will it make a difference between injection vs sublingual in the amount you use to dilute or does it all have to be readjusted for the different method?
@fuzzyblaa100
In my experience you can build up tolerances but you can also get really wrecked if you've been exposed before. The first time I was exposed it took two weeks for my rashes to show up and they were pretty bad.
I worked a few field seasons (doing outdoor reasearchy crap) and I had really really strong reactions at the beginning of the season... Like, debilitating because my body had been exposed previously. But after practically swimming in it for a few months the reactions became small and barely noticeable (either that or I got way more paranoid and better at avoiding it~ the potency of the plants can vary regionally and seasonally as well~)
I really appreciate that if you did find that out I would love to start taking it before I really take to the outdoors this spring / summer/ fall.
If there is a flaw in this please let me know.
The part I'm struggling with right now is what to dilute it in that is ok to put into my mouth. I was thinking maybe an olive oil or some other type of oil that it will mix into.
For keeping it off me I'm going to have on disposable gloves, and not even touch the leaves when I'm taking them I'm thinking a pair of long tongs like what I use for feeding reptiles. I may even get some sleeves that I can just toss after.
After I finish harvesting it I'll wash with alcohol to remove any possible oils that got on my arms and hands.
I had been jumping around papers and saving a bunch that could have any relevance to finding an amount. The only thing that seems to be constant is using a diluted amount externally on like an arm and seeing the reaction and keep testing until you find one that has the least severe while still having one.
As much as I hate that approach I can't find anything better(aside from eating the leaves in small amounts.)
I'll have to take a look at the soxhlet.