poison oak and mosquitoes

[Asmbandits]

Poison oak and mosquitoes go hand in hand with prospecting and I often wonder how the old times dealt with this as im sure they had to and without chemicals and ointments we have today. While on the claim last week I could only stay for about two hours as the mosquitos we thicker than ive ever witnessed in my lifetime, I didn't have on any bug spray and the next day I was covered in bites so bad it looked like I had chicken poxes! Ill be sure to bring the bug spray next time, also was going to look into one of them pager like clip on things that's supposta keep them away..

I got poison oak really bad one year, it was early January and I was trail blazing through an area that looked like just sticks but it was poison oak without any leaves and I ended up having to go to the hospital and getting all kinds of shots to help my body fight it off, one of my arms developed an infection it was so bad..

My dad and I who I prospect with quit a bit ponder how the old times dealt with this, especially the PO. He seems to think that the more you come in contact with it you develop an immunity to it but in not sure if I believe this or if its an old wise tale.

Anyone have any ideas on this or info passed down on how it was dealt with back in the days, Seems like some of the best ground is usually covered in PO..

 

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[Aufisher]

I got it all over bad once at age 8. Took some kind of pills. Never got it bad again but get small rashes occasionally. Maybe an argument for immunity. ......

 

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[mytimetoshine]

Man. Skeeters and poison oak suck soooo bad. I had poison oak several times as a kid. Got it on my junk...that's a nightmare let me tell you. Then got it on my shins really bad. Whole leg from the knee to the ankle turned purple then black. Got some steroid injection that had basically no effect. Weird thing is since then I haven't got it. Although I went a long time without going near it. Now that I've been prospecting I'm seeing it everywhere but haven't got it...go figure

 

[Hoser John]

Mosquitos are absolutely no problem for almost 8 years now as Organic Repel, a mix of eucalyptus oil and lemon oil keeps them at bay for 8+ hours. NO DEET as nothing kills your liver faster and great for causing cancer also. Consumers Reports has a great article(read one 8 years ago/used ever since) on this subject complete with who,what and how experiments were performed to prove what works and what does NOT. Poison oak is ez too...stay the LL away and technu works mighty fine too for errors-John

 

[Goldwasher]

Mosquitos are absolutely no problem for almost 8 years now as Organic Repel, a mix of eucalyptus oil and lemon oil keeps them at bay for 8+ hours. NO DEET as nothing kills your liver faster and great for causing cancer also. Consumers Reports has a great article(read one 8 years ago/used ever since) on this subject complete with who,what and how experiments were performed to prove what works and what does NOT. Poison oak is ez too...stay the LL away and technu works mighty fine too for errors-John

stat the hell away....hard to do when the whole country is covered with it here....and with three of our mini- winter/spring cycles this year....not only is it every where those "leaves of three" are the size of dinner plates!!
Yes, avoid rolling in it but,in a lot mining areas around here you can't simply stay way from it.

And yes deet is not the kind of stuff you want to rub into your skin on a regular basis..never use it anymore... Like I said in Alaska we soaked cardboard and hung it on our packs....either way you can b pretty damn exposed to the stuff without ill affect...so many horror stories sheesh!!!!

 

[goldenmojo]

I hate the stuff it affects me bad got my 3rd case this year so far. View attachment 1174305

That pic is similar to what I would look like after a wild weekend when I was young and single...

 

[Jeff95531]

Mosquitos are absolutely no problem for almost 8 years now as Organic Repel, a mix of eucalyptus oil and lemon oil keeps them at bay for 8+ hours. NO DEET as nothing kills your liver faster and great for causing cancer also. Consumers Reports has a great article(read one 8 years ago/used ever since) on this subject complete with who,what and how experiments were performed to prove what works and what does NOT. Poison oak is ez too...stay the LL away and technu works mighty fine too for errors-John

Like this one John?

REPEL Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent Spray, 4 oz. - Eastern Mountain Sports

 

[kayakpat]

that picture is of pure misery

 

[Duckwalk]

Mine is still popping up but I have contracted the itch when Kevin was here last Thursday. No doubt a rash soon...

 

[beekbuster]

yes the oils work, sunscreen and bug repelant are cancer in a can. if i got po that bad id be much more careful what plants i touched. is ivy and sumac similer or worse?

 

[beekbuster]

if anyone in redding want to know the feeling of the oak all over, just go metal detect swaysey recreation area. come home with more than you bargained for.

 

[KevinInColorado]

Mine is still popping up but I have contracted the itch when Kevin was here last Thursday. No doubt a rash soon...

So sorry to hear that Ducky. No itch on me this time, got lucky!

 

[Hoser John]

I noticed the other morning out detecting that EVERYWHERE has plenty of poison oak in this county. No water but plenty of that ungodly oak. Those pics posted are what Blackbone used to get head to toe. Never forget when he got the brainstorm to BURN the poison oak, breathed it in, and in the hospital for a week+ as in his blood and everywhere on his body John

 

[RookieDad]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tecnu

Available at most pharmacies.
Works great.

 

[beekbuster]

if you get the bar soap, it works after the rash has poped up. do not use the gritty side, but lather up your area really well and let it dry. wash it off and do it again every few hours.more times the better. it dries out the area so it stops spreading. i can get rid of it in three days doing this. hope this helps

 

[okbasspro]

Wash spot real good and get the oil off it will not spread. I use the bar soap it does a good job. I am also a fan of a blow dryer it takes the itch out for 8 hrs

 

[iowa trout]

Been at it for many moons diagnosed systemic ,Naphtha bar at the sink everyday use .At the first sighn I wash area with gasoline then restore lightly with lotion repeat as necessary harsh but works.

 

[RookieDad]

Been at it for many moons diagnosed systemic ,Naphtha bar at the sink everyday use .At the first sighn I wash area with gasoline then restore lightly with lotion repeat as necessary harsh but works.

Do you light the gasoline?

 

[enamel7]

I can smash it in my hands and rub it all over, never get it! I freak alot of people out doing that!

 

[Hoser John]

Watch out as that immunity wanes with age. You still put it on your equipment, truck, dogs and spread it to anything and everywhere NASTY stuff-John

 

[rodoconnor]

Do you light the gasoline?

Sometimes you feel like doing that !