By Glen Wunderlich
If you’ve ever contracted poison ivy, you already know of the misery it can bring. Those that are allergic to the toxic oil called urushiol have probably discovered their own form of temporary relief through various products or home remedies, or in severe cases of the rash, steroid injections administered by a doctor. What I am about to tell you, should change all that.
With hunting season, many of us will come into contact with the dreaded plant in our ventures into the woods. As the leaves fall, the poison ivy plants are a bit more difficult to identify, but all parts of the plants, including vines, have the potential to deliver the irritating oil to clothing, boots, and eventually skin. Accordingly, step one involves your being able to identify the plant even when the leaves have vanished. I’ll leave that up to you; it’s all out there.
Next, if you realize, or even suspect that you’ve come into contact with the plant, wash those clothes, tools, or pets to minimize the spread of contamination. However, if an outbreak is already present, you are going to want to literally get your hands on some Zanfel – a product that removes the oil and stops the incessant itching in less than a minute!
When I discovered this product, I purchased a one-ounce tube through an online source with full expectation that I’d give it a try sooner or later. Since then, after cutting wood in the midst of the dreaded plants, a small rash began to develop near my wrist a few days later. There was no question as to the cause of the skin breakout and itching: poison ivy.
Following the directions on the package, I wet the affected area. Even though the rash was only the size of a quarter, I squeezed out 1 and ½ inches of the ointment from the one-ounce tube. It’s important to note that using less than the prescribed amount will not work.
Then, wet and rub both hands together for 10 seconds, working the product into a paste, thus activating the ingredients.
Rub both hands (up to 3 minutes, if needed, on the affected areas, working Zanfel into the skin until the itching stops – usually 15 seconds for mild to moderate reactions. Thoroughly rinse the area.
Now, days later, the small, telltale rash is still present, but the itching is gone. In addition, a friend, who was working with me in the woods, had a poison ivy rash developing and with one application per directions, had the same positive results.
So, if you, family members or loved ones are susceptible to the allergic reaction of poison ivy or poison sumac (or poison oak in the western part of the country), you may want to keep this miracle product in stock. I’m glad I did.
The cost was about $30 delivered. However, even though the tube contains only one ounce of the product, it will provide about 15 washes, if used according to instructions. While it’s still true that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, this ounce of cure is worth every penny. It works!
The Department of Natural Resources today announced that survey crews from the Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station headed out on Lake Michigan Aug. 24 to conduct surveys of yellow perch populations and other nearshore fish species. The surveys are being conducted from the research vessel Steelhead, as well as from smaller DNR vessels that permit sampling in shallow, nearshore waters. The surveys will run through September 11.