Do You Suffer from Severe Reactions to Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac?
Northwestern Pennsylvania is a great place to hike, bike, garden, and enjoy other outdoor activities, however, an allergic reaction to poison ivy, poison sumac or poison oak could make these activities a little less enjoyable. According to the U.S. Forest Service, 70 to 85 percent of people exposed to these poisonous plants will develop an allergic reaction. Also, the sensitivity to these plants gets worse with every exposure.
Patricia ‘Pat’ Buck, an outdoor enthusiast and customer of Linesville Pharmacy, has had severe allergic reactions to poison ivy every summer, and sometimes, even in winter.
“I can get poison ivy without even touching it. I have it all summer. I get it so easily. I can even get poison ivy in the winter from burning wood,” Pat says, “I literally almost always have it on my feet, all the way up my legs, on my belly, on my back, on my face, down my arms… just all over me.”
Last summer, Pat stopped into Linesville Pharmacy. Red, blotchy rashes covered her face, hands, and arms. Becky Bercis, resident pharmacist, saw the condition of Pat’s skin and immediately offered to help.
“She even had it in her ears!” Becky exclaims.
Becky knew if Pat were to take steroids for her allergic reaction to poison ivy, she would have to do so with extreme caution because of Pat’s diabetic health condition. Steroids could cause Pat’s blood glucose levels to increase and cause insulin resistance.
“I’m a diabetic so my doctor didn’t want to give me steroids. It makes your count go up,” Pat explains.
Becky reached out to other pharmacies and pharmacists for insight related to Pat’s situation.
After multiple phone calls, she learned of a homeopathic medicine called Outdoor Joe’s (Rhus Tox). This product contained Rhus Toxicodendron which is proven to be extremely helpful in reducing the allergic effects of poison ivy. The medicine is also homeopathic, so it does not cause reactions with other medications. More importantly, it did not interfere with diabetic health conditions.
Becky has been working as Linesville Pharmacy’s resident pharmacist since 2018.
“All pharmacies are trying to get people their medicine, but some go a little farther with personal service,” Becky says, “there are solutions to most problems, you have to get a little creative!”
This year, Pat is at ease about the summer’s upcoming threat of itchy rashes. She finished taking her doses of Outdoor Joe’s (Rhus Tox) in mid-March.
“If you get poison ivy like I do, you want to take it,” Pat says.
Outdoor Joe’s (Rhus Tox) can be taken throughout the year, but it is highly recommended to begin administering doses during the months in which poison ivy is dormant (December through April). Protection against poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac allergic reactions last up to a year. Outdoor Joe’s (Rhus Tox) is available (without a prescription) at Linesville Pharmacy, Herbert's Pharmacy, Jamestown Pharmacy, Linesville Pharmacy, Mercer Pharmacy, Reynolds Pharmacy and Greenville Pharmacy.
