yama,
1/4 of once of Urushol is needed to cause rash in every
person on earth
Very scary to think about!
I do want to mention that just because you have never gotten poison ivy in the past doesn't mean you can never get it. It is always best to be cautious when handling the stuff. Because it tends to turn color early now is a good time to become very familiar with the plant. Poor Cady I hope she isn't too uncomfortable. kt

yama: Now it's easy to see, so get to recognize that hairy stem on old vines climbing up trees! Come winter, you can get lured into pulling them down (innocent looking vine without leaves) - bad idea.

My niece in North Carolina got trapped by that. Very unpleasant learning experience.

I bet deep in Cady's heart she's wishing a little itch on you.

Claire

Another unsuspecting way to catch it in the winter when you least expect it ... sometimes in a cut-your-own Christmas tree lot, there will be poison ivy climbing up the trunks of some of the trees. You may not ever see it. So ALWAYS wear gloves when you reach it to haul that fresh-cut tree to the car (of course, if it's a blue spruce, you're going to need more than gloves!!)

There are also urushiol-based lacquers. A component of poison ivy is used in natrapathic medicine to treat arthritis too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lacquer

Nobody asked, but in the absence of Fels Naptha (brown soap of yore) Tecnu is excellent for removing the oil from skin. It takes time to cleanse, cleanse, cleanse and rinse but I've not had PI in the years since I used it. I consider it among the first line first aid products.

I was cutting back huge overgrown rhodies for a client, and my arms were all scratched. Must have encountered PI, and got it into the scratches. Virtually innoculated myself with poison. Finally had the Doc had to pull out the big guns just so I could sleep.

Bad memory