smokechase II said:
Treeseer:
A strong immune system isn't what gives individuals the ability to avoid getting urisol rashes. It is an intelligent one. Those who do not react to the ivy, oak or sumac plants do so simply because their body doesn't react to the urisol.
Unfortunately, those that do have a reaction do so because their immune systems react strongly.
beowulf343:
"Why can't doctors take someone who is immune to poison ivy or oak and synthesize an antidote from their blood, dna, etc? "
Doctors are way beyond us. Back in the 1950's a leading research physician, (the same guy who did the retin A - wrinkle remover studies), did the definitive study on urisol exposure/reactions. He concluded that we simply don't know how the immune system works on problems of this nature. His best guess was that if a large population got enough exposure to an irritant like poison oak, that eventually all but 5% would develop a reaction. He had no idea why. Why not all nor why those others would be spared.
In short, you've got to understand not just the problem, but the solution in medicine and we can't synthesize an antidote when we don't know what it is. We are not there yet unless we think big and go cloning.
A fairly significant point is that all should avoid urisol exposure if reasonably possible. I have seen so many that swore they didn't get it eventually develop a reaction.
I also am one of those guys that don't have a reaction to the poison.
Knowing this, I tackle some of the most poison infested jobs possible.
Once in a great while, I'll have a very mild reaction, a few days later... only after swimming in it.
A couple of my helpers can't seem to get through the night after coming into contact with it.... trips to the E.R. for steroids that last another 6 months or so.
I mean these guys swell up like ticks on a dog!! lips, face, and head swells up, welts all over.
Over the years they've learned to ID it and keep their distance.
As far as a cure .... what makes you think they don't have one already?
It's been done.
Don't that have to go through the FDA?
The same ones that took MGN Ultra 3 off of the shelf.
That's what blisters my a$$.