Poison Ivy

I was delighted to see that The Post included poison ivy contagion among the summer myths that need debunking [" Debunking the myths of summer ," Health and Science, June 19]. While practicing pediatrics, I sometimes encountered people who were so firmly convinced that poison ivy is contagious that they just wouldn't accept alternative explanations. The piece accurately described the role of the oil from the poison ivy plant. Unfortunately, it referred to one suffering from poison ivy as the "infected person.

The article " Herbs with ease " [Local Living, May 2] suggested combinations of herbs that might be tasteful in the metaphoric sense, but a couple included plants of doubtful culinary credentials. A neatly clipped border of santolina might be a feast for the eye, but in the mouth it would be repellent. Tastes vary, but what food would be improved by the addition of extremely bitter santolina? The other obvious offender must have been included by someone who is not a "Downton Abbey" fan. That same "Culinary Mediterranean" group...

Before cutting back or weeding an overgrown area, check the bed for poison ivy , with its distinctive three-leaflet form. Young vines may be growing on perennials and shrubs, as well as climbing on trees and supports. Wear protective gear, but be aware that its toxic resin can be rubbed onto clothing. Glyphosate is a particularly effective herbicide in late summer; be careful not to spray desired plants. — Adrian Higgins

I was delighted to see that The Post included poison ivy contagion among the summer myths that need debunking [" Debunking the myths of summer ," Health and Science, June 19]. While practicing pediatrics, I sometimes encountered people who were so firmly convinced that poison ivy is contagious that they just wouldn't accept alternative explanations. The piece accurately described the role of the oil from the poison ivy plant. Unfortunately, it referred to one suffering from poison ivy as the "infected person.

Going camping and hiking in the woods are two of the high points of being a kid. The trouble is, there's more to a forest outing than sleeping under the stars and throwing burrs at your friend. Some things in the woods are dangerous. And while few people will have the misfortune of running into a mother bear with her cubs (this is very dangerous), most of us will cross paths with poison ivy at one time or another. Poison ivy isn't poisonous in the way that, say, a snake's venom can be. However, most people are allergic to a...

Have you ever hesitated before diving into a pool, trying to remember if it's been at least 30 minutes since you ate? Or not itched a mosquito bite for fear that scratching would only make it worse? Health myths buzz around summer pastimes such as swimming, camping, hiking and picnicking like so many gnats. People have a hard time letting go of word-of-mouth wisdom, even when faced with good evidence to the contrary. "Myths stick with us because they make sense to us, on some level," says...

There are things about summer -- long days, shaved ice, fresh-off-the-tree-peaches -- that we love. And then there are those things we simply tolerate because, well, the pessimist in us says that life can't possibly be that perfect, so we must suffer, just a bit. Well, it appears we could be suffering a bit more in coming days. Polar bears might be endangered because global warming is melting their homes on arctic ice shelves, but one species is thriving: poison ivy. A growing body of research shows that in...

The Aug. 23 Metro article "The Kind of Misery Itched in Memory" brought back memories. I grew up in Oxon Hill (1954-79) and, being very sensitive to poison ivy, I knew very well and lived by the saying "Leaves of three? Leave it be!" When I moved to La Plata in 1979, I had no idea that poison ivy grew up trees. Seeing a nasty vine on a tree in my back yard and ignoring the thousands of hairs on it, I pulled it down and became "the beast of La Plata" for a few weeks. Since then, I have added a second couplet to the poison ivy...

Summer is essentially over, and Metro's Icons of Summer series definitely is. We asked readers to vote for their favorite stories, and the results are in: 1. Swimmin' Holes 2. Swimwear, Grilling & Barbecue (tie) 4. Garden Hoses 5. Baseball, Convertibles (tie) 6. Poison Ivy 7. Painted Toes 8. Mosquitoes 9. Camp, "I can't decide" (tie) 11. Hula Hoops

Harold Baer, 92, the creator and former chief of the laboratory of allergenic products at the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration, died Aug. 1 at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda of complications related to lymphoma. Dr. Baer joined the NIH staff in 1960 and retired in 1988 as chief of the allergenic products laboratory, which during his career was placed under the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration. His work included the study of poison ivy extracts, and he helped develop ways to reduce human...

Have you ever hesitated before diving into a pool, trying to remember if it's been at least 30 minutes since you ate? Or not itched a mosquito bite for fear that scratching would only make it worse? Health myths buzz around summer pastimes such as swimming, camping, hiking and picnicking like so many gnats. People have a hard time letting go of word-of-mouth wisdom, even when faced with good evidence to the contrary. "Myths stick with us because they make sense to us, on some level," says...

It's not uncommon for Amy Marburger to be in the middle of math class and suddenly feel as though 1,000 needles are being jabbed into her elbow. It's also not uncommon for her to keep teaching, despite the pain. Marburger, 39, of Lusby had lupus diagnosed in 2001 but suspects she has had the disease since college, when she first noticed one of its symptoms, a "butterfly rash" on her face. This rash over the cheeks and nose is often in the shape of a butterfly, according to the Lupus Foundation Web site.

Before cutting back or weeding an overgrown area, check the bed for poison ivy , with its distinctive three-leaflet form. Young vines may be growing on perennials and shrubs, as well as climbing on trees and supports. Wear protective gear, but be aware that its toxic resin can be rubbed onto clothing. Glyphosate is a particularly effective herbicide in late summer; be careful not to spray desired plants. — Adrian Higgins

Harold Baer, 92, the creator and former chief of the laboratory of allergenic products at the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration, died Aug. 1 at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda of complications related to lymphoma. Dr. Baer joined the NIH staff in 1960 and retired in 1988 as chief of the allergenic products laboratory, which during his career was placed under the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration. His work included the study of poison ivy extracts, and he helped develop ways to...

Carl Gardner, a founder and lead singer of the rock-and-roll vocal group the Coasters, whose hits such as as " Yakety Yak ," "Charlie Brown," "Poison Ivy" and "Young Blood" reflected and lampooned the lives of American teenagers in the 1950s and 1960s, died June 12 at a hospice in Port St. Lucie, Fla. He was 83 and had congestive heart failure and complications from an earlier stroke. Mr. Gardner, a tenor, first recorded as a member of the Los Angeles doo-wop quintet the Robins.

Dear Heloise: I enjoyed the picture of Murphy on the fax machine (a previous Pet Pal — Heloise). I would like to share my experience with my cat, Lizzy, lying on my copying machine. I went to my copier to make copies, and they were coming out light and missing sections of the print. Naturally, I suspected my ink cartridge and replaced it. But the copies looked the same. I took the copier to an office-supply store to see what was wrong and if it could be fixed. I questioned the repairman about what the problem was. He laughed...

Dear Heloise: I enjoyed the picture of Murphy on the fax machine (a previous Pet Pal — Heloise). I would like to share my experience with my cat, Lizzy, lying on my copying machine. I went to my copier to make copies, and they were coming out light and missing sections of the print. Naturally, I suspected my ink cartridge and replaced it. But the copies looked the same. I took the copier to an office-supply store to see what was wrong and if it could be fixed. I questioned the repairman about what the problem was. He laughed and said all he...

Cutting Unlucky Louie as your partner in a money game is as welcome as poison ivy in a nudist camp. Louie, the declarer at 3NT, won the first heart with the king and tried the diamond finesse. East won and shifted to the seven of clubs. Louie played the queen, and West won and shifted back to hearts. East ducked again, and Louie won. Louie then had eight tricks: two hearts, three diamonds, two clubs and a spade. He led a diamond to dummy and returned the queen of spades, but West produced the king and led his last heart, and East took two hearts.

Going camping and hiking in the woods are two of the high points of being a kid. The trouble is, there's more to a forest outing than sleeping under the stars and throwing burrs at your friend. Some things in the woods are dangerous. And while few people will have the misfortune of running into a mother bear with her cubs (this is very dangerous), most of us will cross paths with poison ivy at one time or another. Poison ivy isn't poisonous in the way that, say, a snake's venom can be. However, most people are allergic to a...

Summer is essentially over, and Metro's Icons of Summer series definitely is. We asked readers to vote for their favorite stories, and the results are in: 1. Swimmin' Holes 2. Swimwear, Grilling & Barbecue (tie) 4. Garden Hoses 5. Baseball, Convertibles (tie) 6. Poison Ivy 7. Painted Toes 8. Mosquitoes 9. Camp, "I can't decide" (tie) 11. Hula Hoops