September 18, 201313 yr comment_9042 Last week I had a night that I could hardly sleep because of itching all over me. Â Thought I had gotten into a mosquito nest. Â Even had to take some Benedrine to start quieting it down. Â Same thing happened the next night even though I had worn long sleeve shirt in the shop. Â Turned out to be Sephelle ! ! ! ! ! Â I had started a new project using Sephelle wood and hadn't worn a mask (still had the fan on high blowing across my face). Â The third day I used the mask and had no problems.It got me thinking (I know, it's hard to believe). Â Have any of you gotten an allergic reaction to any wood that you have used????? Â Tell us the species and your reaction and how you dealt with it. Â It will be an alert to us all.Fredaka Pop's Shopwww.pops-shop.com'Soooooo many patterns - sooooo little time'Scroll Saw Forum Host Report
September 18, 201313 yr comment_9050 None, so far. But, I stick with domestics....unless it's a Scotch. Gene'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton Report
September 18, 201313 yr comment_9049 Guess I'm lucky because I haven't had any reactions to the woods if used. Here's a link to a list of Wood Toxicity- http://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/wood-allergies-and-toxicity/ Lew Kauffman-Wood Turners Forum HostTime Traveler and Purveyor of the Universe's Finest Custom Rolling Pins! Report
September 18, 201313 yr comment_9048 There are a lot of different woods that can cause allergic reactions. The thing about allergies is that many people think that this is just something that kids go through and then out grow as their bodies mature. But many adults get allergies as they get older as their bodies change. I had bad allergies as a young kid growing up and had to take allergy shots for 3-4 years on a weekly basis from age 4 to 8 before being weaned off of them. in 2012 I had a really rough year with bad bronchitis starting in January which then turned into pneumonia in March and continued throughout most of the year. I was on every asthma/bronchial med around until I was sent to a lung doctor that had me do a breathing test inside an enclosed box that had all kinds of sensors to test what was coming out of my lungs. Well, the answer was allergies. I then went to an allergist and had the testing done and low and behold it was found that I am now allergic to just about every green plant, tree and weed. I just about cried when I heard that as I thought I would have to give up woodworking. But the doctor said that with a few precautions in the shop with dust collection, masks and clothing as well as a long term segment of allergy shots and medications, I would be fine. So in January I started on the allergy shots where I go once a week and get 3 shots. After the first year I will then be cut back to every 2 weeks and then down the road go to once a month. But where I am going with all of this is that there are more and more people as they get older that have to deal with allergies and allergic reactions then ever before as this is not just something that children go through. In fact more and more people in their 40's, 50's and 60's are now having to deal with allergies more than ever before. I would suggest that anyone (yourself included) talk with your family physician about this and see if getting tested for allergies would be beneficial for you. The cost for seeing an allergist and having the testing done is covered by most medical insurances. For me on our Anthem/Blue Cross insurance the testing and shot regiments are all covered 100% after my yearly out of pocket deductible is met and with pre-notification. So for me that is basically $500 for the year. I have to say that since I have started the allergy shots I have been a lot healthier with far less respiratory issues.Allen WorshamCorona, CAallenworsham@earthlink.net'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk.' J. Vernon McGee“Our greatest fear should not be that we won’t succeed, but that we will succeed at something that doesn’t matter.†D.L. Moody Report
September 19, 201313 yr Author comment_9047 Allen - great advice - thanksLewis - great site - thanksGene - I'll drink to thatFredaka Pop's Shopwww.pops-shop.com'Soooooo many patterns - sooooo little time'Scroll Saw Forum Host Report
September 19, 201313 yr comment_9046 Fred, nothing that I can for sure say causes anything. But usually I am doing two or three different woods all the time so it might be hard for me to tell. Now I am itching.John MoodySite AdministratorJohn Moody Woodworkshttp://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com Report
September 19, 201313 yr comment_9045 Any antihistamine will help. sycamore used to screw with me but my worst is poison ivy by far. Â then a dip in a well chlorinated pool is a must!!! Report
September 20, 201313 yr comment_9044 Happily, I haven't thought about Poison Ivy since leaving the midwest. Just reading Dragon's post gives me bad thoughts. I am, or used to be, HIGHLY allergic. I like to work rough wood with the bark still attached. I know that if I were still in IL, I'd get hold of some that had PI growing on it and I'd be in big trouble. Never heard of the chlorine remedy, but Calamine lotion is for the birds.Gene'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton Report
September 20, 201313 yr comment_9043 Tain't the first time I heard of this allergy.Good thing the lungs didn't blow up too.Allergies can come and go too.One year in college I was profoundly allergic to  Timothy grass pollen.I could go into a field of timothy and in mere minutes I'd be helpless & crawling my way out barely able to make it.The next year poof, no more allergy.Prolly not a bad idea to rub a fresh cut piece of any exotic new-to-you species of wood on your skin someplace sensitive and sit back and see what pops up. Report
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