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Tube of delight!

#1 2009-07-22 08:22:51

Benjamin
Member
From: Indianapolis, IN
Registered: 2008-04-19
Posts: 45
Website

Urushi Eye Rash

I got some Black finishing Urushi from Mejiro and have just been doing tests on scrap bamboo and was elated at the fact that it had not given me a rash that whole first day when I had been working with it. Washed hands made sure not to touch the stuff, but sure enough I wake up the next morning and it looks like someone gave me the old one/two.  Underneath both my eyes are huge rashes, I must have had some on my fingers and wiped my eyes during that evening or night.  Itches like none other but ill live. However, I came across something online about it causing blindness if it came in contact with the eyes. That I am worried about.  While the possibility of being a blind wandering shakuhachi master is appealing, I would very much like to keep my eyesight for the time being.  I do wonder about the credibility of this website however due to the fact that they also mention that it can cause death in some instances. Aside from Tairaku's tale of monastics enjoying a deep full bowl of freshly steeped Urushi tea for the purpose of self mummification, I don't really see how simply working with the lacquer would cause something so severe. 

in its current state, the rash just resides on the bags under my eyes and not on the actual ball.  I would like very much for this rash to go away though, and was wondering if using the wipes on or near my eyes was advisable?  Any one else has an ocular adventure with the sap?


Ben

Last edited by Benjamin (2009-07-22 10:46:28)


Coming, all is clear, no doubt about it.  Going, all is clear, without a doubt.
What then is all? -Hosshin

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#2 2009-07-22 09:16:37

nyokai
shihan
From: Portland, ME
Registered: 2005-10-09
Posts: 613
Website

Re: Urushi Eye Rash

I have known several people who got it that bad around the eyes. They did not go blind. I too have gotten it around the eyes, though nowhere near that bad. It must be extremely uncomfortable! Best of luck to you, hope it improves rapidly.

(I don't know the best way to deal with it, one of the makers here probably knows much better.)

Last edited by nyokai (2009-07-22 09:18:46)

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#3 2009-07-22 12:00:15

Zakarius
Member
From: Taichung, TAIWAN
Registered: 2006-04-12
Posts: 361

Re: Urushi Eye Rash

When I was a kid, my allergic reactions to poison ivy, poison oak, etc. were nothing less than dramatic. The active 'ingredient' in urushi is the same as the substance which 80% (est.) of the world's population is allergic to -- urushiol. On a couple of occasions, the rash spread around my eyes and my eyelids got swollen to the point where I actually had to physically peel them back in order to see. (I wish I had a picture of that.)

In both of those cases, I was prescribed steroids which reduced the inflammation quickly. I never heard of any dangers of blindness from getting the urushiol in one's eyes, however.

Zak


塵も積もれば山となる -- "Chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru." -- Piled-up specks of dust become a mountain.

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#4 2009-07-22 14:05:11

lowonthetotem
Member
From: Cape Coral, FL
Registered: 2008-04-05
Posts: 529
Website

Re: Urushi Eye Rash

Benedril is also very useful in reducing allergic rashes.


"Turn like a wheel inside a wheel."

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#5 2009-07-22 14:30:25

Priapus Le Zen M☮nk
Historical Zen Mod
From: St-Jerome, Quebec, Canada
Registered: 2006-04-25
Posts: 612
Website

Re: Urushi Eye Rash

Benjamin wrote:

I got some Black finishing Urushi from Mejiro and have just been doing tests on scrap bamboo and was elated at the fact that it had not given me a rash that whole first day when I had been working with it. Washed hands made sure not to touch the stuff, but sure enough I wake up the next morning and it looks like someone gave me the old one/two.  Underneath both my eyes are huge rashes, I must have had some on my fingers and wiped my eyes during that evening or night.  Itches like none other but ill live. However, I came across something online about it causing blindness if it came in contact with the eyes. That I am worried about.  While the possibility of being a blind wandering shakuhachi master is appealing, I would very much like to keep my eyesight for the time being.  I do wonder about the credibility of this website however due to the fact that they also mention that it can cause death in some instances. Aside from Tairaku's tale of monastics enjoying a deep full bowl of freshly steeped Urushi tea for the purpose of self mummification, I don't really see how simply working with the lacquer would cause something so severe. 

in its current state, the rash just resides on the bags under my eyes and not on the actual ball.  I would like very much for this rash to go away though, and was wondering if using the wipes on or near my eyes was advisable?  Any one else has an ocular adventure with the sap?


Ben

Here is what you get when you play with urushi too much smile!

http://www.pinktentacle.com/images/monk_mummy_3.jpg

http://www.pinktentacle.com/images/monk_mummy_2.jpg

http://www.pinktentacle.com/images/monk_mummy_1.jpg


Sebastien 義真 Cyr
春風館道場 Shunpukan Dojo
St-Jerome, Quebec, Canada
http://www.myspace.com/shunpukandojo

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#6 2009-07-22 16:43:01

Jim Thompson
Moderator
From: Santa Monica, California
Registered: 2007-11-28
Posts: 421

Re: Urushi Eye Rash

All dressed up and no place to go.


" Who do you trust , me or your own eyes?" - Groucho Marx

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#7 2009-07-22 18:14:21

rpowers
Member
From: San Francisco
Registered: 2005-10-09
Posts: 285

Re: Urushi Eye Rash

Jim Thompson wrote:

Gishin wrote:

Here is what you get when you play with urushi too much smile!

http://www.pinktentacle.com/images/monk_mummy_3.jpg

All dressed up and no place to go.

Appears to be a Lakers fan, too.


"Shut up 'n' play . . . " -- Frank Zappa
"Gonna blow some . . ." -- Junior Walker
"It's not the flute." -- Riley Lee

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#8 2009-07-22 23:05:53

Benjamin
Member
From: Indianapolis, IN
Registered: 2008-04-19
Posts: 45
Website

Re: Urushi Eye Rash

Chemical Conjuntivitis!!!  After a trip to the emergency room and a round of differing eye tests and a Morgan's lens procedure, it turns out that I scratched my cornea from the urushi, although I don't know how?  Feel like an idiot.  Perhaps a hazmat suit and a 39 and a half foot pole next time.

Honestly don't know how this happened, I washed my hands twice after each time handling the tools, I didn't even touch the actual urushi.  It kind of bothers me I was looking forward to working with the lacquer. 

On a more positive note, the test pieces came out great!


Coming, all is clear, no doubt about it.  Going, all is clear, without a doubt.
What then is all? -Hosshin

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#9 2009-07-23 01:45:18

Tairaku 太楽
Administrator/Performer
From: Tasmania
Registered: 2005-10-07
Posts: 3226
Website

Re: Urushi Eye Rash

Yet another reason to go J
                                    I
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                                    A
                                    S
                                    H
                                    I


'Progress means simplifying, not complicating' : Bruno Munari

http://www.myspace.com/tairakubrianritchie

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#10 2009-07-23 08:49:10

lowonthetotem
Member
From: Cape Coral, FL
Registered: 2008-04-05
Posts: 529
Website

Re: Urushi Eye Rash

It seems rather drastic, but I think there may be a market for it as a weight loss product.  WHAT PHYSIQUES!


"Turn like a wheel inside a wheel."

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#11 2009-07-23 13:03:13

edosan
Edomologist
From: Salt Lake City
Registered: 2005-10-09
Posts: 2185

Re: Urushi Eye Rash

Tairaku wrote:

Yet another reason to go J
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                                    N
                                    A
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                                    H
                                    I

A reason, yes, but not a particularly

                                         G
                                         O
                                         O
                                         D

                                         O
                                         N
                                         E


Zen is not easy.
It takes effort to attain nothingness.
And then what do you have?
Bupkes.

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#12 2009-07-23 17:39:40

Tairaku 太楽
Administrator/Performer
From: Tasmania
Registered: 2005-10-07
Posts: 3226
Website

Re: Urushi Eye Rash

edosan wrote:

Tairaku wrote:

Yet another reason to go J
                                    I
                                    N
                                    A
                                    S
                                    H
                                    I

A reason, yes, but not a particularly

                                         G
                                         O
                                         O
                                         D

                                         O
                                         N
                                         E

I knew I'd get you with that one! But I'll do catch and release because I need you on the forum. wink


'Progress means simplifying, not complicating' : Bruno Munari

http://www.myspace.com/tairakubrianritchie

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