Sensitivity to poison ivy runs in my family genes including hospitalizations! But over the past several years I healed my allergies to poison ivy and can even pick up a leaf without blisters or itching. I now view poison ivy as 'sister ivy', a powerful lymphatic cleanser. My lymph system was imbalanced because of my liver. When my teacher told me to nourish vata in the liver my allergies to poison ivy disappeared. Ayurveda has the potential to help with many other allergies too like peanuts, wheat and soy.