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> as hot as you can possibly stand without burning

Hm, this is the same way to treat stingray wounds. Something something bloodflow vasodialator?

My understanding about hot water is that it causes localized histamine release, which then depletes the available histamine to trigger the itch reflex.

Certainly works great for poison oak and eczema, regardless of the actual mechanism.

Many sea-animal toxins are protein based, and heat will denature the protein making it harmless. Similarly, acid (like vinegar) can help, e.g. for jellyfish stings.

(And if the toxin has penetrated your skin by e.g. the sharp tail of a stingray, heat will be better than vinegar since you can't get the vinegar "inside" your body... whereas jellyfish toxin tends to sit on the surface of your skin)

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