For example, I read one paper that said that our body remembers where we had previously broke out and then during a subsequent systemic reaction... we break out in these spots again in addition to new locations where urushiol has bonded. Can anyone else confirm this? The zanfel site has quite a bit about Systemic Treatment and on Health Gazette by Karlm Hempel, MD.

I had a systemic reaction once and it sure felt like it was as you described. I was breaking out in places that I know didn't come in contact with the oil. In my case, I had some scratches and cuts from tree work before I got tangled up with removing a fallen branch that turned out to be poison ivy and not a fallen tree. I am now a complete nut about identifying the branches and vines prior to their leaves forming. This is why you see so many pictures of vines on this site.