POISON IVY HOME REMEDIES

These poison ivy home remedies will help remove the urushiol (you-ROO-shee-ol) from your skin and relieve the itch! Urushiol is the evil oil in poison ivy that so many people are allergic to. The following poison ivy treatments have worked for many people for poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. Everyones body chemistry is different so you'll have to find out which one works best for you.

POISON IVY IDENTIFICATION

Leaves of three,
Let it be.
Berries of white,
Danger in sight.

Poison ivy can grow as a vine, a single plant or in large clumps. It turns a beautiful orange/red in the fall and has white berries throughout the winter.

This poison ivy picture was taken along side the road near my home. It can be found nearly anywhere including the edges of
fields and woods.

POISON IVY INFORMATION

• All articles of clothing, including shoes, that have come into contact with poison ivy should be washed with soap and hot water immediately to remove the poison ivy oil. Be careful when undressing. Clothing which has come in contact with poison ivy should not come in contact with the skin. The oil can be transferred from clothing to skin. Wash items immediately in a separate load. Use a degreaser in your wash such as vinegar or Simple Green.
• If your pet has been exposed they will need to be wiped down also with a non-toxic degreaser such as vinegar or liquid dish soap. They cannot contract poison ivy but you can get it from them if the oil is on their fur.
• Never burn poison ivy as the urushiol can become airborne and get into your eyes or even your lungs!
• If your rash is dripping and oozing, see your physician immediately. It is most likely infected and needs to be treated with antibiotics.
• Poison Ivy is not contagious but it can be passed from person to person by transfer of the oil. You can also spread it to different parts of your own body by touching and scratching. For this reason, careful application of any poison ivy home remedies is needed. Use a cottonball to dab or rub only on affected areas to reduce spreading.
• Learn to identify poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. Prevention is the best medicine!
• It's important to use any remedy as soon as possible after you've been exposed!

POISON IVY HOME REMEDIES

SALT FOR POISON IVY- Use plain table salt and warm water to carefully scrub the afflicted area then rinse with hot water.

VINEGAR FOR POISON IVY- Wash well with vinegar and rinse with hot water. Dab dry then dab vinegar on area with cottonball and let air dry. Repeat often and let air dry.

VODKA FOR POISON IVY- Follow the same procedure as vinegar.

RUBBING ALCOHOL - Same procedure as above.

WITCH HAZEL - Great for any itchy business!

BLEACH FOR POISON IVY- The only reason I mention this is because ome people have tried bleach the same way as vinegar and vodka with success. I would only try this as a last resort.

JEWELWEED FOR POISON IVY- (Also known as Touch-Me-Not, latin name - Impatiens biflora) This backyard remedy is a plant that usually can be found near poison ivy though it prefers a damp area. This is supposed to be the ultimate of all the poison ivy home remedies! Simply crush the leaves of Jewelweed and apply to afficted parts of your skin.

The leaves and the juice from the stem of Jewelweed have been and still are used by herbalists as a treatment for poison ivy, oak and rashes, as well as many other types of skin irritations. Jewelweed works by counter-reacting with the chemicals in other plants that cause itching. Poultices and salves from Jewelweed are a folk remedy for bruises, burns, cuts, eczema, insect bites, sores, sprains, warts, and ringworm. If you don't have any growing near you, salves, soaps, ointments and sprays made from jewelweed are available online.

Jewelweed grows up to five feet tall, branching toward the top. It is most commonly found near creeks or streams but can be found anywhere. The leaves are delicate, long stalked and are about 1" - 1 1/2" long. They're water-repellent, so they look like they're covered with tiny jewels (raindrops) after it rains, accounting for the name jewelweed.

The trumpet-shaped flowers, which bloom from early summer to fall, are under 1" long, with three petals, one which curls, to form a long slipper or sack-shaped spur. There is another variety of jewelweed which has pale yellow flowers. Shown here is the spotted touch-me-not (jewelweed). Learn to identify this useful antidote!

MORE POISON IVY HOME REMEDIES

Plantain is found in yards everywhere and is another one of the poison ivy home remedies. This works for any type of itch relief. (Never use plants that have been sprayed with chemicals!)

PLANTAIN FOR POISON IVY- Plantain is another backyard cure to stop itching. It's a weed that is found in yards everywhere. Use the crushed leaves just as you would jewelweed. This plant is a great remedy for mosquito and spider bites also!

OIL OF OREGANO - Oil of Oregano can dissolve the resin and allow it to be washed off. It also stops the inflammation, swelling and the itch which helps prevent it from spreading.

OSHA ROOT TINCTURE - Available at health food stores, this tincture is another one of the great poison ivy home remedies. Dab on and let dry.

ACTIVATED CHARCOAL POULTICE - Charcoal has great absorbing qualities and makes a great home remedy for any kind of contact dermatitis and more! This is available online, health food stores and even aquarium stores. (Buy only food grade charcoal for any remedy that requires you to take charcoal internally!)

Here's how to make a charcoal poultice:

1. Mix powdered charcoal (1 to 2 Tbs.) with a little water to form a wet paste. It should be moist but not crumbly or drippy. You can combine the charcoal with some corn starch to thicken it if desired.
2. Spread the paste on one half of a folded paper towel, loosely woven cloth, or piece of gauze cut to fit the area to be treated. When ready the cloth should be moist, and thoroughly saturated with the paste.
3. Then cover the paste by folding over the other half of the paper towel or cloth.
4. Next place the charcoal poultice on the affected body part making sure it completely covers the area.
5. Cover the poultice with plastic (plastic food wrap works fine) cut to overlap the poultice by an inch on every side. This will keep it from drying out. If the charcoal dries out, it will not be able to adsorb.
6. Finish off by bandaging or taping the poultice securely in place. Leave it on for several hours, or better yet, overnight. After 6 to 10 apply a fresh poultice if needed.

NON TOXIC WEED AND POISON IVY KILLER

This recipe will help you get rid of the poison ivy in your yard without using toxic chemicals so you can iliminate any need for the above poison ivy home remedies! Use carefully though as it will kill any vegetation!

Mix the following ingredients:

• 1 cup salt
• 1 gallon vinegar
• 8 drops liquid dishwashing soap such as Dawn

Dissolve the salt in the vinegar then add the soap. Spray the solution on the poison ivy plants on a dry sunny day if possible.

MAGNESIUM AND POISON IVY

It's said that if you are highly susceptible to posion ivy you may have a magnesium deficiency. Try a daily magnesium supplement! It's an important nutrient and essential for many body functions.

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