Recipenet "Helpful Tips for Poison Ivy & Poison Oak"

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HELPFUL TIPS FOR POISON IVY & POISON OAK

by Colleen Hulett

Rosemary Gladstar teaches one to learn how to identify poison ivy and oak, respect it and to keep our distance from it. She tells us they provide ground cover protection of the vibrations from sacred burial grounds and power centres in North America. How can we not respect poison ivy of Eastern N.A. and poison oak of Western N.A.? Besides, the plants when touched give us such a nasty rash!

The first thing anyone should do is go to the library and search for photos and drawings of the poisonous plants or go on a local herb walk and ask to be shown the plants. They can look very different depending on where they are growing. Poison ivy or oak can be a single plant, shrub, vine and can be toothed, etc. It always has only three leaves. An old saying warning of the plants is "Leaves of three, Let it be." Once you get to know the plant you can always avoid it. About 65 percent of the population is allergic to these plants.

Prepare for the Outdoors

Always dress properly when hiking in the woods. Wear pants and socks with hiking boots.

If you see the plants...wash your pants and socks afterwards with fels naphtha soap or green soap. You should be able to find these soaps at your local camping store. Wash yourself with the same soap after a walk or with jewelweed soap. (Burt's Bees has a good Poison Ivy soap containing Jewelweed).

If you get a rash:

For those of you who are suffering right now with the awful rash I've put together some helpful tips I've learned from Rosemary and from experience with customers I have assisted. For severe poison rash that covers half the body or has extreme swelling, redness, or fever; or if you have it near your eyes, genitals or mouth - please consult your healthcare practitioner.
Do not use oil based preparations (salves and ointments) for itch on the rash because oil will spread the allergic substance from both plants.

Heat activates oils and helps spread the rash so avoid the sun, hot showers and hot water. Stay cool to keep the itch down.

Avoid all sweets because they will aggravate the rash.

Take at least 3,000 mg Vitamin C daily to prevent infection and spreading. Vitamin C serves as a natural anti-histamine that reduces swelling.

Make a clay paste with water and apply to the rash. Let it completely dry, then rinse with cold water. Do not scrub off but soak a wet cloth on the dried clay for removal. Any type of clay will work. You can either dig some up or purchase it at your local health food store.

Apply yogurt or buttermilk on all sensitive areas like around the eyes because it is slightly astringent and drying.

Soak in a bath of tepid water with baking soda for soothing relief. Apply Clay mint toothpaste by Au Natural. This toothpaste is drying, cooling, and astringent and quickly relieves itching.

Herbal Remedies

A jewelweed or plantain poultice is a quick remedy if fresh plants are handy. Pick fresh jewelweed or plantain leaves and blend with a little water in a blender. Apply immediately to rash for soothing relief. Both plants may be close at hand if you are in the middle of the woods and you can chew the plantain and put it on the rash to stop the itch and heal the skin. You can pinch off jewelweed leaves and apply the milky juice to the rash. Do not chew the jewelweed.

The following herbal recipes can be made ahead of time to keep on hand during the Summer months:

Mugwort Remedy
Fill a jar with fresh wilted mugwort. Cover with apple cider vinegar and let sit in shaded warm area for two weeks. Strain, and add one tablespoon salt for every pint. Apply frequently diluted with water. It will sting but not burn.

Herbal Liniment
Add 1oz goldenseal root powder, 1oz myrrh powder, 1/4 oz cayenne powder to 1 pint of rubbing alcohol. Let sit in shady warm area for two weeks. Strain. Apply frequently diluted with water. It will sting but not burn.

Homeopathic Remedies

Many people have successfully taken homeopathic poison ivy/oak remedies for relief. A healing crisis may occur in some where the rash gets worse before getting better. However, in my experience, this has been rare. Many have had instant relief.

Contact me at colleen@recipenet.org if you have any questions or comments.

Colleen has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography and has been a practicing herbalist since 1996. She is currently studying The Science and Art of Herbology with revered herbalist Rosemary Gladstar.

Published: Summer, 2002

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