Any Alternative Treatments for Poison Ivy?

Try a Yahoo search for "poison ivy" + "matural remedies".

Poison Oak, Poison Ivy and Poison Sumac all have the same irritant: an oil called Urishiol.

According to published research, all people are allergic to Urishiol, but one in four do not have the "signs" of the allergy which are the issues you're dealing with right now.

Stuff like Calamine is pretty much useless. It's messy and barely relieves the itching. If you find out you are dealing with an outbreak well after the exposure, a product called Zanfel may still help but understand that your body needs to repair all the irritated tissue at this point. There's really no way to avoid it. Nothing it going make your skin magically come back to normal because only the living cells of your body are capable of healing you.

Good luck: I've been dealing with poison ivy exposure all week.

You basically just have to let the rash run its course. If you're allergic to poison oak you will be allergic to poison ivy (both plants contain the same allergen, urushiol, that causes the rash). The rash should have subsided after three weeks and if you're getting new bumps it leads me to believe you're being re-exposed to the poison ivy/oak oils. This oil is non-volatile and can last on surfaces (and be active) for years. Make sure you have washed any clothing, shoes, tools, pets, etc. that may have come into contact with the plants. A grease-dissolving detergent such as Dawn works best. I'm very allergic to it and have had it many times. There isn't much you can do to speed up the healing. If it's widespread and severe go to your doctor. They will give you corticosteroids. It won't dry it up but it will greatly reduce the itching, burning and swelling. As crazy as it sounds I've found that running hot water over affected areas will stop the itching for several hours. But don't do this over severe areas where there are open sores or weeping blisters.

Try OakAway, which is available at natural food stores, and yes, you can use it on Poison Ivy, even tho' the product was formulated for Poison Oak. Additionally, while at the healthfood store or co-op, get Rhus. Tox (Rhus toxicodendron) in 30c or stronger potency. This is a homeopathic preparation of Poison Ivy and will help you to get rid of it more quickly. Jewelweed also works quite well. It is currently in bloom here in NE. It is approximately 3-4 tall w/ orange flowers, and is commonly seen in the fields and meadows here. It is an excellent plant to use for any kind of skin irritation or upset, including such things as eczema, psoriasis, acne, bug bites, etc. Just chop up or break up the plants into little bits, make into a poultice and apply directly to the affected sites. You may use flour to bind it into a paste, if you like or if you need to.

I use the juice of a fresh orange rubbed right on the weeping area to combat Poison Ivy. The natural citrus will dry up the rash and get rid of the itch too. Be sure to wash with soap and water and dry thoroughly before applying the orange. After a shower or bath, wash the towel. Do not use the same towel twice-it will spread the infection. Try to change your pillowcase every day and your sheets as often as you can. If you have it all over, I'd wear a full set of pajamas to help contain the rash. Of course, get a new pair on each night as well. Start taking a teaspoonful of LOCAL honey to help you get over your allergy. It is in the air as well as on the leaves so the local honey will help you control it.

I am allergic too and had it in 1997. Horrible experience. My first suggestion would be to get your buns to the doctor---like yesterday! Call them and tell them you are allergic and had contact. You will probably need prednisone which is also nasty stuff but better than a 3-6 month battle with poison ivy toxins in your blood that reoccur with stress, etc.

Immediately to the rash:

Apply a poultice of cosmetic clay, aloe vera juice (Aloe vera), and peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita) to the rash. Clay helps dry the rash to promote faster healing, aloe vera heals skin, and peppermint oil is cooling and temporarily relieves itching. Mix together 2 tablespoons of cosmetic clay with enough aloe vera juice to make a thin, spreadable paste, and blend in 2 drops of peppermint essential oil. Spread this mixture onto the rash and let it dry. Leave it on for several hours and let it flake off or wash it off. Reapply as needed.

Hope you feel better soon. :)

The toxic oils on the leaves and stems of poison ivy and poison oak are very similar. The rash is indistinguishable. It often takes two weeks or more to resolve.

My own father eschewed the potent steroid cream samples I would provide for him, claiming that applications of laundry soap were superior. He husbanded them very carefully after they disappeared from the market. Cleaning out his house after he died, I found the last remnants carefully wrapped in foil.

I think you can still get Fels-Naphtha soap from specialty stores, but my father's opinion notwithstanding, I still recommend steroid creams.

My aunt once told me to put bleach on the rash. It really burns especially if you have been scratching but it worked for me.

Benadryl pills or cream. Cortisone pills (rx) or cream.