10 Home Remedies for Poison Ivy
Poison ivy is an allergenic plant that can cause some nasty symptoms, if your skin comes into contact with it. Belonging to the genus Toxicodendron that is native to North America and Asia, it is known to cause itchy, irritating and painful rashes for the majority of people who touch it. The rash is caused by the sap of the plant called urushiol.
The rash from contact with poison ivy can last anywhere from 5 to 12 days, and in some extreme cases it has been noted to last up to a month. It’s important to note that from 15 to 25% of people who come into contact with poison ivy, don’t suffer from any symptoms.
Poison ivy isn’t life-threatening, but it can make you quite miserable. The most typical symptoms are:
- Redness of the skin
- Itching
- Swelling
- Blisters
- Difficulty breathing if you’ve inhaled the smoke from burning poison ivy
It usually takes anywhere from 12 to 48 hours before the rash and full symptoms appear after contact, and the severity of the rash usually depends on the amount of the poison ivy sap that you’ve come into contact with. You’ll want to keep a sharp eye out for this plant if you do any of these outdoor activities:
- Hunting
- Fishing
- Gardening
- Camping
- Forestry
- Hiking
- Landscaping
- Farming
When to see a doctor?
Although poison ivy isn’t life-threatening, there are some circumstances that would warrant a visit to the doctor as soon as possible:
- If you’ve inhaled the smoke from burning poison ivy, especially if you’re having difficulty breathing (visit the emergency room ASAP)
- If you’d consider your reaction severe and/or spread across a significant portion of your skin
- If the rash has spread to your eyes, mouth or genitalia
- If you develop blisters, and those blisters start to ooze pus
- If you develop a fever of over 37.8’C (100’F)
- If the rash does not get better within a few weeks
There are several pharmaceutical treatments available for poison ivy rash, but there are also many natural remedies that you can apply. Here are 10 home remedies for poison ivy:
10 Home Remedies for Poison Ivy
#1 – Prevention If you like to go out in to nature or just do some home gardening, it’s a good idea to know what poison ivy looks like. Knowing this can help you keep an eye out for it, helping you avoid it and making inadvertent contact.
Protective clothing is also a great idea. If you suspect that you might come in contact with poison ivy, it’s a good idea to wear clothing that covers as much skin as possible. It’s also important to note, not to touch the clothing with your bare hands if you suspect you’ve come into contact with poison ivy. Do your best to take the clothing off avoiding contact with any bare skin.
#2 – An oatmeal bath Oatmeal isn’t only a healthy breakfast, but it also possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This can help relieve the itching, swelling, inflammation and rash that comes after contact with poison ivy. Not only does this home remedy work well, but it works quickly.
Add one cup of oatmeal to a bath filled with warm water, soak for about 30 minutes. You can do this two or even three times per day until the rash goes away.
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#3 – Apple cider vinegar ACV is all the rage in health food circles, it’s also a powerful home remedy for a myriad of ailments. The acidic nature, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of ACV, help get rid of your poison ivy caused rash quickly.
Add three tablespoons of ACV and mix with two glasses of warm water. Mix and soak a clean cloth or sterile gauze pads in the liquid and place them over the parts of your skin with the rashes. Leave on for about 10 minutes and then wash off the remaining liquid and pat dry. Repeat three to four times per day until the rash is gone.
#4 – Baking soda Baking soda is alkaline and it neutralizes pH. It also helps restore the pH of your skin that has been affected by the poison ivy. Baking soda is also antibacterial, this is useful because poison ivy rash is notorious for leading to a bacterial infection.
Mix two/three teaspoons of baking soda in a glass of warm water, soak a clean cloth of gauze pads in the mixture and apply to the affected area of your skin. Keep that on for about 10 minutes and rinse. You can repeat this four times per day.
#5 – Banana peel Banana peels are quite a popular in natural medicine due to their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. They can also help soothe itching and inflammation/swelling, and help protect your skin from any further infections.
All you have to do is rub a banana peel on the affected area of your skin, leave it on for about 20 minutes and then rinse off with warm water. Repeat this two to three times per day until the rash goes away.
10 Home Remedies for Poison Ivy
#6 – Toothpaste This might not be the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to treating a poison ivy rash, but it’s probably the most accessible, and something that we all have at home. Mint toothpaste has soothing and cooling properties, and the glycerin that is present helps dry up the rash and speed up healing. It can also reduce inflammation and redness.
Take a small amount of toothpaste on your fingers and dab it gently onto the skin that has been affected by the poison ivy. Leave it on until it dries and then rinse it off with warm water. You can do this two to three times per day.
#7 – Tea tree oil Tea tree oil has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties can help treat any swelling/inflammation and prevent infections. Tea tree oil is also great at reducing pain and promoting faster healing of the skin.
Tea tree oil is very potent, so you need to mix two or three drops with a tablespoon of a carrier oil. Mix well and apply the mixture to the affected areas of your skin. Leave it on for about 20 minutes and then wash it off. You can do this once or twice per day until the rash disappears.
#8 – Peppermint oil Peppermint oil contains menthol and antioxidants and is regarded as the best essential oil for treating poison ivy rash.
Mix four drops of peppermint oil with a carrier oil and apply it to the affected area of the skin. Leave it on for about 20 minutes and then rinse it off. You can repeat this two times per day until the rash goes away.
#9 – Coconut oil Coconut oil is renowned for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-fungal properties. This is a great home remedy for poison ivy because it helps reduce pain, itching, speeds up healing and soothes the skin.
Make sure to use cold pressed coconut oil only, and apply it directly to your skin. Let it absorb and repeat three to four times per day until the rash disappears.
#10 – Epsom salt Epsom salt is an effective anti-inflammatory due to the magnesium contained within. The magnesium is absorbed by the skin, and it helps reduce inflammation and helps speed up healing.
Add one cup of epsom salt to your bath and soak for 20 – 30 minutes. Do this once per day until the rash improves.
Using natural home remedies is a great way to avoid any harsh and unhealthy chemicals typically found in over the counter or prescription pharmaceutical options. It’s often cheaper and more quickly accessible if you have any of these on hand.
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Poison Ivy References and Poison Ivy Information
- Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/poison-ivy/symptoms-causes/syc-20376485
- Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/poison-ivy/symptoms-causes/syc-20376485
- Pub Med: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25607907/
- Apple Cider Vinegar (Book): https://books.google.co.in/books?id=w85IJeGVcVkC&pg=PT35&dq=apple+cider+vinegar+for+poison+ivy&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwihz-nQ8MjZAhUKP48KHTxKCJsQ6AEITjAH#v=onepage&q=apple%20cider%20vinegar%20for%20poison%20ivy&f=false
- Pub Med: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12017929/
- Pub Med: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23964457/
- Asking A Lot: https://askinglot.com/does-toothpaste-treat-poison-ivy
- Pub Med: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15493453/
- Neal’s Yard Remedies Natural Beauty (Book): https://books.google.co.in/books?id=gkK3BQAAQBAJ&pg=PA38&dq=peppermint+oil+for+poison+ivy&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj27urb_8jZAhVLa7wKHVr0C3AQ6AEIODAD#v=onepage&q=peppermint%20oil%20for%20poison%20ivy&f=false
- US National Library of Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4924139/
- Clinical Coach for Fluid and Electrolyte balance (Book): https://books.google.co.in/books?id=5W_2AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA115&dq=epsom+salt+magnesium+anti-inflammatory&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiXn4nKiYLaAhUdT48KHZ9fACsQ6AEIJjAA#v=onepage&q=epsom%20salt%20magnesium%20anti-inflammatory&f=false
- Read Also: https://homeremediesapp.com/10-home-remedies-for-food-poisoning/
