Any poison ivy folk remedies?
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Answers:
Hi Tandanga
Natural Cures
Flower Essences: Rescue Remedy Cream® applied topically, and Crab Apple added to pure filtered water can speed healing.
Herbs: Apply a poultice of equal parts of witch hazel, mugwort, white oak bark, and plantain to affected areas.
Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the application of water, ice, steam and hot and cold temperatures to maintain and restore health. Treatments include full body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation and the application of hot and/or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating a wide range of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a self-care program. Many Naturopathic Physicians, Physical Therapists and Day Spas use Hydrotherapy as part of treatment.
*Purified water is essential for any hydrotherapy treatment. Remedies for Treating Chlorinated Bath Water offers clear instructions and recommendations.
Nutritional Supplementation: At the first sign of outbreak take the following nutrients to minimize symptoms: vitamin A, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc. Zinc oxide can also be applied topically.
Topical Treatment: Rinse affected area with apple cider vinegar, and in the evening take a warm bath with apple cider vinegar or cornstarch. Aloe vera gel, witch hazel, baking soda paste, or a paste of activated charcoal powder are also good topical treatments.
Alternative Professional Care
If your symptoms persist despite the above measures, seek the help of a qualified health professional. The following professional care therapies have all been shown to be useful for treating poison oak and poison ivy: Acupuncture, Applied Kinesiology, Chelation Therapy, Detoxification Therapy, Energy Medicine (Ondamed), Environmental Medicine, Homeopathy, Magnetic Field Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Best of health to you
dump vodka on the area
Don't know, but Cortaid came out with a kit that really works. I just ended up spending the $30 for it so my cousin wouldn't have to suffer.
Share your remedy for the future... please!
witchhazel will sooth it immediately
Treating Poison Ivy Exposures
If you are exposed, according to the FDA, you should quickly (within 10 minutes):
first, cleanse exposed areas with rubbing alcohol.
next, wash the exposed areas with water only (no soap yet, since soap can move the urushiol, which is the oil from the poison ivy that triggers the rash, around your body and actually make the reaction worse).
now, take a shower with soap and warm water.
lastly, put gloves on and wipe everything you had with you, including shoes, tools, and your clothes, with rubbing alcohol and water.
Unfortunately, if you wait more than 10 minutes, the urushiol will likely stay on your skin and trigger the poison ivy rash. You may not be able to stop it on your skin, but you might still scrub your nails and wipe off your shoes, etc., so that you don't spread the urushiol to new areas.
Commercial products, like Zanfel, Ivy Cleanse Towelettes, and Tecnu Extreme Poison Ivy Scrub, are also available over-the-counter, if you don't want to use rubbing alcohol.
Remember that poison ivy isn't contagious though, so touching the rash won't actually spread it.
Since your kids get poison ivy a lot, having a 'poison ivy action kit' ready, with rubbing alcohol, a large bottle of water, and some soap, might be a good idea. Since rubbing alcohol can be poisonous, children should be supervised with it though and it is not something you should send off into the woods with them.
Preventing Poison Ivy
In addition to getting rid of poison ivy when you find it, you can avoid poison ivy by:
wearing long pants and a shirt with long sleeves, boots and gloves when your kids will be most at risk, especially when playing in wooden areas, around lakes, or going on hikes
apply Ivy-Block to exposed areas
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