Home Remedies for Poison Ivy

Poison oak or ivy, as it is known as, is a plant that is mostly found in North America. Scientifically known as Toxicodendron diversilobum, it has leaves divided into three densely haired leaflets, with three to seven distinct lobes. It is a woody vine which produces urushiol, a skin irritant that causes an itching rash in most people. The weeds of the plant cause allergic reactions when people come in contact with it. Though not a contagious disease, it leads to a lot of trouble for the infected person. Young people with fair skin are more prone to getting affected by the disease, when compared to others. Itching, inflammation, redness, swollenness and blistering of the skin are some of the symptoms of poison ivy. However, poison ivy can be easily treated at home. In the following lines, we have provided home remedies for curing poison ivy.

• Poison ivy
• Poison oak
• Poison sumac
• Directly touching the leaves, stem, roots or berries of the plant/ shrub/ vine
• Contact with urushiol oil
• Indirect contact with the sap
• Touching something on which the urushiol was present for e.g. fur, garden tools, etc
• Burning the poison ivy/oak/sumac plants and inhaling the smoke

• Skin irritation
• Redness
• Blistering
• Swelling
• Severe itching
• Vesicles and blisters that are filled with fluid
• Severe allergic complications, both inside the body and on the skin
• General swelling
• Headache
• Fever
• Infection

• In a cup of sunflower oil, put a cup of fresh feverfew blossoms. Put this in a pan and place on flame. After it comes to a boil, reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for 2-3 minutes. When it has cooled down, add 8 well-chopped garlic cloves. Store this mixture in a jar and keep it on a window sill for 2 weeks. Make sure you shake it once everyday. Use it on the affected area.
• In boiling water, put washed leaves of a sweet fern. Steep for a few minutes and strain well. Apply this over the affected area. This will prove helpful in curing poison ivy.
• Garlic oil is effective in treating poison ivy. Use it over the affected area and it will remove poison ivy completely.
• Another effective remedy would be to wet the infected area and rub it with table salt. This would provide relief and also prevent the poison ivy from spreading.
• Peel a banana and rub the inner side of the peel on the rash. This will prove effective in curing poison ivy.
• Put the infected area under running water. This would wash away histamines, which cause itching of skin.
• In a bowl of warm water, put 3 cups oats. Now, soak the infected area in this solution and rub it slightly. This would provide immense relief from itching.
• Mix ¾ cup of warm water and ¼ cup of bleach. Apply this solution on the affected area, using a washcloth. It will be effective in killing the poison within 2-3 days.
• Aloe vera juice is also beneficial in curing poison ivy. Apply it over the affected area.
• Rub the fresh cut stems of Jewelweed plant over the rash. It would provide instant relief from itching.
• Mix oatmeal and warm water, to form a thick paste. Apply this paste over the poison ivy rash and allow it to dry. Rinse off with cool water.
• Another effective remedy would be to prepare a paste using baking soda and water. Apply this paste over the affected region and rinse it off after it dries.