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Poison Ivy is a poisonous North American plant that causes a rash that is not only itchy, but also very painful. Urushiol, a compound which is produced by the plant is what causes the contact dermatitis.
Poison ivy rashes can last up to four weeks and can sometimes be so severe that hospitalization is needed. Several home remedies are recommended as effective treatment for Poison Ivy. They may or may not be entirely effective depending on the extent of infection. Here are some remedies to try.
Baking soda is an antibacterial agent and helps in treating the infection that has set in on the skin. Baking soda is also a pH-restoring agent and helps in treating the skin and restoring its pH balance as well.
Take some baking soda and make it into a paste with water. Apply this paste as a thick layer on the affected skin. Leave it on so that the blisters do not form on the skin. Doing this thrice a day will help in healing the skin naturally and preventing the itching and pain as well.
Oatmeal is rich in vitamin C, which is an antioxidant, and hence oatmeal can be used for restoring the skin damage and also in reducing the itching sensation on the skin.
Take two cups of oatmeal and add this to a tub of water. Soak the body in this water for twenty minutes. Oatmeal powder can be made into a paste with water and applied on the skin for controlling the itching and also soothing the skin as it heals.
Skin that is poisoned after contact with poison ivy will break into blisters and this can be very itchy and painful. Application of aloe Vera gel can immediately sooth the skin and its cooling action will help in the healing of the skin and preventing the burning and itching as well.
Aloe is also extremely skin friendly and helps the skin to regenerate and repair after a poison ivy rash has formed. Take fresh aloe gel from the aloe plant and apply on the rash. Leave it on to prevent burning and pain on the affected area.
Buttermilk is a natural cooling agent and the lactobacilli in buttermilk will help in the healing process as well. Buttermilk can be taken internally several times to increase the immunity of the body and fight off the infection effectively. Apply buttermilk on the affected spot to keep the infection and pain under control. Buttermilk will also help in keeping the skin well moisturized, thereby reducing the severity of the poison ivy rash.
According to folk medicine, black coffee is a natural remedy for dealing with poison ivy rash. Cold black coffee can be poured over the rash several times to initiate a healing action on the skin.
The chlorogenic acid that is present in the coffee is known to be an anti-inflammatory agent and helps in reducing the blister formation and also in reducing the severity of the poison ivy rash. Continue application until the rash starts receding.
Application of alcohol is another quick and effective remedy that can destroy the action of the compound in poison ivy that causes the rash and infection. As soon as you have come into contact with the poison ivy plant, rub alcohol on the affected site. This will help in controlling the itch and with every application, the rash will start receding and will be finally taken care of completely.
The acidic nature of vinegar is another excellent way to treat poison ivy rash effectively. Take some vinegar and dilute it with water. Apply on the site of infection and allow it to air dry. Reapply several times a day to keep the infection under control and also to prevent formation of blisters and resultant pain and itching.
Calamine lotion is very soothing on the skin and will also control the intense itch associated with poison ivy rash. Apply calamine lotion generously on the affected skin and reapply as and when needed. This will control the urge to scratch and also prevent the formation of blisters on the infection. Calamine helps in soothing the damaged skin and will also keep the rash from spreading to other areas of the body.
An immune boosting herb, goldenseal is used for treating a number of diseases of the body. Goldenseal tinctures and capsules are available for consumption in herbal shops. For poison ivy rash, goldenseal oil can be applied on the rash so that the infection soon subsides and the blisters will be reduced in severity and finally dry away.
This simple remedy can be employed at home as soon as you have come into contact with poison ivy. Being a mild antiseptic agent, salt will help in controlling the spread and will also prevent any bacteria from infecting the rash and aggravating the situation. Salt can be made into a paste with water and a thick coat applied on the rash to keep the rash from breaking into blisters and causing it to itch uncontrollably.
Potatoes are known to be a good remedy for treating skin eruptions and blisters on the skin. The juice of potato can be applied directly on the skin and allowed to dry. Potato is known to absorb the heat and water from the skin and leave the area dry. Potatoes can also be made into a paste and a thick coat applied on the rash and secured with a gauze. Apply fresh coats every few hours until the rash is completely healed.
Tea bags have anti-inflammatory properties due to the tannic acid present in it. Take a tea bag and wet it slightly. Leave it in the refrigerator for cooling it. This can be applied on the rash and left on by securing it with a duct tape. Apply fresh tea bags when the tea bag turns dry. Doing this all throughput the day for several days will help in treating the rash naturally and finally doing away with it.
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