Poison Ivy/Oak Survival Handbook
Tips for Homesteaders & Self-Sufficient Health
I’ve been seeing poison ivy springing up all alongside the trail and in my yard (yikes!). I have only had poison ivy once and it was, unfortunately, VERY memorable. And I’ve had many, many patients who get poison ivy at least once every spring and summer. I’d like to share some tools that I have used to help my patients and myself through that awful, itchy rash.
A couple of common sense things to get out of the way. Of course, try to avoid getting the oils from poison ivy on your skin and, of course, wash your skin well with soap and water if you know you have been into a bunch of poison ivy.
Once you have the poison ivy rash, it’s all about getting it to calm down and heal as quickly as possible. I understand that the itching really can be intolerable, which can lead to infection if you are scratching and exposing the wound to bacteria. So let’s try to avoid infection and talk about ways to calm the itch and help the rash itself to heal.
Homeopathic remedies
There are several homeopathic remedies that can stimulate our vital force and help our bodies to heal a poison ivy rash. This is great news, especially since homeopathic remedies can be carried in your pocket which allows you to take them frequently if needed. I usually start with a 30c potency as needed for relief and move up to a 200c potency if a stronger remedy is needed.
Rhus Tox. This remedy is actually made from poison ivy itself! It’s a standout remedy for a rash that is swollen and blistered. The rash is itchy and becomes more itchy when you scratch it. The Rhus Tox rash feels better when hot water is applied to it. I know that my poison ivy rash felt SO much better when I ran it under scalding hot water from my faucet!
Anacardium. Anacardium is good for a rash that is INTENSELY itchy and the area may be swollen with burning pain. The blisters may ooze a yellowish, clear liquid that can become crusty. A poison ivy rash that will do well with Anacardium will probably be worse after the person goes to bed.
Croton Tiglium. The rash helped by Croton Tig is itchy, but it’s painful to scratch. It feels better with rubbing rather than scratching. This might be the remedy to consider if the poison ivy is on the genitals.
Ledum. This versatile remedy is a go-to for poison ivy or oak and the rash will feel better when cold water is applied to it. The rash itself will burn and sting, almost like an insect bite would. If the skin is discolored after the rash has healed, Ledum can help the skin return to normal.
Graphites. The poison ivy rash that will respond to graphites will be an burning, oozing rash with dry, cracked skin. Heat will make this rash and the itching worse.
If you’re looking for these remedies, you can check out my Fullscript Store. Several of these remedies are available through my store as single remedies or in combination with one another. One remedy, called Poison Ivy, is made by Newton Laboratories and combines several of the above remedies together and can give good relief.
Herbal remedies
There are several herbs that can help poison ivy or oak heal. I will have patients prepare these herbs as teas to make compresses or freeze into ice cubes to apply to the rash. I will also have patients spray tinctures on to their poison ivy rash. Below is a list of herbs that are very useful.
Grindelia (gum weed)
Jewelweed (often grows next to poison ivy!)
Plantain (it grows everywhere)
Calendula (so easy to grow at home and make a tincture)
If I have a family of patients that get poison ivy frequently, I will have them combine equal parts of each of these four herbs in tincture form and put them in a spray bottle. Then I have them spray the combination of tinctures on the rash frequently.
Aloe can also be quite helpful if you have access to fresh leaves. You can cut open and scrape out the gel to apply to the rash for relief. The same is true of prickly pear if you have fresh pads that you can slice open!
Home remedies
Apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar made into a compress can help the rash dry out and calm inflammation. It will need to be diluted, so make sure you cut the vinegar with water before applying it. Use caution if there are open blisters; apple cider vinegar may be irritating.
Epsom salts. Is there anything Epsom salts can’t do? An Epsom salt bath prepared as directed on the label can help to dry out the rash and be quite soothing.
Bentonite clay. Bentonite clay can be made into a paste and applied to poison ivy/oak rashes. It can dry the blisters and also draw out any remaining toxins or oils that linger on the skin.
Oatmeal bath. Tried-and-true oatmeal baths are effective for soothing the irritated skin of a poison ivy rash. I put my oats in cheesecloth or an old sock and basically make an oat tea in my bathtub!
Over the counter remedies
Calamine lotion. Calamine is zinc oxide with iron and it has been used to help rashes dry up the blisters, soothe the skin, and relieve the itch. For some people it can be too drying, but it’s a classic remedy for poison ivy.
Hydrocortisone cream. I’m no lover of steroids, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do! Over the counter steroid cream can be another avenue to provide relief, especially if you’ve tried a lot of other options.
(I put a collection together in my Amazon affiliate store called Poison Ivy/Oak Prep. Click here to take a look!)
When to see the doctor
I know you want to stay out of the Sickcare System, but there are times when you need attention from someone who has bigger guns in terms of treatment tools. If your rash gets infected, if it lasts for weeks, or if it covers a large part of your body, you should consider contacting your primary care doctor or going to urgent care.
I hope this helps you have a more enjoyable summer! A poison ivy/oak rash can make you miserable, but these resources should speed the healing and shorten the misery.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Dr. Belt is a doctor, but she is not YOUR doctor. Consult a trained naturopathic doctor/functional medicine doctor to ensure safety and suitability based on your health and history.