9 Natural Poison Ivy Remedies

Clay

Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 07/17/2016
★★★★★

My search for the best poison ivy treatment continues. I have had opportunity to treat it in my home again this week. My 10 year old son, who reacts badly to it got into some again last week. He had scattered spots on his face, arms and legs. I had him showering once or twice daily and using Fels Naptha Soap on it, which seemed to really help him. He applied DMSO to some spots, too. He did have one spot on his wrist that was oozy. I liberally sprinkled bentonite clay on it (dry) and covered that with a piece of old cotton t-shirt and covered that with cohesive tape. It brought immediate relief to him. He left it on for 24 hours. It looked much, much better when he removed the bandage. The clay was dried onto his skin and he picked it off; I would have preferred he rinse it off. It would have taken a long time, perhaps but would have caused less skin damage. Even so, the skin is MUCH less oozy and red.

Meanwhile, a friend texted for some suggestions for poison ivy. She had some on her leg that was really bothering her. I told her about Fels Naphta and she did that and felt it was helping. But she did have oozy poison ivy. I told her about clay. she used French green clay the same way I used bentonite clay on my son. It gave her relief and helped her to be able to sleep comfortably. It washed off easily in the shower and was less oozy the next day. She just left it on overnight.

I am guessing any medicinal clay would work well for oozy poison ivy. French green clay can be drying, so I think that would be my first choice. But the bentonite clay worked very well for my son, too.

I am sure my poison ivy stories are "to be continued...."

~Mama to Many~

DMSO

Posted by Orh (Ten Mile , Tn) on 06/20/2020

JUSTICE,,,,,,,,,,, WOW, where are you coming from? I have messed with DMSO SINCE 1966 when I worked with the supervisor of CZ's Plant in Bogalusa, La plant. I have also read Dr Jacob's book. So where does your knowledge come from? I use DMSO daily. I put a liniment on my hips and coat that with DMSO to get it deep into my body. I want pain relief. I think you are one of those folks that I suggested that they read for about 2 years before they start posting. I think you fit the novice category that I described. Maybe not. Think you need to take your own advice and not listen to yourself.

Justice, if you are confident in what you say, then take me on. Put your logic out on EC for all to see. Make an ass out of me. I can handle it.

====ORH====

Jewelweed

Posted by Mildred (Combs, Arkansas) on 07/16/2007
★★★★★

I had poison ivy from head to toe, and had given up that I would have to go to the doctor for shots, when my cousin picked me some jewel weed and told me to try it. I made a tea from this and drank 1/2 cup, with a half spoon of sugar and it dried it up immediately. I later found an old home remedy book that said to break the stem of jewel weed and rub it on. I had it too severely to do that. I have given jewel weed tea to 3 of my grandchildren with no ill effects.

Jewelweed

Posted by Robin (Northfield, Nh) on 09/27/2017
★★★★★

My daughter had poison ivy and I looked up home remedies on the internet jewel weed came up. I looked up a picture of jewel weed and realized I had some in my yard. So I picked the flowers and stems and boiled them in water to make a tea. Let it sit until it was cool then strained of the tea water. Transferred it to a spray bottle and sprayed the poison ivy rash on my daughter. I continued to do this 3 or 4 times a day for 2-3 days and it was all gone.

How to Develop Poison Ivy Immunity

Posted by Mama To Many (Tn) on 05/02/2017

Dear Robert Henry,

Well I will watch your poison ivy experiment with interest. I like to experiment on myself as well.

I think the current state of our immunity is what makes us more or less prone to reactions to poison ivy. A friend used to work for a lawn service. His poison ivy immunity was strong and he was the man called up to deal with the poison ivy. Well, he had back surgery and was down for a good while, likely on a lot of meds. After that, he was no longer immune to poison ivy. A son of mine used to get it badly regularly. His general health is much better now. I found out he was recently "swimming in poison ivy" doing some work last week, to my horror, but I don't think he has had any reaction.

It is the time of year that I give much thought to poison ivy. A couple of days ago I wore disposable rubber gloves to pull up and bag the new poison ivy plants closest to my house where children play. Getting it out by the roots is the best.

I know you will keep us posted on your progress and results!

~Mama to Many~

Bee Pollen

Posted by Sally (London, Ontario) on 04/04/2010
★★★★★

To soyjim,

Well do I have news for you!! You may have just answered my question - My husband and four children all went into the woods and were exposed to poison ivy. All of them but 1 now have an outbreak, and I couldn't figure out why this one didn't get it. Well... I think now I know... This child eats lots of RAW HONEY every day! She loves it, she eats it right out of the jar, and she doesn't have an outbreak like the rest of them. It baffled me until I read your post. That has to be it. But I do think the KIND of honey will make a big difference. She eats honey that is taken straight from the hive to the jar with honey comb in it and propolis as well as some raw bee pollen in it. It has been said to be miraculous with curing allergies.

I also used this same honey to cure chicken pox before they ever popped open - they just shrunk in a few days.

Very interesting!!

Jewelweed

Posted by Jewelweedbunnie (Washington, Dc, Usa) on 12/06/2010
★★★★★

I picked up a Jewelweed tincture at my local health food store too. I'd had a poison ivy rash that wouldn't go away for over 2 weeks. The Jewelweed tincture cleared it up in 3 days. Now I'm never without a bottle of it in my house. I've tried it on mosquito bites and it's *great* on eczema too.

Jewelweed

Posted by Garrett (Tenn) on 05/16/2006
★★★★★

I read a while back that a plant called jewel weed has a chemical in it that goes to the same site that the oil ( the thing that gives you the outbreak) in poison ivy does and blocks it temporarily. How you apply it is you just rub the juice from the stem on the area that you know you will come in contact with the accursed plant and it will prevent it. The plant tends to get pretty big and has these red/orange flowers the stem is a almost translucent green and is kinda red at the base. wish you luck with it.

Activated Charcoal

Posted by Maria R. (Knoxville, TN) on 04/01/2023
★★★★★

ACTIVATED Charcoal for bites, poison ivy and wound infection

My husband worked in the forest building trails and came back with what looked like poison ivy. He treated both legs with an ointment. One leg was remedied, the other leg stayed red for two weeks and started becoming hot to the touch. We knew that it meant he had systemic infection so I made him a poultice of Activated Charcoal, rice flour (for thickening, you can use arrow root or corn starch), and castor oil. I spread it on his wound and put a gauze over poultice and a plastic wrap over the gauze. I then wrapped the entire would around the thigh in an Ace Bandage. He did this for four days, making sure he removed the bandage in the shower as the AC is VERY messy. We replaced with new gauze each day for four days. I used an activated charcoal for whitening teeth found at Bed, Bath and Beyond!

On top of this I had him do four days of taking activated charcoal internally by capsule, found on Amazon.

Day 1 he took only 2 capsules in morning and two in evening with lots of water.

Day 2 he did the same.

Day 3 he took 1 capsule every hour all day long.

Day 4 he took 1 capsule every hour all day long.

Day 5 all was clear - accept for a VERY dry thigh, (which we rubbed Coconut oil into until dryness was gone)

All the heat and redness was gone!

Fels-Naphtha

Posted by Rebecca (Massachusetts ) on 01/09/2020
★★★★★

The laundry soap bar, called Fels Naptha...hands down, the best cure for poison ivy. Wet the spot and soap it, let dry...don't rinse! It will dry out immediately!

Ionic Zinc

Posted by Suzy (Indiana) on 09/07/2019
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Last summer I had a long and nasty outbreak of poison ivy.

This past July I got it again though in 66 years I've only had it twice. Looking for relief, I remembered zinc in pill form clears up my granddaughter's eczema. I had a bottle of ionic zinc and knowing it is good for skin I decided to see if it would offer some relief from the blistering and itch. Ionic zinc is a liquid. Mine came in a blue bottle with a dropper. I put a bit on every tingle, pimple and start of an outbreak.

I immediately had what felt like an electrical charge or tiny pin pricks. It was a bit overwhelming at first and I wondered if it was a very smart idea but the sensation eased and in a short time blisters appeared. Poison ivy takes days to blister and you aren't on your way to healing until your skin is a full blown mess. What got me to apply the ionic zinc again that evening was the fact that once I applied the zinc the itching stopped.

I applied it morning and night, a small amount. It is like water with a bit of oil, you need to shake the bottle and pump the dropper so you have the mixed ionic zinc in the dropper. I don't know the science behind it but I know it worked. If you've had poison ivy you know how long it takes to surface, blister, weep and finally start to go away. The ionic zinc got rid of all of it within a week, full cycle, start to finish. It surfaced, dried up and went away with no itch.

The only side effect I experienced was that the skin on my arms, after the poison ivy healed, was wrinkly and very dry.

I probably could have been more careful applying the zinc only to the poison ivy, maybe have used a q-tip. I put coconut oil on the dry patches and used a soft skin brush when I bathed. After a few days my skin was back to normal. Ionic zinc worked for me. Last year it took me three weeks to just get feeling ok with the poison ivy starting to clear.

I'm hoping this might help someone else get relief. Take care and stay smart.

Aloe Vera

Posted by Gloria G. (United States) on 08/09/2019
★★★★★

I got poison ivy rash four days ago, I tried everything earthclinic suggest and nothing worked, last night out of desperation and seeing this watery sticky fluid coming out of the rash I put some baby powder on the rash (left arm) and voila!

My arm got colder and the powder absorbed the sticky fluid, I was relieved. I did several times today and I was happy. This afternoon however I was uneasy, my arm was hotter and the itching was stronger so I went to my backyard where I have Aloe Vera plants, I got one leave and peeled it on one side and rubbed it against my arm (gelatin against my skin) and the effect was immediate, the arm was colder, the itching and the sticky fluid stopped, and in a matter of minutes inflammation started to go down. That was an hour ago and my arm is feeling well. I know I need more time to get the final result but the difference is already amazing, inflammation is already like 30% better! I'm going to repeat this at least twice more before gong to bed hoping tomorrow I will be cured! Amazing stuff!!

Calamine Lotion

Posted by David (Tx) on 07/10/2018
★★★★★

Poison ivy: Tried DMSO, no good. Tried acv, no good. Then I tore a paper towel so that folded into 4 layers, it would cover the rash area. The I saturated the top with calamine lotion, put it over the rash area and held it in place with an ace bandage. Next morning, the blisters were almost gone. Doing it again tonight. It is actually ok to press down on the blisters, causing some to pop as it relieves the itching somewhat. The liquid is quickly absorbed and does not spread the rash

How to Develop Poison Ivy Immunity

Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn.) on 05/04/2017

HI U Timh, my Ky neighbor. I always listen to your counsel, and will copy your post for direction. My back situation is improving drastically with a number of things I'm doing. The problem is that I'm running my health program just like I ran a Pulp Mill. I do so many things that most times I have no clue what solved the problem. But I always solved the problem.

This deal where Integrative Doctors are taking your blood, centrifuging it to get only the platelets is the coming thing. I think you need to research this and see if it can help your situation. Hollywood is going ape over the use of blood plates to take decades off their face and the sex folks think this beats the heck out of Viagra for both men and women. I would not go that route as old men don't need sex that is too strong. It's a heart thing.

The Prolozone shot I got that had my blood platelets in it has got me doing work in the garden that my HS football player had to do. He is not available to work because of the demands that he do the required workouts.

I am also using the Hi Dollar PEMF device that can address almost as many ailments as my Rife Machine and does require lots of brain power. Growing black radish again this year.

Timh, thanks for helping folks that just want the easy way out. They frustrate me, but not you. You work with them and I tell them to just please read what is in EC's archives. Their answer has been there for some 20 years.

Out of spit. ======ORH======

Homeopathic Prevention

Posted by Ncdorothy (Snow Camp, Nc) on 04/15/2017
★★★★★

As I sit here with a nasty outbreak of poison ivy looking for relief, I am kicking myself for not "curing" this years ago. I know this is possible because my husband has gotten only a few very mild cases in the last six years since he took a 6-week course of homeopathic poison ivy remedy. He took 10-15 drops in a few ounces of water every evening before bed. This was in the early spring and during a time when he did not have an active rash. Prior to this, he had at least 5-6 severe outbreaks every year. They happened in the summer when he worked outside. They happened in the winter when he wasn't outside. They always lasted at least a week and covered his forearms, chest and back. He had been like this since childhood only they were worse then -- in his eyes, ears and groin at times. His mom tried everything over the counter, steroid shots, even a new poison ivy "vaccine" which was a disaster leading to a head to toe rash. Anyway to go from such severe reactions to a few mild case is absolutely amazing. I'm kicking myself saying why have I not just done it?! Hope this helps someone out there!

L-lysine, Vitamin C, Aspirin

Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee, Usa) on 11/09/2015
★★★★★

Well, I am back again with another "yea" for something else that works for poison ivy - this one was an accidental discovery.

One of my adults sons had a cold. I was giving him the following, twice a day:

2 capsules (total 800mg) L-lysine

2 tablets (700mg) aspirin

1 tablet (1000 mg) Vitamin C

After a few days he told me - "Whatever you were giving me for my cold really helped my poison ivy. I had some on my fingers and it was getting bad, but now it is almost dried up." (I didn't even know he had poison ivy! )

I recalled that L-lysine is sometimes used for cold sores. Something about it must be helpful when skin needs healing. Vitamin C is also helpful for skin issues. I don't know if the aspirin had any benefit at all to the poison ivy, but didn't want to neglect it, in case it did.

~Mama to Many~

Reishi Mushrooms

Posted by Matie (Westport, Ct) on 07/16/2015
★★★★★

After clearing large vines and patches of poison ivy, I wasn't prepared for the extreme reaction I would experience. I had covered my body well for the yard clearing process, and afterwards, washed my arms with soap, wiped them with tea tree oil wipes, and finally with rubbing alcohol. Two days later, when severe rashes and blisters began appearing I used Tecnu, IvyRest, All Terrain Poison Ivy Cream (a great choice! ), baking soda paste, and witch hazel. Despite my efforts, I was in complete misery, my neck and arms bandaged mummy style in gauze. The blisters and oozing wouldn't stop. And it all just kept spreading! I was doing 4 loads of wash a day to make sure my bedding and clothes weren't the continued source of the problem. Any one who looked at me would feel the need to start itching or run. I got very little sleep and would begin each day feeling like it had all spread to more parts of my body. I was experiencing nausea, headaches, and a fever. At a certain point, I decided there was nothing more topically that I could do, and started to focus on internal treatments. I began drinking 1.5 liters of water each day, and used Herb Pharm Immune Defense tincture, Amla capsules (ayurvedic vitamin C), turmeric capsules, and Hyland's Poison Ivy tablets. This provided some relief, but new blisters continued to appear all over. I searched online and began to learn about systemic poison ivy. When rashes start appearing in places that had no contact with the ivy, and begin spreading all over, the ivy's urushiol oil has penetrated the skin to bond with white blood cells called Langerhan's cells. Now, I had some idea of why my reaction was unrelenting. The primary option at this stage is to go with steroid injections, antihistamines and over-the-counter medications. That isn't my strategy of choice, so I researched further into alternative treatments for systemic poison ivy. I found a few references to the virtues of Reishi mushrooms for treating inflammations experienced thru poison ivy. I bought Herb Pharm Reishi tincture and New Chapter Reishi capsules. I took the daily recommended dose of each 4X/day!!! Immediately I began experiencing relief and the a healing of the blisters. My neck (at 2-1/2 weeks of rash) looked like I had been impaled and was crusted over and bleeding from from the continued re-blistering. It felt like it was on fire and looked like charred embers.

I am writing this post to share the miraculous benefits of reishi mushroom in healing the brutal effects of systemic poison ivy. Within 3 days of taking my reishi supplements, all the blistering had stopped and had begun disappearing. This above photo is 2-1/2 weeks into treating poison ivy before beginning treatment with reishi supplements. I put vitamin E on the scabs to keep them moist and to encourage healing. By day 4 of the reishi and topical vitamin E, my neck was clear of the scabs and healing greatly!!!

Coconut Oil, Homeopathics

Posted by Elizabeth (Charlotte, Nc) on 06/26/2014
★★★★★

I am a healthy, mid-thirties, female who has tried many different remedies for relief of poison ivy rashes over the years including technu, jewel weed (on the rash, I haven't tried the tea), salt, alcohol, peroxide, bleach, borax, Ivy Dry, and calamine lotion. None of these really made much difference.

Finally, I have found something that works for me: Coconut oil and homeopathics.

The last significant rash I contracted a couple years ago was treated in the following way: A friend suggested that I anoint the rash with oil (she suggested olive oil, but I used coconut) and pray for it. Which I did. The rash stopped being so itchy and began healing. I continued applying coconut oil to it daily. I also noticed that it did not bother me while I was taking my homeopathic treatment for allergies.

What I've learned: the current theory of treatment for poison ivy says, "dry out the rash! " However, this isn't just a rash, its our skin. The skin needs moisture to be healthy, but water seems to irritate the rash.

I've heard that urishol is what causes the allergic reaction and that it acts like a virus in the body. So the immune system is involved.

Coconut oil is a known anti-viral. I have been surprised at how it can help irritations on the skin. I simply apply some oil to the rash in the morning, after showering, before bed or as needed.

The homeopathic medicine I took was for respiratory allergies, but it helped. I have tried homeopathic remedies that are labeled for poison oak/ivy, but they didn't seem to help as much.

Since we can't name products, I'll list the ingredients in the homeopathic remedy I use:

Echinacea angustifolia 4x, 12x, 20x, 30x
Ignatia amara 6x
Lycopodium clavatum 6x
Sulphur 6x, 12x, 20x, 30x
Thuja occidentalis 6x
Ledum palustre 8x
Phosphorus 8x
Antimonium Crudum 12x
Histaminum hydrochloricum 12x
Selenium 12x.

I use as directed on the label which amounts to taking one tablet every four hours.

Other things that help:

I take the usual precautions of washing my clothes and skin within twenty minutes of exposure to the plant.

When I discover the itchy red spots I wash the area with soap and water before applying the the coconut oil the first time, just to make sure any remaining plant oils are removed.

I've noticed that the itchiness is the worst when I am hungry and/or tired. So I try to take care of myself. Taking vitamin C also seems to help as well as anything that boosts the immune system.

As a teen I contracted the severest case of poison ivy of my life. The rash formed the hard leathery stage from my wrist to my elbow on both arms. (Agony) It only seemed to heal when Mom gave me a combination of Chinese herbs for the immune system. The herbs helped so much that she stopped giving them to me before the rash was fully healed. It resurged, so she had to give them to again til it was gone.

I also avoid sugar and wheat. I really believe these things aggravate so many negative conditions in the body, at least for me anyway.

Since discovering this remedy I have avoided contracting any significant cases of the rash. Instead, I'll find an itchy, red spot or two from time to time. I just use the protocol described above and the spots go away shortly without spreading and without causing suffering.

I really hope this info helps others.

Sweating

Posted by Jean (Ky) on 12/20/2017 27 posts

It is probably the salt in the sweat that is working to dry the poison ivy. It makes sense.

Grapefruit Seed Extract

Posted by Esther (GA) on 05/20/2022
★★★★★

Sorry, just seeing your question. I took GSE twice daily, 10 drops in water or in an empty capsule. (IF you take in a capsule, be sure to drink a big glass of water with it.) You can also mix with water and dab on the area twice daily.

DMSO

Posted by Cindy (Illinois, USA) on 07/26/2021 523 posts

That's one of the things about DMSO. ClO2 and ozone both destroy toxins but DMSO doesn't. BUT, it will open all of the pathways to get it out of your system quicker. That said, I can't find much info on colloidal silver's effect on toxins. I've seen some remarks made about venom, which is a toxin, as opposed to living microbes, and that it has helped in the instances referenced but...I just can't find much on the topic.

I DID find a connection between venom, colloidal silver and lipids though. So, maybe that's how toxins get handled, if that's a part of their repertoire - an effect on lipids which may be what makes toxins toxic in the first place...I don't know. But it's interesting so I expect my explorations will take me down that path...

Anyway, I've only had poison ivy once, years ago, and the only thing that helped was its homeopathic remedy, Rhus-Tox.

Jewelweed

Posted by Linda (Erlanger, Ky) on 05/03/2009
★★★★★

I came into contact with poison ivy ( once again ) in our back yard while helping my husband do some gardening. I have had it many times in my life, but this time was the worst! I had it on both forearms and both lower legs. In fact, I looked like I had been badly burned on my right leg. I went to the dr 3 times for this. I was given oral steroids, a steroid shot, antibiotics ( in case of infection ) and topical steroid cream. These were all ok but the thing that worked wonders for me was a tincure I picked up at a local vitamin and natural product store that contained jewel weed. After using this stuff for about 3 days, I had amazing results and I am almost healed now. I have suffered from this rash now for over 2 weeks! This stuff is amazing!

EC: Jewel Weed (aka Touch-Me-Not) often grows near poison ivy and is easy to locate. Good photos here.

Jewelweed

Posted by Charles (Hillsdale, New York) on 12/12/2007
★★★★★

Jewel weed I use this every year now on poison ivy. If used right away you never get it, but if you have had it for a while, jewel weed will at least relieve itching but it does not seem to eliminate blisters. Still, when you don't itch having poison ivy seems bearable.