Getting back to this blog, after a couple years off... because I didn't have the bandwidth while we were building our house, but between living off grid, and a long year of herbalism training, I have some good MacGuyver tips and home remedy lessons to share!
The first of which is what I've learned from "sister" (poison) ivy / oak / sumac for you:
I was exposed to either poison ivy or oak before leaving town last week -- not sure which because we have both, and the rash from both looks the same because it comes from the Urushiol oil from the plants. I didn't realize the rash wasn't a bug bite until I was gone. Mistake #1: check yourself carefully after making fairy gardens in the woods.
I didn't have my primary remedy - jewelweed salve - with me, sadly, mistake #2, but did have rhus tox homeopathy (poison ivy), which I started taking immediately and frequently. The homeopathy doesn't help the rash much, just your body's reaction.
If you don't know, PI rash isn't transferrable/contagious, doesn't have a cure (just to soothe it) and doesn't spread on your own body by scratching it - only the Urushiol oil within the plant causes the rash- yet it spread on mine... I had a spot under my left breast, and spots started showing on my arms, chin, eye and ear over the next day. Come to find, it will spread if the oil is still on something, like a pillow case (which I brought with me) or a sweatshirt (ditto). Mistake #3.
We were with family, and several of them had "home remedy" suggestions.... Dawn dish soap, bleach, and steroids. Supidly, I took the Dawn in a state of desperation without re-reading or thinking. While a non toxic but oil-removing dish soap would be good after coming in from the woods to remove the Urushiol oil, after a vigorous shower, which i'd had two of, it's pointless to use Dawn. What it did was make all the little bumps swell up with fluid, making the itchies so much more itchy. 😭🤦🏼♀️ I didn't do bleach bc I know better and never touch the stuff. I did use the steroid cream once but then muscle tested and gave it back. Dawn is extremely concentrated and the blue is toxic, so ... Yeah. Mistake #4.
As I said, I know the remedy... jewelweed salve. It was at home. So I hunted for that, extensively- since we drove down, I had my car, but I struck out. So I made a tea out of a calming blend I brought, and soaked washcloths in that, froze them, and applied. I got a soothing gut health blend at one of the stores, and made a paste with that, too. Both gave some relief. I used a steroid free homeopathy rash cream (helped too), as well as 3 kinds of soothing soaps: oat, frankincense and myrrh, and a black magic soap (all pictured).
When I got home, I used witch Hazel and aloe, and jewelweed oil, and I'm finding some relief... It can take 10 days to 3 weeks to heal from the rash, hoping the jewelweed cuts it to 10. I'm on day 7 and the blisters are small but mighty.
Lessons:
• always travel with a complete first aid kit with multiple solutions for issues
• don't listen to people who don't know what they're talking about, even if they are emphatic
• don't take a solution you wouldn't suggest or do if you weren't desperate - desperate actions can and will make the situation worse
Remedies that are natural:
If you think you've come into contact, or as a preventative, every time you leave the woods, strip down, wash clothes in hot water, and wash body vigorously with oil-stripping natural soap (diluted if concentrated!)For the rash, use Aloe, witch Hazel, AC vinegar, baking soda, ice, cooling herbs like marshmallow and chamomile, jewelweed.
Any poison ivy stories or remedies not mentioned, share in the comments below!
#poisonivy
#toxictruths
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