12 Home Remedies for Poison Ivy and Oak (Research-Backed)

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(Last Updated On: June 7, 2018)

Do you remember the good old proverb, “Leaves of three, let it be”?

It means, you should not mess with plants that have three edged leaves or leaflets. Because plants with such characteristics are poisonous.

Poison ivy and oak are two such ‘not to mess with’ toxin plants. Yes, you heard that right; green isn’t the right thing always.

Research conducted by American Academy of Dermatology shows that nearly 85% people are sensitive to an allergic reaction in contact with poison ivy and oak (1). Next time you take a stroll on your garden watch out for these notorious plants.

An oily toxin- Urushiol is the main culprit in these plants that triggers the allergic reaction or contact dermatitis. (2)

Following are the ways of exposure to urushiol:

A direct contact with poison ivy and oak. Urushiol is present in every part of the plants. So, any fateful contact with the plants may expose you to the toxin.
Urushiol is very sticky and persistent. it’s difficult to detect it because it’s colorless and odorless. You may pick up the toxin from your gardening tools and pets’ fur if these have contacted the plants.
If you burn the plants, the smoke may cause serious lungs allergy. (3)

Within the first 12 to72 hours of exposure to the toxin, you may develop an intolerable itch, red bumps or rashes and swelling on the affected area.

This contact dermatitis may persecute you for 2 to 3 weeks. The situation may turn worse if you leave it untreated. Then, it’ll start a widespread mayhem on your skin with enlarged blisters full of puss. The itch can literally drive you crazy.

An over the counter corticosteroid medication to lower the symptoms of poison ivy and oak is costly. Moreover, it comes with the backlash of side effects. (4)

It is worth trying a natural remedy to counteract this ‘curse of nature’.

In this article, you’ll learn some of the simplest home remedies for poison ivy and oak rashes and blisters. You’ll also get tips to prevent a menacing encounter with these poisonous plants.

12 Natural Remedies for Relieving Poison Ivy and Oak Rash

These natural remedies are ‘no-fail’ in controlling the symptoms and heal poison ivy and oak rash gradually.

1. Dish Soap and Cold Water

Prevention is the best remedy. If you have the slightest doubt of poison ivy and oak exposure the first step is to run for cool water. Research shows that only a billionth gram of urushiol can set off the itch and rashes. Your skin absorbs 50% of the toxin in less than ten minutes. (5)

When the dendritic cells of the skin transfer the toxin to the lymph nodes, the t-cells in the blood starts to destroy the healthy cells of the affected area. A timely thorough shower in cool running water can wash off the toxin significantly.

Using a dishwashing soap can be extra beneficial. Detergent has the grease cutting agents. The offending urushiol is an oily toxin. So, it is advised that you wash your affected skin with dish soap.

If the urushiol has already started its havoc, a cool water shower can give comfort and ease to the rashes.

Note: Note to wear gloves when you wash the affected area. It is advisable to take a wash every time you come back from a walk in the garden.

2. Jewelweed

Heck, did you know that the remedy for poison ivy rash is in your own backyard?

Jewelweed is a therapeutic plant of Impatiens capensis family. It has oval almost trumpet-shaped leaves. This savior plant in your backyard is nature’s antidote to poison ivy and oak blisters. Jewelweed has chemical compounds that can counteract against the offending urushiol and allergic reaction in your body. (6)

Directions:

Take some jewelweed leaves and the tender stems
Crush them and release the juice
Apply the herbal juice to the affected skin
Sooner you do this, less the risk of allergic reaction and developing rash

Note: You can find a shady little space in your garden to grow few jewelweeds. It can help you with preventing ringworm and wart as well.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar or ACV is a ‘cure-all’ home remedy. ACV is fermented apple juice mixed with acetic acid. The alcohol content of the vinegar works ideally to ease the itching and heal poison ivy and oak blisters gradually. (7)

If you have a stock of ACV in your kitchen try this process right away.

You’ll need:

Apple cider vinegar ½ a cup
Cold water 1 ½ cup

Directions:

Dilute ACV with cool water
Bathe your affected skin with the solution
Let it air dry
Wash off with normal water
Repeat the process twice a day for a week

Note:Always use raw or ‘mother’ ACV for the best result.

4. Lemon Juice and Honey

Lemon juice and honey are two easy to reach kitchen ingredients. Both of these are power pack for a good health. Along with vitamin C and many other nutrients; lemon has astringent. (8)

This property is potent to heal skin disorders. Particularly it can reduce the size of blisters and ease the irritations.

Honey is hygroscopic in nature. It means honey can absorb moisture or liquid from any surface. That’s why honey can suck in the moisture from the poison ivy blisters and dry them off. (9)

A power combo of lemon and honey can speed up the healing process of poison ivy rash.

You’ll need:

Lemon juice 4 tbsp.
Raw honey 2 tbsp.
Cotton swab

Directions:

Add lemon juice to the honey and mix them well
Dab cotton swab on the mixture and apply it to the affected skin
Let it stay on the skin for 20 minutes
Wash off with cool water
Repeat the process twice a day for a week.

5. Baking Soda

Sodium bicarbonate or baking soda is a super ingredient for baking cakes and cleaning household. You’ll be surprised to know that it is one of the best home remedies for poison ivy rashes.

You can dust your skin with baking soda to get rid of urushiol oil residues. According to American Academy of Dermatology, a baking soda bath can significantly ease the irritations of poison ivy rash and reduce inflammations. (10)

Moreover, a baking soda paste can dehydrate the swellings and reduce their size.

Below you have two methods of baking soda remedy for poison ivy rash:

Process 1: Baking Soda Paste

You’ll need:

Baking soda 2 tbsp.
Cold water 4 tbsp.

Directions:

Add cold water to the baking soda and mix them well
Apply the paste on the rashes like a layer
Let it dry on the skin
Repeat the process daily until the blisters dry off

Note: For broken blisters soak a sterile gauze on the paste and lay it over the affected area as a bandage. Change the gauze every time you repeat the process.

Process 2: Baking Soda Bath

You’ll need:

Baking soda 1 cup

Directions:

Mix the baking soda with your bath water
Take a thorough shower with the solution
Repeat this process if the rash is widespread in your body

6. Oatmeal Bath

Oatmeal is full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties to treat skin disorders of all sorts. An oatmeal bath can be one of the simplest home remedies for rash. The starch of oats meal can create a protective film or powdery coat over your skin.

This can help the blisters to dehydrate and dry off soon. It eases the irritations and lessens your urge to scratch the rashes.

You’ll need:

Oatmeal 1 cup
Lukewarm water

Directions:

On a tub add the oatmeal to lukewarm bath water
Completely immerse yourself in the water for 30 minutes
Let your body air dry
No further wash is necessary

7. Cucumbers

This simple home remedy for poison ivy and oak is ‘cool as a cucumber’ on your rashes. Remember the last time you have been to a spa and sported two slices of cucumber over your eyes? It was soothing.

This cool veggie can bring comfort to your poison ivy rash. It is effective to relieve itching too.

You’ll need:

Tender cucumber 2

Directions:

Blend cucumber and make a paste
Apply them to the rash as a layer
Let it sit on and penetrate the skin for 20 minutes
Wash off with cool water
Repeat the process twice a day

Note: You can safely apply cucumber on any sensitive part of the body. It’s good to blend cucumbers unpeeled.

8. Watermelon

What can be more refreshing than a piece of watermelon on a sultry hot afternoon?

Watermelon is cooling to the body plus its pulp has phytochemicals (11). This makes watermelon enriched with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Watermelon pulp or rind can be an effective home remedy for poison ivy rash.

You’ll need:

Knife
Blander machine
Watermelon rind (as per requirement)

Directions:

Using a knife cut out the white portion of the rinds
Blend them well and make a paste
Apply the moist paste on your rashes
Let it cool down your rashes and ease your irritation

9. Aloe Vera

From sunburn to dandruff; Aloe Vera heals it all. It is a popular ingredient in health care industry because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Aloe Vera gel can work wonders for poison ivy rash as well. It can bring immediate relief to the irritation and reduce the inflammations.

You’ll need:

Aloe Vera leaf
Knife

Directions:

Slit open the leaf and extract the gel using a spoon
Apply the gel to your rashes
Leave it on the affected area so long it comforts you
Repeat the process thrice a day

Note: You can chill the gel keeping it in a refrigerator for some time.

10. Goldenseal

Goldenseal or oregano root is a great home remedy for all sorts of digestive disorders and flu. Its chemical component berberine is anti-inflammatory and can effectively bring down poison ivy rashes and blisters. (12)

You’ll need:

Goldenseal dried root powder 1 tbsp.
Boiling hot water 500 ml.

Directions:

Boil goldenseal powder for 10 minutes
Remove the goldenseal tincture from the heat and let it cool down
Soak cotton swab with the tincture and apply it onto the rashes
Keep it on the affected skin for 20 minutes
Repeat the process twice daily

11. Witch Hazel

Witch hazel is a time-tested medicinal plant full of antioxidants and astringent. It can effectively treat skin problems like; acne, sores, blisters and even skin cancer. Today you can buy witch hazel extract in pharmacy.

A topical use of witch hazel extract can help you soothe poison ivy rashes and reduce inflammations. Follow the recommendation on the label. (13)

12. Himalayan Salt

The aesthetic looking pink Himalayan sea salt is more than what meets the eye. It has an extensive list of therapeutic benefits. There are over 84 minerals along with calcium, potassium, iron, and magnesium (14). For centuries people have used it for different home remedy. The antihistaminic and sulfur nature of Himalayan salt make it a potent remedy for poison ivy rash.

Process 1: Himalayan Salt Spray

You’ll need:

Himalayan salt 1 teaspoon
Cold water
Spray bottle

Directions:

Add the salt to the water and mix them well
Pour the solution into a spray bottle
Spray the solution on your rashes
Allow it to air dry on your affected skin
Repeat the process several times a day

Process 2: Himalayan Salt Bath

You’ll need:

Himalayan salt 1-2 cup
Warm water

Directions:

Mix the salt to your warm bath water
saturate yourself fully with the solution
Let it stay on your body for 15 minutes
Gently tap dry with a towel
Repeat this soothing process every night before you hit the bed

Tips to Avoid Poison Ivy and Oak Rash

Recognize the notorious plants: it is your first precaution. Detect and avoid the toxin plants to be out of contamination with urushiol. You can identify the plants with their clusters of three hairy leaflets with smooth edges. These can be either shrub or vine based on where they grow. According to the season, they can vary in their color as well.

Wear protective clothes: you may have to pay price for ‘exposing your skin’ in your own backyard. Wear long and covering clothes to shield yourself from contacting with the toxin plants. Make sure to wear gloves when you are working in the garden.

Wash, wash and wash: every time you have a leisurely walk in your garden; make sure to wash upon return. Rinse your clothes and gardening tools. The creepy toxin can stick to your pets’ fur as well. Give her a shower regularly.

Get rid of poison ivy and oak from your garden: never even think of burning the plants. The smoke can cause serious problems in lungs. Call professionals to remove the treacherous plants from your garden.