Every year I get poison ivy.  I don’t know why I’m surprised.  Ripping the long tentacled vines from their nesting place before the leaves have a chance to hatch wearing shorts, flip flops and a tank top is probably not the best attire for such a project.  And so here I sit (or scratch) with the dreaded bubbles that are starting to spread, just like the plant they sprang from.

I love natural methods of healing and will do anything to avoid prescription or over the counter medications.  Here’s how I combat the insidious rash:

• First I swab with alcohol or witch hazel to cleanse the area.  It also helps dry out the pustules and speeds up the healing process.
• Then I use topical Calendula (ointment or cream) or mix a paste of baking soda and water to ease the itch.
• Another great option to stop the itch is raw apple cider vinegar.  I use Bragg’s, and it works wonders.  You may smell like a salad for a bit, but it’s so worth it.
• My secret weapon is homeopathic Rhus-tox which I dissolve in 8 ounces of water (a small Poland Spring bottle works nicely) and take periodically throughout the outbreak.  To move things along even more quickly, I succuss the bottle (strike the bottom of the bottle) between doses about 15 to 20 times to increase the potency of the remedy.

Hot water from the shower provides temporary relief, but you run the risk of the rash starting to seep which causes it to spread.  One way to avoid this is to finish the shower with a cold rinse – as cold as you can stand it.  This closes the pores and protects the skin from absorbing any liquid that may leak out.

The most important thing is to try NOT to break the pustules.  Once the rash starts weeping, it spreads everywhere.  Scratching is a no-no too.  All that does is provide temporary relief and then the itch comes back with a vengeance.

My best advice is to pour white vinegar over the plant before tackling it. Then give it a couple of days to make sure it’s really dead.  Vinegar kills weeds naturally (it’ll kill your regular plants too so be careful where you use it).  It might make your yard smell like a salad for a few days, but it’s cheaper than chemicals and better for the environment.  And never, ever burn it.  Breathing in the fumes can cause serious lung damage.  Take care and be well.