5 Poison Ivy Remedies

I just got over some poison ivy on my ankle. It lasted about two weeks and I think I got it bushwhacking to a geocache. The chlorine from the pool definitely helped and my mom’s handmade soap with lye. My husband cleared the brush by the river in front of our house to open it up and build stairs. Now he’s covered. He has it all over his arms and legs. The worst I ever got was all over the back of my thighs and butt. It was BRUTAL!! I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. I had to sit on plastic bags at work. Ew. Anyway, he’s been using the soap and a poison ivy salve we have. I thought I’d try to find some other remedies to help dry it out fast. My husband is always making fun of my “witchcraft” (as he calls it) natural remedies but they work! I'm pretty sure the man version of poison ivy is 100 times worse, similar to the man-cold.

1. Baking Soda
You can add a bunch of baking soda to a bath and soak in it (I don’t picture my husband ever doing that) or you can put some baking soda in a bowl and add water slowly to make a paste. Slather the paste onto your poison ivy and let it dry. It will dry up the blisters and it’s something almost every household has on hand.

2. Witch hazel
Witch hazel is something I usually have on hand because it makes a great toner for your face. It also helps reduce poison ivy inflammation and itching. Try to get the purest witch hazel you can. Put it on a cotton ball and soak the poison ivy. Let it air dry.

3. Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is like a miracle oil and I have like 3 bottles in my stockpile (shhh!) It is great for blemishes on your face and minor cuts and scrapes as it kills bacteria. The smell is pretty potent but doesn’t that mean it’s working?! To apply to poison ivy, you’ll need to add the tea tree essential oil to a carrier oil like coconut oil or almond oil before you apply to the skin.

4. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a great remedy for itching and rashes. An oatmeal soak is often recommended for chicken pox or a skin rash. I remember taking an oatmeal baking soda bath for a bad reaction to a natural supplement. I had hives everywhere. Yikes! The bath helped tremendously. Add a few cups of oatmeal to a bath and soak for 20-30 minutes. This will help relieve the poison ivy itching.

5. Aloe
I’m so excited that I ought an aloe plant this year! Now we can have fresh aloe for cuts, burns and poison ivy. The soothing qualities of aloe from a plant or store bought aloe will reduce the itching for your poison ivy.

What do you use on your poison ivy?