Treating
Poison Ivy With Herbs
No one
likes to get poison ivy. The condition is characterized with
itching, red splotches of skin, and sometimes a temperature.
Fortunately, there are several common herbs that may be helpful
in treating poison
ivy, especially
minor cases. Here are some things you can try to help
bring the condition under control.
While
conventional wisdom notes that the use of calamine lotion is a
must for treating cases of poison ivy, there are actually a
couple of other routes to go. Aloe vera is considered to be a
helpful and natural compound to use in treating a wide range of
skin conditions. When it comes to poison ivy, using the juice
from the aloe vera plant can help to take some of the heat and
itch out of the situation. In addition, lotions that are
prepared with high concentrations of aloe vera will help with
the rash associated with poison ivy as well.
Along with
aloe vera, there are a couple of other common herbs to try. The
hulls and leaves of black walnut can be used to create a
poultice that can be applied to the infected area. Like the
aloe vera, black walnut will help to pull out some of the heat
and the infection that is causing the rash. There are several
different recipes for a black walnut poultice that can be found
in books available at health food stores and herb
shops.
Herbal
supplements that are ingested may also help to relieve the
stress and pain associated with poison ivy. Some of the herbs
that can be taken as part of the process of treating poison ivy
are dandelion, red clover, yellow dock, and sarsaparilla.
Experienced herbalists or homeopathic physicians can recommend
specific amounts of these and other herbs to use as part of the
treatment process.
Treating
poison ivy with herbs is something that will work well with
cases that are relatively minor. However, keep in mind that a
severe case of the condition may require the stronger and
quicker results that can be obtained by seeking the assistance
of the family doctor. Herbs often work very well, but tend to
produce results at a slower pace than nuclear medicine
options.
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