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.