Poison Ivy, Poison Oak & Similar Skin Problems

Posted by Dr. Jen on July 23, 2009

I received a note from my best friend, who lives in Virginia, telling me she is suffering from a massive case of poison ivy.  Her doctor put her on corticosteroids hoping to “stop the rampant spread;” however, her poison ivy is still spreading and “the uncontrollable  itching” is still driving her crazy.

The blisters, swelling, and itching of allergic reactions to plants or other contacts with allergens are caused by an immune system response to the poison.  The intended purpose of using steroidal pharmaceuticals is to stop an inflammatory or allergic reaction.  However, steroids do not cure; what they do is shut down your immune system and suppress your body’s ability to express a normal response.  And, it is reported that even a single dose of steroids can create serious side effects and have long lasting negative impact on your health.

There are a few natural medicine things you can do to help stop the torment of poison ivy and/or similar conditions.  To help support your body’s efforts to combat the allergic response and heal itself naturally, take 3 to 8 grams (1,000 mg=1 gram) of vitamin C with bioflavonoids per day.  Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine and helps reduce swelling.  Vitamin A (25,000 i.u. daily (10K if pregnant) can be helpful in boosting the immune system and supporting skin healing.

The homeopathic Rhus Tox is generally specific for the treatment of poison ivy.  There are a number of other homeopathic remedy possibilities if Rhus Tox isn’t helpful.  A good reference book can help you discover the right remedy for your specific symptoms.  Take a low dose of the remedy, 3X or 6X (no higher than 30X), three to four times a day by tapping a few pellets into the cap and then under your tongue (don’t touch the pellets as you can contaminate them) and let them dissolve naturally.

I do not recommend the types of multi-remedy homeopathic preparations available in health food stores.  I consider this to be a “buckshot” approach to homeopathy and I have personally found that this approach can confuse symptoms more than eliminate them.

The homeopathic remedy you choose depends upon the specific symptoms an individual is having, so the same remedy will not always be indicated for the same ‘condition.’  I recommend that you purchase a good reference book on homeopathy and a nice sized homeopathic kit.  You will find homeopathy invaluable in treating yourself, your family, and your pets in the most natural, non-invasive way.

Applications of calamine lotion can help soothe and dry up the lesions.  Applications of fresh lemon, squeezed directly from the fruit, can also help stop the itching; however, it will probably sting for a minute or two right after you apply it.  After it dries to a slightly sticky glaze on your skin, you are likely to find it will significantly calm the itching for a while.  The same is true of applying a vitamin C serum to allergic skin reactions–it immediately starts to help calm the reaction.

Other remedies include the application of pure aloe vera gel to help relieve the burning and itching.  Witch hazel can also help stop itching and assist in healing.  Tea tree oil disinfects and heals skin conditions (I recommend a direct application of 15% solution for this).  Soaking the affected area in a cool water bath of colloidal oatmeal (Aveeno).  Marshmallow root applications  (paste or by tea compress) can help soothe and heal the skin.

A paste made of water, cornstarch, baking soda, oatmeal applied to the skin can help relieve itching (1 tsp water to 3 tsp dry ingredients).  A strong tea made of equal parts lime water and white oak bark applied to the skin by a wet compress can also be helpful.  Stay as  cool as possible–heat and perspiration can aggravate symptoms.

As the strong hypersensitivity reaction begins to wane, you will want to begin taking approximately 80 mg of zinc daily to help your skin begin to heal.  Also apply a natural d-alpha (not dl-, which is synthetic) Vitamin E oil or ointment to your skin daily to support healing and prevent scarring.

Finally, if you’re prone to strong allergic reactions, my recommendation is that you find an acupuncturist in your area who is trained in the NAET system of allergy elimination.  You may be amazed how this simple treatment can stop a full blown reaction to an allergen from worsening as well as prevent it from occurring again (see my upcoming blog on my experience with spider bites).

Note:  If your poison ivy/oak/sumac reaction is severe, covering more than half your body or occurring near your eyes, mouth or genitals, and if it is producing a fever, you may need to consult a physician.

Tags: Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac

3 Comments »

1. 

   Thanks for your detailed response to your Virginia friend…..I have passed it on to a friend of mine in Florida…her grandson has the same problem. Is there a charge for your Poison Ivy Comments or should I just smile big towards you today as I stand in Florida and face towardss Oregon?

   Comment by Jim Frain — July 26, 2009 @ 5:04 am

2. 

   Hello in Florida! Hope it is cooler there than it is in Orygun today! Thanks for your comment. ‘Tis definitely the season for poisonous plants to spread misery to the unsuspecting simply enjoying summer. My reward is helping people feel better naturally. In my opinion natural remedies work SO much better than pharmaceutical interventions and do not create side effects that can ruin peoples’ health for the rest of their lives. Take care, be well! Dr. Jen

   Comment by Dr. Jen — July 26, 2009 @ 8:46 am

3. 

   Excellent article, it’s very informative!

   Comment by Huiles essentielles — October 6, 2009 @ 6:16 am

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Leave a comment

© 2010 Hands of Gold | Powered by WordPress