Beautiful weather means outdoor time. Gardening. Hiking. Camping. While these adventures leave lasting memories, you often can end up with a bad souvenir, in the form of a poison ivy rash.
It only takes one tiny drop of oil from poison ivy brushing up against the skin to create a body full of itchy red bumps. Luckily, as nature facilitated this reaction, nature can fix it. Here are some of the best remedies.
Remedy #1: Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
ACV is to holistic health what Windex is to the family in My Big Fat Greek Wedding…the answer to everything. However, ACV lends a lot more credibility than Windex…and it tastes better too. In poison ivy, urushiol is the toxin responsible for the outbreak. ACV is especially useful because it pulls toxins out of the pores. All you need is to directly apply it to the skin to draw out those itchy toxins.
Remedy#2: Take A Dive
One of the cheapest all-natural poison ivy remedies is to take a quick dive into the ocean. Why? The ocean is comprised of 3.5% salt. Salt speeds up the healing process by drying out the oozing rash. If you don’t live “seaside,” and the ocean isn’t a possibility, then dissolve 1 ounce of sea salt (or Himalayan Crystal Salt) into a quart of water. Voila! You still have one of the cheapest all natural poison ivy remedies.
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Remedy #3: Aloe Vera
Get an aloe vera plant. It is a detoxifying air purifier for the house and one of the best all natural poison ivy remedies. In addition, they are simple to maintain and easy-to-use. Just break off an aloe leaf and squeeze the aloe out of the plant and onto the poison ivy rash. Aloe is also great for sunburn too!
Remedy #4: Baking Soda
One of the oldest all natural poison ivy remedies is using baking soda. When urushiol contacts your skin, your body’s immune cells go into defense mode and create the proteins interleukin 17 and interleukin 22. These are the proteins responsible for the itch. Chemicals in baking soda help combat these proteins, causing the itchiness to subside. Just add ½ cup of baking soda into a nice, warm bath.
Remedy #5: Oatmeal Bath
The oatmeal bath is one of the all natural poison ivy remedies your parents and grandparents used, only with a new twist. Take 1 cup of oatmeal and some warm water. Put it in a blender and mix until you have a milky-like substance. Now, pour this into a bath of warm water and soak for at least 10 minutes.
Remedy #6: Cucumber Cooler
The cucumber remedy is one of the “cooler” all natural poison ivy remedies. First of all, slice off a cucumber and place the cuke directly onto the wounds. Then, leave the cucumber there until it completely dries out. Also, a watermelon rind will do the trick if you don’t have a cucumber handy.
Remedy #7: Essential Oils
First and foremost, you cannot just apply any essential oil to your skin. Moreover, some might have a very hazardous reaction to your skin. With that being said, two of the most effective of all of the remedies are organic tea tree or lavender oil. Of all the remedies, these are the fastest acting. Make sure to apply AFTER the wound stops oozing. Just place a little on the skin. It will sting at first, but the healing process will speed immensely.
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Do you have any other suggestions for a natural poison ivy remedy in the summertime? Let us know in the comments below.