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POISON IVY, OAK or SUMAC
All
plant-induced rashes will respond equally well to the following treatments:
If
you suspect contact, get those clothes in the wash and yourself in the
shower. Scrub head to toe with liquid soap or powdered detergent and loofah.
Then throw the loofah away!
If
you are camping or stuck outside for the day, remember that often the
antidote grows near the culprit plant. Jewelweed (with it’s orange or
yellow trumpet-shaped flowers—not to be confused with trumpet vine) can
often be seen growing near poison ivy. Its leaves contain “lawsone” which
can beat poison ivy’s skin irritating “urushiol” to the skin-cell binding
sites (so the sooner you use it, the better). Crumble the leaves and rub on
the affected area. If there is no jewelweed in sight, rubbing any green
leaf on the area will help. Try dock, comfrey, plantain, chickweed. You
can also purchase jewelweed extract or lotion to bring in your backpack.
One clinical study showed that jewelweed remedies were
more effective than cortisone cream.
Other good topical remedies include those made with comfrey, calendula or
aloe. Never put an ointment or oily remedy on an oozing rash. Better to
use a liquid-base or gel-based lotion.
If
you have been “attacked” by poison ivy, eating a lot of chlorophyll-rich
foods will boost your endurance and decrease the allergic reaction. Eat
spinach, drink nettles tea or use a spirulina or algae powdered supplement
to boost blood levels of chlorophyll. Taking flaxseed oil (by mouth) will
also decrease the intensity of the itch by nurturing nerve cells and
decreasing inflammation.
NOTE:
Itching bites and rashes can become infected, and when located around the
eyes, ears, nose or mouth these rashes will need serious medical attention.
Severe sunburn can be accompanied by more serious problems like
dehydration. If your burns, bites or rashes are more than just
uncomfortable and irritating, abandon the above methods and seek medical
attention.
©2003
HERBAN AVENUES All right reserved. Reprinting or internet posting of any
portion of this article is prohibited without permission from the author.
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