Poison Ivy rash can be excruciating. If you have poison ivy in your yard, you’ll want effective homemade natural remedies for poison ivy rash first and foremost.

The itchy red bumpy raised areas that can eventually ooze icky liquid can show up from a few hours to a few days after exposure.or like to do hiking in the woods, you’ll want some natural remedies for poison ivy or poison oak in your medicine cabinet.

We’ll also cover natural poison ivy and poison oak remedies that you likely already have in your kitchen.

In our area of the southeast it’s poison ivy that tends to be everywhere in the woods around us. Our kids—especially our son, the wild woodsman, Nikolai—have grown up with frequent bouts of the painfully itchy poison ivy rash. But there is some good news when it comes to these poison, rash-inflicting plants.

Avoidance is the best remedy, so learn how to identify poison ivy.
“Leaves of 3, stay away from me.”

What Does Poison Ivy Look Like?

Before we get into the benefits (yes… you read that right) and natural remedies for poison ivy, it’s important to learn how to identify it. There are a couple of sayings that will help you to remember what to look for when your in the woods in possible harm’s way.

“Leaves of three, let it be.”
“Leaves of three, stay away from me.”
“Leaves of three, beware of me.”

Poison ivy grows on single stems on underground runners vines that also grow up and around trees. As those vines get increase in size they look ominous with a wickedly coarse “hairy” appearance.

Look for a stem with a larger leaf at the end, and two smaller leaves shooting off the sides. The leaves can be notched or smooth on the edges, and they have pointed tips. ArtOfManliness.com

A close look alike in the early stages are red maple leaf saplings that appear to have three lobes and growing up on spindly stalks.

Some people outgrow their poison ivy sensitivities.  

Immunity to Poison Ivy

Good News: You can build up an immunity to poison ivy.

Nikolai reported just the other day that he seems to have built up an immunity to it. He still gets an occasional poison ivy rash, but the bumps are not as many and they’re no longer itchy. Well, that’s a relief!

However, the opposite can also happen. There are people who began life not allergic to poison ivy but who developed reactions later in life.

Genetic Immunity: The other way you can be immune to poison plants is through a genetic immunity. My husband, Coleman, is not bothered by it, nor is our daughter, Devani. Now Devani was adopted from India, (should you wish to read about that), so her immunity was passed down from other genetics. Still, that’s a really good ratio in our family.

Estimates are that approximately 70-85% of the population are allergic to poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac.^[1]https://zidbits.com/2011/02/why-are-some-people-more-susceptible-to-poison-ivy-than-others/^[2]https://www.samaritanhospital.org/departments-services/qcare/poison-ivy

Food for Animals

Speaking of immunity, some animals eat poison ivy without any issue. It’s astonishing that something so toxically allergenic to human mammals, can be consumed with impunity.

Animals such as white tailed deer, muskrats, and eastern cottontail rabbits eat the leaves and stems. Many birds, including crows, bluebirds, and turkeys eat the fruit and some insects munch on the leaves.^[3]https://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/poison_ivy.htm

Well, it’s good there’s at least some beneficial use to wildlife in this plant that most humans dread.

Medicinal Benefit of Poison Ivy

Formerly officially in the United States Pharmacopeia, poison ivy is used extensive by homeopaths for rheumatism, ringworm and other skin disorders. It is considered to be one of the most useful remedies in a great majority of cases of nettlerash, and eruptions caused by food allergies.

I’ve often mused that there must be some good use to something so potent. So while I’m glad to discover there is medicinal benefit to this poisonous plant, I think I will seek out some of the other beneficial natural remedies first whenever possible.

Having been excruciatingly affected by skin contact with poison ivy, I shudder to imagine risking an internal dose, no matter how tiny. I’m not against homeopathy. I understand the homeopathic principles of micro doses to build up resistance.

However, if there’s any health risk, prudence says to seek out other methods first, especially if you’re obviously allergic to the plant. Also, to always apply such remedies under the supervision of the appropriate medical professional.

Can Poison Ivy Spread by Scratching?

No… and yes!

So scratching alone won’t cause the rash to spread from wherever it is on your skin. In other words, scratching won’t spread from blisters. Scratching is not likely to transfer the poison ivy oil from skin in one area to another, as it has likely already bonded with the proteins in your skin.

Remember, you have about 15 minutes to wash it off before that happens. But… if traces of the poison ivy oils are trapped under your fingernails, the oil can be spread in this way from scratching. So if you’ve heard conflicting information as to this, that’s probably why.

Similarly, poison ivy won’t spread to you or others when the rash blisters and oozes serum. That liquid does NOT have the urushiol resin^[4]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urushiol in it, and will not cause further poison on you or anyone else.^[5]https://www.samaritanhospital.org/departments-services/qcare/poison-ivy

The poison ivy, oak or sumac can also be spread by coming in contact with pets or inanimate objects that have come in contact with the plant oils. So, if you’re out with loppers or pruners, cutting out the poisonous plants, be sure to wash your tools after use.

The urushiol oil in poison ivy oil can stay active for 1 to 5 years on any surface, including dead plants.

SOURCE: Indiana Wesleyan University

You can get poison ivy/oak rash from pets, or objects, even years after initial contact, if the item was never washed of the oil from poison ivy leaves, stem, vine or roots.

Poison Ivy Prevention

When you’re out on that hike, always look at any tree before placing your hand on the trunk. We have some lethal looking poison ivy vines growing up trees in our area that look ancient, they’re so huge.

If you know you’ve come into contact with any of these poisonous plants, you have about a 15 minute window to wash it off thoroughly. So be aware and take action quickly before the oils bind with proteins in your skin, and settle in to make your life miserable for a few days or even weeks. Use COLD water, as hot water will cause your pores to be more to the oil.

Wash thoroughly in a cold shower (not bath) with lots of water and thoroughly scrubbing every inch of your body. Or if you just exposed your arms, you could wash them in the sink.

Just make sure that the sink is also thoroughly washed afterward, to prevent slicks and spots of the oil that could be picked up again by you or others.^[6]https://www.jaxmed.com/articles/Diseases/poison_ivy_dermatitis.htm

POISON IVY / OAK: Wash affected area thoroughly with COLD water within 15 minutes of contact.

Poison Ivy Rash Remedies

Here are some hand-me-down grandma remedies that might help.

Excerpted from article by Erin Gorney on HubPages.com

1. Heat Lamp 

A heat lamp can reduce itching and help blisters dry up if used daily for a few days.

2. Oats and Oils

2a. Essential oils and oat bath – soothes and reduces inflammation – Soak for 15 minutes, repeating 3 times/day

• 4 cups quick cook oats to a bath of lukewarm water
• 1 cup Epsom salt
• few drops Lavender and/or Geranium oil

Editor’s Note: This seems a bit time-consuming to us, but if you have a widespread miserable rash, it’s worth a try.

2b. Essential oils and oat paste – for smaller affected areas, you can try mixing a paste:

• 1/2 cup quick cook oats
• 1 Tbsp. salt
• 3 drops of each essential oil
• Pour boiling water into mixture enough water to make an oatmeal paste.
• Once cooled enough to tolerate comfortably, but still hot, smooth a thin layer of paste onto affected area and cover with a large adhesive bandage. Or use plastic wrap to cover the pasted area, and secure all sides with medical tape or Ace bandage.

3. Essential Oils for itching

When using essential oils, be sure to dilute in a carrier oil if yours isn’t already diluted.

• Chamomile – soothe skin and aid in sleep
• Cypress – also soothes skin and helps induce sleep
• Lavender – lavender is well known for it’s soothing and healing properties for calming skin and agitation. We use it along with CBD oil when our dogs get anxious from storms
• Peppermint oil has cooling properties beneficial for non-abraded skin irritations.

4. Baking Soda Paste

• 1 cup of baking soda (or reduce or increase quantity depending on how large the affected area)
• 1 cup oats (or oat flour)
• 1/4 cup of Epsom salt
• 3 tablespoon of white vinegar
• Mix together in a blender or by hand until it becomes a paste, adjust measurements as needed.

SOURCE: Erin Gorney on HubPages.com^[7]https://hubpages.com/health/Tricks-for-curing-Poison-Ivy

12 More Natural Remedies for Poison Ivy

Here’s another list of natural remedies we favor, excerpted from GlobalHealingCenter.com

1. Baking Soda Baths & Pastes – soak in a baking soda bath or make a baking soda paste to relieve itching.

2. Oatmeal Paste – make a paste of cooked oatmeal, and apply to affected area while hot but tolerable.

3. Organic Apple Cider Vinegar – apply organic apple cider vinegar directly to the affected skin or as a hot compress for the toxin-pulling action. Or, mix 1/4 cup ACV with 1/3 cup water, apply with a cotton ball are. AVOID if open blisters.

4. Aloe Vera Gel – best applied directly from the aloe plant and reapply as often as needed to soothe.

5. Organic Goldenseal – a paste out of goldenseal root powder externally for infection, and internally as tea or supplement for best results.

6. Organic Witch Hazel – dab a small amount of witch hazel tonic on the infected area for cleansing and itch-relief.

7. Banana Peel – old-wives tales swear by the power of a banana peel for poison ivy. Rub the inside of a banana peel on the affected area. Simple and harmless enough to try.

8. Organic Cucumber – this green veggie is very cooling. Making a cucumber paste or place slices directly to the affected area.

9. Watermelon Rind – similar to cucumber, watermelon rind can provide cool relief.

10. Windex – Our son, Nikolai, tried the Windex method employed by the father in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and lo and behold, it worked!
And indeed, we then found it to be recommended by dermatologists:
“Even Windex sprayed onto a paper towel can remove the resin.”
~Wayne Emineth, PA-C Dermatology^[8]https://dermatologyaffiliates.com/blog/preventing-the-patchy-pestering-pruritis-of-poison-ivy-and-poison-oak-by-w/

11. Jewelweed – For more on this BEST REMEDY, we’ve written an article on jewelweed and also have some jewelweed spray recipes further below.

12. Tea Tree Oil – Cuts the itch almost immediately. Mix it first with coconut oil before trying on your skin. If no negative reaction, you can gradually increase tea tree oil ratio for greater efficacy.*

*EDITOR’S NOTE: This idea is from Colleen Nichols and is posted in our Community Contributions section at the end as well, with a little more detail.

Be sure to also see some wisdom from the GardensAll Community Contributions at the end of this article. Through our shared knowledge and experiences we all grow better and stronger!

The Best Natural Poison Ivy Remedy

By Rob from Sigma 3 Survival School

Nature caused it and… nature offers the cures. You will love this video! Rob goes into far more of the medicinal benefits of of yarrow beyond a poison ivy remedy, and he shows you how to make it.

Plantain – Natural Poison Ivy Remedies

Yarrow – Achillea millefolium

We hope you enjoyed that as much as we did. For more on Yarrow and healing herbs, you may also enjoy this article on backyard weeds as edible medicinal herbs and also herbs for cold and flu.

Jewelweed – a Favorite Herbal Remedy for Poison Ivy or Poison Oak

Okay! One more favorite treatment for poison ivy and poison oak rash or exposure is Jewelweed. Many cite the wisdom of nature that often has jewel weed growing nearby poison ivy.

We have not always found that to be the case, but definitely in the vicinity. Somewhere on our 10 acres we’ll find it, but not yet within a stones throw of the poison ivy.

You can discover more on the jewel of a weed — jewelweed — here.

https://youtu.be/f2wNhs9s5Wo

Disclaimer: Of course in these and anything you try, you are responsible to stop the moment any treatment does not seem to be helping and to apply treatment under the advice of your health care professional. Be responsible… be safe… be wise!

‘Wisdom from the Tribe’ – Contributions from the GardensAll Community

Here’s the list and you can find the expanded comments below here:

• Apple cider vinegar (ACV)
• Cold water – best for eliminating the oils without spreading it
• Jewelweed
• Jewelweed soap
• Homeopathic remedy for poison ivy/oak
• Hot water – best for itching; NOT for removing oils immediately following contact
• Cold soapy bath / shower
• Never burn poison vines
• Tea tree oil

Never Burn Poison Ivy Vines – Diana Curtis

May I add a general warning? It might be tempting to dispose of the ivy by burning the vines, but it is a risky thing to do. The smoke contains the oils and it does nothing good for the lungs. Passed along from my tree hugging and cutting sweety. Thank you for all the great suggestions for easing the itch. I don’t seem to get affected but Tree Hugger does.

So never burn poison ivy vines or parts of trees that may have vines around it.

Lesley Cole adds: Never had poison ivy but we have lots of poison oak! Learning to identify it is tricky because it looks like a young oak tree start. I nearly died once when someone was burning it! [YIKES]!!!

More on the Popular Jewelweed Remedy for Poison Ivy from the Community

Jewelweed – Annetta Oldham Williams 

Jewel weed was growing near the poison ivy when I was growing up in central Ohio back in the day…just break open and rub on the exposed skin. Wish it grew wild here in S Oregon near all the poison ivy that grows rampant here!! Guess we’ll have to import some of our own. Jewel weed will even work on poison-oak!

Jewelweed Soap – Briana Moore 

Jewel Weed soap. Burt’s Bees used to make some Poison Ivy soap with Jewel Weed in it, but it appears they no longer make it. Thankfully, I recently found some at our local Farmers Co-op: The Poison Ivy Soap Co.

2 Remedies: Jewelweed and Tea Tree Oil – Colleen Nichols

I am lucky to have jewelweed growing in my yard. It’s often found close to where poison ivy grows. Before I knew about this amazing little plant, I used tea tree oil and I don’t see it on your list*. it cuts the itch almost immediately. Mix it first with coconut oil before trying on your skin. By my second encounter with poison ivy I was putting straight tea tree oil on my skin, and it would cut the itch almost 24 hours for me.

*EDITOR’S NOTE: Thanks, Colleen! We have since added tea tree oil to our list above!

Apple Cider Vinegar – Anna Rubis

Bathe, Wash, Scrub ASAP

Some recommend hot water, others recommend cold water. One of the reasons for the contradiction seems to be a matter of timing and what it is that you’re actually treating. Beyond that, different people have different reactions to the same remedies.

Some say you need the hot water to help cut and thus remove all of the oil residue immediately after contact. Others say that hot water opens your pores and make you more susceptible.

Our doctor told us to use very hot water to help the itching once you have the rash. It helped my sister-in-law but made mine itch more.

Scrub Under Cold Water Immediately – Gina Jensen Wyatt

Best remedy I have found, and I am highly allergic, is to wash/scrub exposed skin after coming in from working near it. Use dishwashing detergent on a scrubby sponge or washcloth, COLD WATER, and scrub at least twice. Seems to do the trick to avoid dermatitis.

Calendula Tincture – Nancy Dougherty 

I haven’t specifically tried this on poison ivy, but I make my own itch reliever out of vodka tincture with calendula flowers. It’s great for any bug bites.

Chlorinated Swimming Pool

A jump in a chlorinated pool still works the best.
~Dennis Stobinski

EDITOR’S NOTE: It could likely be due to the immersion in cold water for removing the oils more than because it’s a chlorinated pool. Some say that bleach helps, however that it is not advisable to apply chemicals to the skin.

Homeopathic Remedy for Poison Ivy – Tami Calise 

Rhus Tox 30C homeopathic remedy pellets.

Lesley Cole said:

Tami Calise, absolutely! I carried them around ( homeopathic Poison Oak pills) through 13 years out of state. The powder left in the old bottle is what cured me from the smoke inhalation, death by internal poison oak episode.

Witch hazel – Carole Hegg Holland 

Witch hazel! Takes the itch away quickly and helps dry it out.

Homemade Remedies to Soothe Poison Ivy Rash

By Caroline Fletcher

Poison Ivy Rash Remedy Spray

Add to a 4 oz spray bottle:

• 1/2 oz Tincture of Echinacea
• 1/2 oz Tincture of Grindelia
• 2 oz Witch hazel tincture (make from twigs for the inner bark if making your own) 
• 1 oz Jewelweed – whole aerial parts, then strained

Spray bottle and spray affected area often.

For really bad and oozing poison ivy rash, try this next paste.

Poison Ivy Rash Remedy Paste – for Oozing Poison Ivy Rash (this does not cause spreading)

INGREDIENTS – In a small bowl, mix:

• Bentonite clay
• Jewelweed juice – (if no tincture on hand, make by blending jewelweed leaves in blender with water and/or witch hazel to cover, then strain and add to the clay).
• Witch hazel

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Start with a tablespoon of Bentonite clay
2. Add jewelweed juice
3. Then add enough witch hazel to make a paste.
4. Spread to cover afflicted area.
5. Let dry completely. It will lighten in color and tighten to the point of cracking.
6. Rinse off gently with cool, warm or hot water, (whichever feels best to you),
7. Then spray with previous poison ivy spray remedy

You can use a tincture of witch hazel, available to buy if you don’t have your own.

Substitutes for Homemade Witch Hazel Tincture:

• Tincture – Witch hazel tincture
• Astringent – Witch hazel toner or astringent – readily available everywhere
• Cloths – Witch hazel cloths – you can use these in place of some of the messier remedies

Another Perspective – Benefits of Poison Ivy Plants in Nature – Caroline Fletcher 

I don’t subscribe to the leaves of three thing. There are many many beneficial plants that have leaves of three, predominantly the Pea family. Also, poison ivy/oak serves a purpose. Its sole purpose on this planet is to heal areas of earth that have been disturbed and are no longer healthy.

The plant restores nitrogen to the soil, brings in minerals and allows for the decomposition of dead material. The rash/allergy is its defense mechanism.

Think of how the earth must be coping, and revel in the marvel that this plant will be the one to help restore old growth forests. Respect for the plants will take humans far in their endeavors. ❤🌱

Wishing you great gardens and happy harvests!