Top 5 Homeopathic Remedies for Poison Ivy

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“Leaves of three, let them be.” Except I never remember that saying. I had to look it up to write this post. My family and I love to go camping and hiking. When I see the beautiful foliage around me, I wonder if that is poison ivy. Enough that I don’t go off trail very often. On the other hand, I don’t worry too much about touching it. I have homeopathic remedies for poison ivy.

What is Poison Ivy?

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Poison ivy rash is caused by an allergic reaction to an oily resin called urushiol (u-ROO-she-ol). This oil is in the leaves, stems, and roots of poison ivy, oak, and sumac.”

It’s enough to make you want to stay indoors! This allergic reaction can cause symptoms like:

• Redness
• Itching
• Swelling
• Blisters
• Difficulty breathing if you’ve inhaled the smoke from burning poison ivy

The poison ivy rash often appears in a straight line because the plant brushes against your skin. But if you develop a rash after touching a piece of clothing or pet fur with urushiol, the rash may spread out more. You can also transfer the oil to other body parts with your fingers. The reaction usually develops 12 to 48 hours after exposure and lasts two to three weeks. The severity of the rash depends on the amount of urushiol that gets on your skin.

Medical Treatment

The Mayo Clinic website recommends washing your clothes and skin with soap immediately. If the rash becomes severe, steroid use may be needed. You know my concerns with steroid use. If not, you can read THIS blog post. Washing the oil off your clothes and skin is a beautiful idea. However, I think using homeopathic remedies for poison ivy is a better choice than steroids.

Homeopathic Remedies for Poison Ivy

To identify the correct remedy, pay attention to the location of the rash, the type of pustules that form, and the general demeanor and preferences of the person when making your choice. Watch for anything that seems peculiar to help point to the correct remedy.

Anacardium orientale – For swelling and rashes that itch intensely and burn when scratched. Scratching worsens the itching by causing the eruptions to become red and inflamed, but rubbing brings some relief. The symptoms are usually worse on the left side and at night. Warm applications and a warm bed aggravate the itching, but interestingly, the person usually welcomes a warm drink.

Croton tiglium – For a rash with many blisters and much inflammation and itching, often on the scalp or the face in general, near the eyes or on the genitals, buttocks, or lower limbs. This remedy is associated with yellowish bumps that may ooze yellowish liquid and dry to form thick grayish/brownish scabs. Scratching makes it worse and leads to burning and pain. The rash may worsen at night and on the left side of the body. Light pressure alleviates the pain, but the person feels tight all over his body and may be mentally inflexible and rigid. The person is quite miserable.

Graphites – When the rash is scratched, the discharge is sticky, yellowish, and burns. The skin will have a crusty appearance, especially in the joint areas. Relief comes from rough rubbing and scratching that tears the skin. The person may feel better when wrapped up. The person generally feels chilly, thick, and dull.

Sulphur – When scratching causes the bumps to bleed, and this bleeding brings relief. After scratching, the blisters may produce a yellowish or white discharge, and what remains of them will be crusty and dry. The person feels better in a warm bed but is averse to bathing. Facial swelling may be present. The person requiring this remedy may be irritable and restless at night.

Rhus tox – Unlike Anacardium, hot showers bring relief to the person needing this remedy. Outbreaks may be located on the face, around the eyes, on the genitals, and on the palms. Vesicles may line up along a scratch, making the skin look angry. The person is irritable with a restless mind. Resting provides no relief, but the symptoms improve with movement and with dry, warm air. Rhus tox is made from poison ivy and is most people’s go-to for poison ivy relief. However, if we follow the “like cures like” philosophy of homeopathy, other remedies seem more compelling.

Conclusion

Poison ivy can ruin a fun time. As long as you have your homeopathic remedies for poison ivy, you can cut it off at the knees. And get back to enjoying God’s creation.

I just wanted to let you know that I’m a participant in the Amazon affiliate program, and some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means I might earn a small commission from Amazon if you click them and buy something, but it doesn’t cost you anything extra! It’s just a way to help support my site and keep the lights on.