Poison Ivy Prevention



Poison Ivy Prevention & Treatment

Going camping and or hiking? This article will help you with the prevention and treatment of poison ivy.

Enjoy,

David Proctor


 Urban Farmer/Rancher


Homeopathic Treatment – Poison Ivy

by David Proctor


July 20, 2023


Urban Farm Lifestyle Magazine    Published Weekly 


Poison Ivy as defined by WikiToxicodendron radicans, commonly known as eastern poison ivy or poison ivy, is a poisonous Asian and North American flowering plant that is well known for causing an itching, irritating, and sometimes painful rash in most people who touch it, caused by urushiol, a clear liquid compound in the plant’s sap.


Poison Plants

I have always loved being outdoors, except when I come across poison ivy. 

When Molly and I would go camping or canoeing it would seem like I had a poison ivy magnet attached to me.


Hiking Trail Shenandoah National Park

Molly was unaffected by poison ivy, but that was not the case with me. 

Once I got the itch, it was with me for a long time. 

I can remember when I was young and my grandma would try Ivy Dry and Calamine Lotion. 

All they would do is color my skin but little else. 

I suppose you can go to a doctor and get a shot, they have shots for everything, but I didn’t grow up going to a doctor unless I was about on my deathbed sick. 

So long story short, I get poison ivy rash when I come into contact with the plant.

One of the guys I worked with told me about a homeopathic treatment he bought from a downtown drug store called Rhus Tox Poison Ivy Pills


Rhus Tox

I had never heard of taking a pill to help cure my symptoms, but in my case, they even help prevent getting poison ivy rash.

I take them when I know I may be out in an area that has poison ivy. 

This works for me but this is not meant to serve as medical advice for anyone.

There are various ways to treat poison ivy and I would recommend going to a doctor and getting a professional opinion and treatment.

The best medicine is to know what it looks like and avoid the plant altogether.  I seem to get the worst cases when I have been out mowing or weed-eating. 

Let’s start by knowing what the plant looks like.  

Taken from http://www.poison-ivy.org/  the pictures and text will tell you better than myself what to look for:

“This is about Eastern Poison ivy, which is the big bad guy. It grows on the ground, climbs, and sometimes as a shrub”.

“This is the plant that causes most of the misery since it grows on nearly every roadside, path, pond, stream, and beach from the Midwest through to the east coast.”


Poison Ivy Traits

“Here is your basic chart of things you CAN count on with poison ivy.

If you know that nothing with thorns or 5 leaves in a group can be poison ivy, you’re getting there.” 

“If you live where this grows, and you plan to do more with your life than hiding under the covers, you should learn to recognize this plant, in all seasons and growth forms.”


I have personally had very good results with Rhus Tox.

However, in my research, I found a video which is about a gentleman that found a very commonsense way of not getting the rash from poison ivy even if your skin has been exposed to the toxin. 

If you already have poison ivy or you will be around the plant, you are now armed (hopefully without a rash) with the knowledge of prevention and treatment.



Check It Out!

How to never have a serious poison ivy rash again 5:13


Quick Tip

If you have any of the following, go to the emergency room right away:

  • You have trouble breathing or swallowing.
  • The rash covers most of your body.
  • You have many rashes or blisters.
  • You experience swelling, especially if an eyelid swells shut.
  • The rash develops anywhere on your face or genitals.
  • Much of your skin itches or nothing seems to ease the itch.


Bibliography:

“The Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac Site.” The Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac Site. N.p., n.d. Web.20 July 2023.

“Toxicodendron Radicans.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 20 July 2023.

“Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac.” American Academy of Dermatology. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2023.




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