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Home Remedy For Poison Ivy

FitSugar — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:00:30 PDT

Try as you might to avoid its shiny and oily leaves, the blistery rash caused by contact with poison ivy, oak, or sumac can linger. One of the most common rashes for outdoorsy adults and children can be treated with a common ingredient found in your kitchen cabinet. Baking soda baths and pastes are home remedies endorsed by the American Academy of Dermatology to reduce the itch factor created by these plants.

After rinsing, not scrubbing, your skin with hot water to rinse off the oil do the following to relieve the itch. Draw a bath and add 1/2 cup of fresh baking soda (not the box that has been deodorizing your fridge) and soak for a 30 minutes. Once out of the bath, using a three to one ratio of baking soda to water, make a paste to apply to the affected area. Let the paste dry on your skin - it is believed that the baking soda pulls the caustic urushiol away from the skin, decreasing the itchiness.

If you experience a severe reaction after contact with one of these rash-producing plants, seek medical treatment. Prescription medication might be needed to reduce the swelling and itch.

Cure It at Home: Poison Ivy

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:00:00 PDT

So you went hiking last weekend and you accidentally tromped through a patch of poison ivy. You've got a nasty, blistery rash all over your feet and you want it to go away pronto. I've only tried a few of these home remedies, so I can't vouch for all of them, but anything's worth one try when you're itching like crazy.

Jewelweed, a common weed found in damp areas, is often used to help treat the rash. Mash the weed and apply to your itchy skin.
For 20 minutes, take a bath in salt water, or swim in a chlorinated pool to dry out the rash.
Bathe in tomato juice.
To relieve the itch, cut a mango in half and smear the juice over the rashy area for 10 minutes.
Spray the rash with a deodorant containing aluminum.
Apply tea tree oil to the affected area to help dry it out and clear up the rash faster.

Fit's Tip: Of course, if you have a really aggressive case, I'd talk to your doctor about what over-the-counter or prescription meds he would recommend.

If you have any other home remedies for poison ivy, please share them in the comment section below.

Source

Buji Block: Prevents Poison Ivy

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:30:00 PDT

Hooray for hiking, trail running, and camping, but boo for poison ivy. During Summer, I love spending time in the woods, but hate coming down with a bad case of poison ivy. I usually stick to the dirt trails, but my dog unfortunately doesn't. If she comes into contact with some poison ivy and I come into contact with her (read: petting and wrestling), well you can bet that I'll be expecting a nasty rash to appear. I just discovered Buji Block lotion ($12.99), and it has been a real lifesaver. It creates an invisible barrier between your skin and the rash causing oils. Not only that, but it protects you from UV rays as well with an SPF rating of 24.

Watch Out For: Poison Ivy

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:30:00 PDT

Unknowingly tromping through a patch of poison ivy can turn a pleasurable hike or run in the woods into a nightmare. If you touch the plant or something that has touched it (like your dog), then the oils can get on your skin and cause a nasty, itchy, blistery rash that lasts for up to three weeks.

If you know you've gotten into some poison ivy, you want to rinse with cold water within an hour of exposure. A hot shower is the worst idea because it will open your pores and let the oils in. If you wash the oils off immediately, hopefully you'll avoid a rash altogether. If you do develop the rash, don't pop the blisters. The liquid inside won't cause the rash to spread, but you could get an infection. Use a topical anti-itch cream to relieve your symptoms and speed up the healing process.

If you learned the rule, "Leaves of three, let it be," you can throw that out the window. While poison ivy does grow in clusters of three leaves, it can also grow up to nine leaves in a group. To hear what else you should you watch out for and see some photos of this treacherous plant

A Week In Review: FitSugar Roundup

FitSugar — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PDT

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Defeat Poison Ivy With Tea Tree Oil

FitSugar — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 02:30:00 PDT

If you've ever had the misfortune of developing poison ivy rash after a hiking or camping trip, you know how positively awful that rash can be. As soon as you wash the oil from your skin, clothes and gear, you can stop worrying about the rash spreading over your body or giving it to anyone else. Just so you know, even the liquid that oozes out of the blisters isn't contagious.

So what can you do to deal with the itchy, bubbling rash that you do have? There are many topical creams like Calamine lotion that can keep the itchiness at bay, but when it comes to poison ivy, the quicker it heals, the better.

I found that pure tea tree oil works really well. It's all natural, not that expensive, and easy to find at most health food stores.

Want to know how to use it? Then

read more. Wash the area thoroughly with mild soap and water first. Let the area dry completely and then sprinkle a few drops of the tea tree oil directly on the infected areas. Use a Q-tip to spread it around. Apply twice a day, and you should see the blisters disappearing and the rash clearing up. Tea tree oil has drying properties, that's why it's also used to treat acne. It also has antifungal properties, so it's also used to heal minor cuts and scrapes, athlete's foot, and yeast infections. Fit's Tips: If you can't find tea tree oil at a store near you, order 1 oz of tea tree oil from webvitamins.com for $5.25. It's got a distinctive lemon/cedar scent and so many uses. Source and www.poison-ivy.org

Hikers Beware: Poison Ivy Thriving with Global Warming

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 02:00:00 PDT

It pays to know your enemy especially when it can give you a crazy rash. Yep, I am talking about poison ivy. Seems that the evil weed is thriving as carbon dioxide levels rise.

According to a study published in Weed Science Journal the slight elevation in carbon dioxide levels that we have experienced since the 1950s have caused poison ivy plants to double in size. Not only that, but the itch causing substance "urushiol" is more concentrated these days too. Yikes! Talk about a one-two punch. With all that, it is not a surprise that severe poison ivy induced rashes are on the rise.

Careful when you are out on the trails and if you are not sure you can identify the plant read: Know Your Enemy: Poison Ivy.

Know Your Enemy: Poison Ivy!

FitSugar — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 02:30:00 PDT

'Tis the season for Hiking and trail running. There's a lot of beauty in these woods, but you got to be careful and avoid the poison ivy that lurks at the edges of the forest. Yes, it pays to know your enemy.

First off, it is the uroshiol oil on the plant that is the culprit and creates the horrible itchy, blistery skin reactions associated with poison ivy. While some people don't have a reaction to the oil, others may be hospitalized because their reaction is so severe. You should also know that even if you've been exposed to poison ivy and had no reaction, you are not necessarily immune to it. People can develop reactions at any time of their lives, so it is best to avoid poison ivy at all costs.

You will experience symptoms wherever the oil makes contact with your skin. First you will get a red, itchy spot on your skin, that develops into blisters. Once you wash your skin with soap and cold water, the rash won't spread. If you pop the blisters, the rash won't spread either, but the wounds could become infected so it is best not to pop them.

Many plants can look like poison ivy, so pay close attention whenever you're walking in moist areas. The rule "Leaves of 3, Let it be," doesn't always work. It can grow in groups of 3 leaves, with a larger middle leaf, but it can also grow up to 9 leaves in a group.

Want to know what to look out for, then

Poison ivy needs light to grow, so often you'll find it lurking on the edge of woods, roads, parking lots, and fields. In the deep woods, poison ivy can't get enough light, so watch out for moist places that get enough sunlight.
Poison ivy generally grows in a cluster of low weed-like plants, but it can also be a vine that climbs up trees.
The edges of the leaves have tiny "teeth."
The leaves aren't always green - they are reddish in the spring, green in the summer, and yellow or orange in the fall.
The berries are typically white.

Fit's Tips: To avoid getting poison ivy, wear long pants and shoes that cover your entire foot if you are going to be trekking in the woods. If you know you've been exposed to poison ivy, rinse the area immediately with COLD water - hot water will open your pores and let the oil in, which could make your reaction worse. Here are some more pictures of poison ivy: poison ivy in the spring poison ivy in the summer poison ivy in the fall climbing poison ivy Fit's Tips: Poison ivy grows everywhere in the U.S. except in the far west, deserts, and high altitudes. a poison ivy bush Source

Texts and Tunes: Fancy Nancy Poison Ivy Expert

LilSugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:00:00 PST

Nancy likes everything fancy, and so does your lil one. The newest jazzy book in the Fancy Nancy series, Fancy Nancy Poison Ivy Expert is, as Nancy would say, stupendous.

While out picking flowers the character discovers an unpleasant surprise, which helps her realize that all experts (and poison ivy novices) can learn something new. The book provides the usual colorful and fun illustrations along with some "fancy" vocabulary for kids to learn and a valuable life lesson.

Kim Kardashian Flees to Australia Following Divorce Drama

Molly Goodson — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:44:50 PDT

Kim Kardashian emerged at LAX on Monday evening, arriving for a flight to Australia at the end of a very dramatic day for the reality TV star. Kim announced her divorce from Kris Humphries earlier in the day, and this is her first public appearance since the news broke. Kim and Kris's split comes after only 72 days of marriage. Kim and Kris tied the knot with an over-the-top televised wedding at the end of August and were together less than a year before their walk down the aisle. Kim was not wearing her wedding ring or enormous diamond engagement band as she headed Down Under.

While she may be heading out of town, Kim was out on the red carpet to celebrate Halloween in a sexy Poison Ivy costume over the weekend, and on Sunday she joined her sisters Kourtney and Khloe on stage at Jimmy Kimmel. Even though she has not been spending much time with her new husband, Kim's filing for divorce this morning was still a shock for many fans who tuned in to watch the big Kim Kardashian wedding special just a few weeks ago. We took a look back at Kim and Kris's whirlwind romance to reflect on the news, which seemed like it was even a surprise for the recent groom. Kris Humphries's statement about the divorce made it sound like he didn't know it was coming, though many of you aren't buying that. We're sure to hear a lot more as this plays out over the next few weeks and, of course, on the Kardashian's many reality TV shows.