How to Treat Poison Ivy Naturally: and the Most Important Tip

These natural home remedies for poison ivy rash show you how to treat poison ivy, oak, or sumac naturally and keep this horrible itchy rash from ruining your summer!

Included is a section on the BEST remedies of all.

Home remedies for poison ivy rash are often safer and more effective than treating poison ivy with store-bought remedies. Also, knowing how to treat poison ivy can save you precious time and money by helping you avoid costly doctor appointments.

If you spend any time outdoors like we do, chances are high you will encounter poison ivy at some point.

A high majority of people are sensitive to the sticky odorless sap that is secreted out of the poison ivy leaves. This allergic reaction is called contact dermatitis.

Poison Ivy Rash is the most common allergic reaction in the U.S. and affects as many as 50 million Americans a year. (source)

The oily resin that causes the rash is called urushiol and sticks to clothing, skin, pets and outdoor equipment. Coming in contact with the resin causes an itchy red rash that can quickly spread, appearing roughly 12 to 72 hours after exposure to the plant.

The poison ivy rash can be a really nasty, life-consuming thing when it hits so it's crucial to know how to treat poison ivy at home to avoid both complications and also time-consuming and expensive runs to the doctor.

Here are some tips to help you know what to do for poison ivy, how to spot the signs and symptoms of poison ivy rash, how to avoid getting a poison ivy rash in the first place, and loads of natural remedies for poison ivy rash.

Signs and Symptoms of a Poison Ivy Rash

Here are a few things to look for if you have been outside and think you were exposed.

• Redness
• Itching
• Swelling
• Clusters of Blisters

If you think you may have a poison ivy rash, there are lots of natural remedies for poison ivy that can not only reduce your itching but also help the rash clear up faster.

Learning how to treat poison ivy at home keeps it from getting out of control.

Between my husband and one of our sons we've dealt with poison ivy many times over the years. We've tried everything from baking soda and tea tree oil to conventional products. The additional remedies below range from well-established home treatments to traditional remedies that many people report finding helpful. I've noted where evidence is limited or based primarily on personal experience.

Best Poison Ivy Remedies Short List

The remedies with the best combination of evidence, practicality, and personal experience are:

• Wash exposed skin immediately with soap and water (or rubbing alcohol if available)
• Cold compresses
• Oatmeal baths
• Baking soda paste
• Witch hazel
• Aloe vera for soothing

Other remedies below have more limited evidence or are based mostly on traditional use.

The Single Most Important Thing: Remove the Urushiol

If I could only give one piece of advice about poison ivy, it would be this: remove the urushiol oil as quickly as possible. Many treatments focus on relieving itching after the rash develops, but removing the oil early may reduce how severe the reaction becomes and helps prevent spreading it to other people and surfaces.

Once the urushiol oil is removed from your skin, clothing, shoes, or tools, it can't continue exposing you or other family members. If you think you've recently come into contact with poison ivy, washing the area with soap and water (or rubbing alcohol if soap and water aren't available) as soon as possible may greatly reduce your reaction.

Use a washcloth for gentle friction, and don't forget to wash clothing, shoes, gloves, pets, and gardening tools that may have picked up the oil as well.

Cool running water can temporarily calm itching and may also help rinse away any remaining urushiol soon after exposure.

Rubbing alcohol is one of the best ways to remove urushiol immediately after exposure.

These Poison Ivy Wipes are super convenient to carry with you to address poison ivy contamination anywhere! They have great reviews, and their main ingredient is rubbing alcohol.

Technically you could just take alcohol wipes with you as well.

These wipes can also be used for cleaning off shoes and even clothing that's been contaminated while walking in poison ivy. More effective than washing in a washing machine, since washing machines don't really agitate clothing enough to address the oil well.

Caution: Rubbing alcohol, while it removes the urushiol well, also removes your skin's protective barrier, so you want to apply a soothing moisturizer soon after using alcohol and continue to use it to keep your skin hydrated and healthy. If you don't do this, your skin will be more vulnerable to rashes of all kinds.

Best Remedies for Relieving Itching and Irritation

Baking Soda

Baking soda is cheap and has hundreds of uses including being one of the best home remedies for poison ivy. Try soaking in a tub of warm water with 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda.

You can also make a paste using a few teaspoons of baking soda and a little water. Apply to the rash as often as needed to reduce swelling and dry up blisters.

Baking soda does such a great job of drying up any blisters and it doesn't sting.

With the cost of baking soda being so low, it's always something I keep in the house for all kinds of uses and surprisingly there are lots of baking soda beauty uses too.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is known for being soothing to troubled skin and it's super simple to make an oatmeal bath. Simply grind 1 cup oatmeal in a blender, food processor, or spice grinder until it's a fine powder.

Pour the oatmeal into your bathtub and fill the tub with warm water.

Stir and relax in the tub for about 20-30 minutes. Alternatively, make a paste with the powdered oatmeal and apply directly to skin for another great poison ivy rash treatment. Oatmeal is also great for relieving the itch of eczema and other skin conditions. I personally use organic oatmeal since oats are one of the foods most contaminated with glyphosate.

Cold Compress

A cold compress can reduce the redness, swelling, and itching of a poison ivy rash.

You can add a soothing essential oil such as lavender to help reduce inflammation even further.

Witch Hazel

Witch hazel extract is distilled from Hamamelis virginiana and is an effective natural remedy for poison ivy. It reduces itching and inflammation, and encourages the healing of the blisters.

Keep an eye on the ingredient list, though, and try to get as pure of a witch hazel as possible.

Aloe Vera

Just as aloe vera is known for soothing the skin after a sunburn and soothing the digestive tract, the gel from an aloe vera plant is a great natural remedy for poison ivy. Just break open a plant and apply the gel directly to the skin from the leaf or use a store-bought aloe vera gel.

Traditional Remedies

Jewelweed

This herb is one of the best natural remedies for poison ivy. It's great for breaking up the sticky oil residue and reducing swelling. It’s a common plant found growing around water and interestingly, around poison ivy. We've used this successfully in our home at times.

Simply crush up the leaves of the Jewelweed plant and make a poultice to apply to the rash a few times a day. If you are unable to access a jewelweed plant, a good alternative is organic jewelweed glycerite.

Bentonite Clay

If your poison ivy rash is localized to a few places, making a paste out of bentonite clay can bring great relief. This clay is filled with over 50 minerals from the earth and has a unique ability to pull and draw, so it's perfect for drying up a poison ivy rash.

Simply make a paste with the bentonite clay and water and apply.

Tea Tree Oil

Drying up blisters from poison ivy can help the rash resolve faster. Tea tree oil may help soothe irritated skin and has antimicrobial properties, but it should not be relied on to remove urushiol after exposure.

We personally prefer tea tree oil as one of our favorite home remedies for poison ivy. Open blisters also create opportunities for infection and tea tree oil can be helpful for addressing that. Make sure to dilute the tea tree oil appropriately before applying to skin as is the case with all essential oils.

Goldenseal

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) is an herb that is commonly used to treat skin disorders as it has anti-inflammatory properties, but it's also antibacterial so it's fantastic for preventing infections from poison ivy.

Simply mix powdered goldenseal root with filtered water to make a paste and apply to the affected area. Drinking goldenseal tea or taking a goldenseal supplement is a way to encourage healing from the inside out.

Remedies with Limited Evidence

Banana Peel

Here's one that any fruit lover will be happy about. Grab some bananas at the store and, after enjoying some, use the inside of the peel to cool your poison ivy rash. Please do wash the bananas first (especially if they're not organic) since there are some really nasty chemicals used on bananas while they are growing.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is a natural astringent and removes oil from the skin. Apply soon after the poison ivy rash develops to prevent spreading.

Cucumber

Cucumber slices are a great natural remedy for poison ivy. You can also blend up cucumbers and place the mash on the affected skin for a cooling result.

Manuka Honey

One member of our Healthy Living Community told me that medical-grade Manuka honey gave her significant relief from poison ivy, particularly once the skin became irritated. While this is anecdotal, Manuka honey is well known for its wound-healing and antibacterial properties, making it an interesting option if blisters become irritated.

Himalayan Salt

Using Himalayan salt (not table salt) can help reduce the swelling of poison ivy. Many people find salt baths soothing, and they may help dry weeping blisters.

Himalayan salt can be added to a bath for soaking with your favorite essential oil (see below why tea tree oil and lavender might be good options). Be sure to properly emulsify the essential oil first, however. Try adding 1/2 a cup of salt to your bath water for the itching relief of a warm salt bath.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Many people find apple cider vinegar to be soothing the skin and also to help dry up any blisters. You can make a compress and apply to affected skin. If you have open sores and raw skin, be sure to dilute apple cider vinegar before applying.

Rhus Tox Homeopathic

Scientific evidence supporting homeopathic remedies is limited, but I wanted to mention this because of my own experience.

Rhus tox is known for helping with homeopathy. I once woke up itching on my face and hands after my husband had been dealing with a case of poison ivy. I actually don't think I've ever had poison ivy, but the itchy pain was odd and it seemed like what they had described.

I did some research and tried it, was able to fall asleep quickly, and when I woke up, the itching was gone!

A Different Perspective: Supporting Poison Ivy Recovery

This isn't a conventional poison ivy treatment, but I wanted to mention it because it matched our family's experience in an interesting way.

One of our children developed an unusually severe poison ivy reaction that seemed far out of proportion to the exposure. While researching, I found Rachel Weaver's recommendation to use vitamin C and pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) to support recovery.

Years later, a close friend of mine developed an extensive poison ivy rash, and her physician commented that her system was simply exhausted, suggesting that her body's ability to recover had been overwhelmed. That echoed what we'd experienced.

I don't think everyone with poison ivy needs high-dose vitamins, and this approach hasn't been well studied in clinical trials. But if your reaction seems unusually severe or your body is under significant stress, supporting overall nutrition may be worth discussing with your healthcare provider.

Weaver's recommendation is to take 500 mg B5 and 1000 mg vitamin C (approximately a heaping 1/4 teaspoon) every 15 minutes for 8-10 times, and then every 2 hours for the rest of a day.

This adrenal support is similar to what you get with this adrenal cocktail, but with the addition of the B5. It helped our son tremendously and I successfully used this for different reaction I had to something else years later.

While this isn't a standard poison ivy treatment, I found it interesting that both our family's experience and a physician's comments to a close friend pointed toward overall physical stress playing a role in unusually severe reactions. More research is needed before any conclusions can be drawn.

Poison Ivy Prevention

Knowing how to treat poison ivy is one thing, but poison ivy prevention tips can help keep you from even getting poison ivy in the first place.

Do you have plans for camping, landscaping, or tromping through the woods? Spending time outdoors is vital for healthy living.

You don't have to cancel your fun outdoor plans. By taking simple precautions you can prevent an allergic reaction for you and your family.

As a mom, I know how to treat poison ivy for my family but I also know preventing exposure is vital when we are out having fun.

Recognize the Plant

Here are a few photos of poison ivy growing in our own backyard. We've even vines making their way onto our deck! Not good especially because it was right outside our back door!

The old saying “leaves of 3, let them be” still rings true. Poison ivy leaves are made up of 3 pointed leaf clusters with a glossy surface and can be found all throughout the United States.

This plant loves to grow around edges, vine up trees or take over old landscaping.

Leaves have a glossy surface and can look red in the spring and fall, and green in the summer. Mature plants can have clusters of green or white berries.

Some plants have notched leaf edges while others are smooth. Poison ivy can grow as a vine or as a bush depending on the species.

Protect Yourself

Poison ivy rash isn't contagious. Rather, it's transferred by the sticky urushiol resin secreted from the plant. So if you touch something that has the resin on it, then you can catch it.

Even your pet can spread the resin as it easily sticks to fur. Don't forget to bathe your pet if it has spent time in unfamiliar bushes or woods.

You can use clothing as a barrier. If you know you will be spending time in the outdoors hiking, landscaping, or camping, wear long sleeves and pants to keep the resin from getting on your skin.

We are a hiking family so it's long thin pants when we spend time outdoors in the woods.

I love thin breathable cotton. It will keep us cool in hot weather and it also helps to prevent sunburn. Gloves, shoes, and socks are also a smart choice if you will be removing old plants, mowing a field, or trimming bushes.

Showering with hot soapy water immediately (one reader highly recommends using Dawn Dish Soap for this purpose, though any good grease-cutting soap should work) can rinse off any resin you may have encountered while outside. It also helps to prevent the sticky oil from spreading to the rest of your family members.

Immediately launder any clothing that you either wore or that could have been exposed to the plant so it doesn't contaminate your furniture or loved ones.

Wash gardening tools and outdoor equipment after use in unkempt landscaping.

When Home Remedies Aren't Enough

Poison ivy can get really out of hand for people who are very reactive to it. Do make sure to see a physician if any of the following things occur?

• rash involves the eyes, mouth, or genitals
• widespread blistering
• fever
• signs of infection
• trouble breathing
• severe facial swelling

I hope these tips help you avoid the mess that poison ivy can be. Knowing how to treat poison ivy and using these home remedies for poison ivy is the best defense!