Treating Poison Ivy with Herbs

I had never been bothered by poison ivy until I was much older. When I was younger, I could wade through fields of it without any ill effects. Such is not the case now. Now I can just look at the stuff and start itching. Fortunately, there are certain herbs that can be used to treat poison ivy, some of which I even have growing in my own yard.

Aloe vera
Aloe vera is no only good for treating burns but also the blisters caused by poison ivy. Just apply the juice directly to the infected area.

Jewelweed (Impatiens L.)
There are several species of impatiens; however, the Spotted Touch-Me-Not (I. biflora) and the Pale Touch-Me-Not (I. pallida) are the two most commonly used to treat exposure to poison ivy. Poison ivy can frequently be found growing near jewelweed, too. Native Americans - especially those living in the Appalachian region of the United States - would break off a stem of jewelweed to release the juice within, which was then applied directly to the area infected by poison ivy to alleviate the itching.

Plantain (Plantago major)
I was in my garden one day when I realized that I must have stuck my hand into some poison ivy. One finger was starting to itch, and blisters were even beginning to appear. I grabbed a couple of leaves from some plantain growing nearby. I then crushed the leaves and rubbed them on the infected area. The itching stopped immediately, and the area healed quickly without the poison ivy spreading. Turns out that this has been a traditional treatment for exposure to poison ivy.

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
Sassafras, though once used as a flavoring for root beer and to make tea, is generally not recommended for internal use. (The oil from sassafras contains safrole, which has been determined to be a carcinogen.) Sassafras, however, is safe for external use. Specifically, the root can be used to treat the itch caused by poison ivy and poison oak. You can make a tea not to drink but to use as a wash, bath, or compress to treat your outbreak. If you do not happen to have a sassafras tree growing in your yard, look for the root at your local health food or herbal store.

Uva-Ursi (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Also known as bearberry, this dwarf evergreen shrub hardy to Zone 2 was discovered in China by Marco Polo. Later in the 13th century, Europeans also recognized the importance of this herb for medicinal purposes. You should wash areas infected by poison ivy with an infusion made from the leaves. This will alleviate the itch and also prevent the poison ivy from spreading.

I must add that I have not had much luck using the standard treatments for poison ivy that are usually found in the pharmacy section of the grocery store; i.e., calamine lotion and other such lotions. Herbal remedies seem to work much better for me. If you also decide to opt for herbal remedies, always remember to first test a small patch of skin for allergic reactions before using any such remedy. If you have additional questions and/or concerns, consult your primary health care professional and/or a certified herbalist.

References:
Clair Kowalchik and William H. Hylton, eds. Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1998.

Dian Dincin Buchman, Ph.D. Herbal Medicine. NY, NY: Wings Books, 1996.

University of Maryland Medical Center. Uva ursi.