Question:
What are some poison ivy home remedies?

I didn't know I was allergic to poison ivy, but I got it. I thought it was a mosquito bite, but it got worse. I tried hot water, rubbing alcahol, calamine lotion, Ivarest lotion, and a cold shower with little or no effect! I had to go to the doctor and get steroids tto help with the rashes and itching. Are there any remedies that ou've tried that actually bring relief from the itching?!

Answer: HoneyAs for susceptibility to PI, you may not know that spring honey in the areas where it grows is usually loaded with PI pollen. I believethat regular use of raw, local, spring honey has rendered me immune to the effects of the sap. I worked in apple orchards for many years, with frequent, almost constant problems with poison ivy. When I began keeping bees and eating honey every day, I no longer was affected by poison ivy. It has been many years since I've had any reaction at all, though I sometimes walk right thru the stuff.-- Dave Green (Pollinator@NOSPAMaol.com) submitted May/1/2000 The Pollination Home Page

Baking SodaIf you take a bath in room temperature water mixed with 1/2 cup of baking soda it can releive the itching. The baking soda is like oatmeal bath that you would find at the drug store however the baking soda is cheaper and everyone has it in their house. However, if you use normal temperature bath water the itching will not stop at all. This method is on the back of many baking soda boxes that you can find at your super market-- Chris Whitehead (Chris01720@NOSPAMaol.com) submitted May/31/2000

Oatmeal PasteThe best thing I have found for poison ivy is very warm to hot oatmeal. Cook it a little thicker than you would for eating(you don't want it running all over). Spread the oatmeal with a rubber spatula(like for spreading cake icing). The heat from the oatmeal really helps, the oatmeal is gritty and itches the rash for you, and as the oatmeal cools off it drys out the skin and affected area better than any other product I have tried. It feels likes cement drying aroung your arm. The only downsides I have seen to this is that your spouse WILL laugh at you as your pasting oatmeal to yourself in the kitchen, and this is probably something you wouldn't want to do at work. BE SURE THE OATMEAL IS NOT TOO HOT FOR YOUR SKIN, it is best that it is warm to hot, but you do not want to burn yourself either.