It Itches: 3 Home Remedies for Poison Ivy Relief

The homestead has been taken over by a nasty outbreak of poison ivy.  Okay, so my husband is actually the only one with the ivy, but I feel like it has taken over the house.  It has spread between his fingers, up his arms, legs, forehead, and his well, you know...

It started off with the little irritated bumps, moved onto a deeper rash, and now it's starting to turn yellowish.  The puss has started to ooze.  Our countertops are covered in Benadryl, Calamine lotion, and some anti-itch spray.  I've tried to recommend a few home remedies, but he's not into it.  Here are a few of the remedies I've suggested:

1.  Baking Soda Paste *He actually did try this, but it was with a lot of complaint.  He didn't like how it flaked off onto the couch.

Recipe: Three parts baking soda to one part water

Directions: Apply the paste to the infected area.  Allow it to dry completely, it will crack and flake off.  For best results apply every few hours.  The baking soda draws out the fluid in the blisters.

2.  Oatmeal Bath*Aveeno actually sells an oatmeal bath treatment, but it's cheaper to make it at home.

Recipe:
1 cup oatmeal
1 old sock or pair of nylons *you don't want to have to clean oatmeal out of your drain
1 rubber band

Directions:
Fill your sock with the oatmeal and attach it to the faucet in your tub.  Fill up your bath, occasionally squeezing the sock to release the avenanthramides (that cloudy residue you see when you get oatmeal wet).  The proteins help dry out the skin and block histamines.

3.  Chamomile Tea Bath

Sorry about the tiny print on my tea.  It's camomile :)

Recipe:
10 or more tea bags
1 filled bathtub

Directions:
Fill your bathtub with water and add the tea.  You should "steep" in your tea bath for a good twenty minutes to relieve the itching.  Chamomile tea contains anti-inflamatory properties that help with the itching.


I hope you don't get poison ivy, but if you do, maybe this post can help you out!
-Katie