I have a pretty bad reaction to poison ivy, and have had to get shots for it. If it is really bad I have to get two shots - one in each "cheek."
I started to get it bad last summer, but after a good dose of Jewel Weed, it cleared up in a few days. I have been using Jewel Weed for years.
There are a few keys to remember here:
1. It seems to be the juice that works on the poison ivy. About the easiest way to get the juice out is to just crush the stem. But I imagine you could run the whole thing through a juicer or food processor and make a poultice.
2. It works far better when applied immediately after contact with poison ivy. Use the juice to wash the oils off.
3. When applying Jewel Weed in the field, be careful not to scratch your skin with the stems. I used to just crush a piece of the stem and use it to rub juice on the skin. Sometimes it irritates the rash. It is better to use a knife and "shave" the outer layer off, leaving the tender, juicy core.
4. Be careful when applying Jewel Weed to very severe rashes. I have not personally experienced this, but some folks experience a pretty bad burning sensation. If you apply the Jewel Weed before it the poison ivy rash gets so bad you shouldn't have this problem.
I have tried boiling Jewel Weed down to make a concentrated solution, but it didn't work very well. I suspect that the heat destroys or alters the healing elements. I also tried freezing the juice into cubes, but that didn't work well either. It seems that nothing works as well as the fresh juice applied immediately. So I'm not sure how you could practically store any for the winter season.
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