poison ivy?

[preachtheWORD]

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.

[Trabitha]

Test it on him?!

"No, really honey, I read that pouring acid in your eyes will help. Now hold still before I smack you!"

He probably should have said, "I don't".

This the "the LAST thing I wanted to do". Come on dear. You're a very bright man...keep up!

LOL!

Thanks again for all the input! Poison Ivy is all OVER out here, and no matter what I do to get rid of it, one of them comes in contact with it almost every year. It is my worst enemy!

[hunter63]

I have a love/hate relationship with the wiki...
You made me go get the herbal.
The remedy for itching skin irritations is to make a tincture of Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus) Red Dock (R. aquaticus) or Water Dock (R. hydrolapathum) by "boiling the root in vinegar until the fibers are soft then mixing the pulp with lard" and applying to the affected area. Roots are best when collected in March.
As with anything herbal, use at your own risk.

Sorry, man, just trying to get to the bottom of things.

I have heard the Dock works for nettles, but according to wiki...(you can write your own definitions), this doesn't work either.

I seem to be bothered with nettles, getting in and out of the canoe (por-tage), lots on the river banks, didn't to help.

All must keep in mind that sometimes stuff works for some, but won't work for others.

I'm a show me kinda of guy, though I don't live in Missouri.

[wareagle69]

not only medicinal but edible too, cut shoots less that 8 in tall and use as a pot herb

[LowKey]

I don't mind Hunter. Needed the exercise.
Course, I spent the next couple hours reading other parts of the herbal...

[hunter63]

I don't mind Hunter. Needed the exercise.
Course, I spent the next couple hours reading other parts of the herbal...

LOL, I hear ya, did the same......I'm easily led astray....That's OK, my schedule is pretty light right now.

[justin_baker]

We dont have poison ivy around here but we have poison oak. Im almost fully immune (ive rubbed in myself to see, just a very mild rash that didnt itch and went away in a few hours), which is good, because some places around he its as abundant as the grasses and you cant avoid walking through to get where you want.

[rwc1969]

I've never been allergic to poison ivy or the like, but the other day I was walking barefoot thru a daylily patch gathering buds and the ground was covered in it. It repeatedly brushed against my ankles as I walked. Today I have a small rash in my ankle area. I don't know if it's the ivy or what, but I suppose even if you aren't allergic and continually rub it on you eventually a rash may form.

Interstlingly enough, on the same day I got ate up with mosquitos and rubbed jewelweed, broadleaf plantain and cattail aloe all over my legs and ankles to relieve the bites. The aloe soothed, but it was only the jewelweed, or touch me nots, that relieved the itching instantly and long term. The plantain had no immediate effect whatsoever. But, maybe that's the reason my rash was so minor. Then again, maybe it was the plantain or cattail juice that caused it as I've never used those two before in attempting to relieve mosquito bite itch like I have with the jewelweed.

[Beo]

I just got over a real nasty bout of Poison Ivy, I used to never be allergic to it but it seems I am now. I just used Witch Hazel everyday for about three days and it dried it up and its gone.

[Rick]

WT?! Jewel weed, man. Jewel weed!

[Ole WV Coot]

WT?! Jewel weed, man. Jewel weed!

OK, need an update. How did your home garden of jewel weed do? I won't repeat my method of avoidance, just wanted to know. I may plant some myself.

[bulrush]

A doctor on a radio show last weekend said in 8 minutes the oil is absorbed into your skin and after that you cannot wash it off, you simply treat the symptoms.

Sometimes the oil will get on your shoes, and when you take your shoes off, you will get a rash on your hand.

[Rick]

Really, really well. I was surprised myself. Had I not pulled some of it up this spring thinking it was weeds (or just not thinking) I'd have had a lot more.

Here are two plants

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Here are three plants

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They've grown a bit taller since these pics but not much. Looking forward to it seeding this fall so I can plant some more!! Shaded sun and moist ground are two criteria. Think edge of woods.

[Ole WV Coot]

Congrats Rick! I'll try some myself.

[Melissa Montana]

My grandmother told me they use to put milk weed on oak or ivy. Dries it up.IDK never had either.

[hbar2989]

Rick, once your jewel weed takes hold, you'll never get rid of it. That being said , we're firm believers that it helps on poison ivy. We crush it up, and rub it on the affected areas.

[crashdive123]

Hey there hbar2989 - we're kind of the same way - once you do an introduction in the Introduction section you can't get rid of us either.

[JPGreco]

So I'm not sure how you could practically store any for the winter season.

Um, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't need it over the winter considering poison ivy loses it's leaves just like many other plants.

[crashdive123]

You can get poison ivy from the vines. Let's say you are about eight years old and you come across a large vine hanging from a tree in the woods. Let's also say that you had watched Ron Ely in one of the Tarzan classics the night before. Let's then say that you grab hold of that vine and start swinging from it in an attempt to emulate the man you saw on the black and white television the day before. Let's then say that you start itching all over the next day. Let's say that it gets worse and your eyes swell shut. Let's then say that your doctor comes over (still made house calls then) and says - yep - poison ivy.

Don't ask me how I know.

[JPGreco]

Hmm, is that a climate thing? I've never gotten winter poison ivy, nor have I heard of anyone else getting it around here and my dad and cousin are very allergic to it.

How do I identify this jewel weed? Any defining charateristics to look for? I would like to see if I have it growing around here for my dad to use.