Green Girl’s Natural Cure for Poison Ivy

So, it’s been three weeks since I started working in the garden. For the record, weeding and planting are harder than they may look. I hurt. However, I have come to find that weeding is actually a very therapeutic task. I know, I know. Sounds crazy, right? But, in fact, if you are able to sit yourself down in front of a large number of weeds (it’s not quite as enjoyable if you are standing and not sitting), it can be very relaxing to pull them out. Plus, it’s incredibly satisfying when you get all of the roots.

However, what is not so satisfying is unknowingly digging into a pile of weeds and pulling up a massive vine of poison ivy. I know what you’re thinking: “That’s stupid. Poison ivy is easy to distinguish from other plants.” Well, you are right, in fact, it is. I do, believe it or not, know exactly what it looks like. But sometimes it hides!

Well, point of the story is, I have a large amount of poison ivy on my arm. Not so pleasing. The day after I noticed it, I showed it to one of my co-workers (who thinks that poison ivy is the devil in disguise). Her response was, “I think there’s some jewelweed over in those woods, you should put some on it.”

Jewelweed??? I had no idea what that was. At all. In my life, calamine lotion had always been the solution to poison ivy. I mean, mother had never been pleased with it (lots of dyes covering my skin? Not her idea (nor mine) of a good product), but what else was there to use? No one wants poison ivy spreading all over their body. And I’m bad with itchiness. I don’t like it.

Well, apparently, both my mom and I have been totally clueless as to the simplest, most natural way to take care of poison ivy. Go figure. The juice from jewelweed has been used as a cure for poison ivy and poison oak, as well as rashes, cuts, and bruises, as far back as the Native Americans. It is found all over the northeast, and in southern California. To find out how to identify it, or to order some, check here.

I can attest: I found some in the woods at work, put it on my poison ivy-full arm, and almost immediately it stopped itching. Now it’s practically gone, and none of it spread. Sounds like a good alternative to me.

Note to self: Say goodbye to that gross pink stuff. Hellloooooo, Jewelweed.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Harold B.

8:34AM PDT on Apr 5, 2011

An all natural,herbal product that works really fast on Poison Ivy and many other skin rashes. wwwnaturespoisonivyrelief.com

send a green star

Melissah C.

6:11AM PDT on Mar 15, 2011

thanks

4:54PM PST on Dec 26, 2010

Thanks

Patricia B.

9:59PM PDT on Oct 23, 2010

Buen artículo.

Buena historia

Dawn D.

3:52PM PDT on Jun 15, 2010

Interesting info. Thanks! Burt's Bees Poison Ivy Soap works very well because it contains Jewelweed. I use it after the first possibility of coming in contact with poison ivy. The soap cleanses away the toxic oils so the rash does not impact as badly nor spread.

Claudia E.

8:54AM PDT on Jun 14, 2010

Great story and this goes to show that there are cures in our forests for many ailments.

Tom R.

5:23PM PDT on Jun 6, 2010

I wish that I had know bout jewelweed sooner. Thanks for the welcome information.

Philippa P.

6:13PM PDT on Jun 5, 2010

Jewelweed does not grow in my area.