Home Remedies for Poison Ivy

Home remedies for poison ivy are a lot like those used for poison oak. The two plants, and their symptoms, are quite similar. Try these natural remedies for poison ivy.

Poison ivy symptoms usually include an itchy rash, blisters or boils, and dryness of the skin.

This occurs when the natural oil within the poison ivy plant comes in contact with your skin. Most people have a severe allergic reaction to this, which is what causes the swelling, redness, and itchiness.

What Does Poison Ivy Look Like?

The poison ivy plant itself is sometimes in the shape of a shrub, but more often than not can be found as a vine twining up tree trunks and fence posts. The color of the leaves changes often. Red, orange, green, brown and yellow are common colors it will take on throughout the seasons.

Because it proliferates in the wild, it has been a very hard pesky plant to control. It can be found in most parts of the United States and in southern Canada.

Courtesy of Blmurch

Poison Ivy Treatments

Courtesy of Cygnus921

Epsom salt works with many health issues, like abscesses, because it draws foreign substances out of the body. This will help bring the irritating oil out of your skin and shorten the duration of the rash.


If you need a poison ivy remedy for a severe case, you may need to talk to your doctor about taking an oral steroid. Prednisone is a common oral steroid that can be taken for rashes and other skin issues.

You may also consider using aloe vera gel to soothe the skin, promote healing, and help stop the itchiness and burning feeling.

Aloe works best with home remedies for poison ivy if it comes from a home grown plant, as this is very concentrated and fresh, but a natural aloe product from the grocery store will also help significantly.

Courtesy of Carl Johan