A Friend and a Foe -- Antidote to Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy -- The Foe

Poison ivy in its reddish form

Many of us have seen poison-ivy in the wild, but did you ever see it in its red stage.  This usually happens in the fall, when leaves change.  But, our unpredictable weather has advanced the colour change in many plants.  Here it is with red leaves, and still an irritant to those sensitive to it.  Here is another photo of poison oak with serrated leaf edges.  In all cases, the leaves will irritate your skin if you are one of the 85% who are sensitive to it.

Poison oak is actually a shrub

Many of us think that there is no antidote to poison ivy and that we must suffer until the effects of the irritating poison ivy oils wear off.  But, fear not, forest friend!  The next time you are in the forest and fear that you have touched poison-ivy, look for the antidote nearby; 'Jewel weed', a.k.a. 'Touch-me-not'. 

Touch-me-not -- The Friend

Pale touch-me-not

Flowering  this time of year if the very pretty “Spotted Jewelweed” a.k.a Touch-me-not (it gets its name from the seed pods that appear in late summer which can explode open upon the slightest touch).  Not only should you freely touch ‘Touch-me-not’, you should grab as much of it as possible, crush it in your hands until it is almost to a pulp.  Then, rub it all over the affected area on your skin.  The key to the antidote is to apply the crushed stems directly to your skin soon after being exposed to poison ivy (do not wait until you see the rash the next day).  This should prevent the burning rash from appearing or from becoming too severe to handle. 

Spotted touch-me-not

Crush the leaves of the Touch-me-not into your hands
and rub directly onto the affected area

Touch-me-nots have also been known to be used for other skin irritations like eczema, burns, and cuts.  Take a look if it on your next forest walk.

This information was intended as a tip, and not as medical advice.   See your physician or naturopath for professional advice on poison ivy antidotes.