From london@calypso-2.oit.unc.eduSun Nov  6 20:34:54 1994
Date: Sun, 6 Nov 1994 12:16:59 -0500 (EST)
From: "Lawrence F. London, Jr." 
To: london@sunsite.unc.edu
Cc: london@sunsite.unc.edu
Subject: pi.faq


                    herbs-for-poison-ivy.faq
                    ------------------------

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT:
--------------------
document name: herbs-for-poison-ivy.faq
last updated: Nov. 6, 1994
archive site: sunSITE.unc.edu
ftp path: pub/academic/medicine/alternative-healthcare/faqs
newsgroup access to this faq: alt.folklore.herbs, rec.gardens, misc.rural
faq maintainer: Lawrence F. London,Jr., london@sunSITE.unc.edu
sources of information: Usenet newsgroups, personal experience

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HERBAL REMEDIES THAT MIGHT BE TRIED FOR POISON OAK AND POISON IVY RASHES
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(1)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
From: vshea@aol.com (VShea)
Subject: Re: Poison Oak remedies
Date: 20 Jul 1994 15:55:01 -0400
  
:KEYWORDS:
mugwort
infosource: vshea@aol.com

One other remedy I've heard of (NOTE: I am NOT recommending this 
from personal experience--it is secondhand!!!)
  
In California, a plant called mugwort usually grows near poison oak. 
It has a pleasant aromatic scent. If you know you've been exposed to 
poison oak, supposedly picking some mugwort, crushing it up, and rubbing 
it onthe spot where you were exposed will keep the rash from developing. 
Be sure to positively ID the mugwort before you try this!

(2)
From oatstraw@twain.ucs.umass.eduSun Nov  6 20:35:14 1994
Date: 25 Oct 1994 19:33:25 GMT
From: ROBIN F HOWARD 
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.herbs
Subject: Re: poison oak remedy??

:KEYWORDS: 
sweetfern, jewelweed, witch hazel, rubbing alcohol, 
info-source: oatstraw@twain.ucs.umass,edu

I made a linament with, let's see, sweetfern, jewelweed, witch hazel,
rubbing alcohol...I know there were a few other things in there.  Anyway,
I zipped it all up in a blender until it was green and pulverized, let it
sit for two weeks, strain it and voila, a marvy linament.  Maybe I'll 
look up the rest of the ingreds. and post tomorrow. 

(3)
From: london@sunSITE.unc.edu (Larry London)
Newsgroups: alt.med.allergy
Subject: Treatment for poison ivy outbreaks.
Date: 21 May 1994 16:25:20 GMT

:KEYWORDS:
goldenseal, jewelweed, aloe vera, comfrey, plantain leaves
info source: london@sunSITE.unc.edu

Combinations of the following herbs remedies could be used:

Apply to the lesions, more or less in this order:

1) squeeze juice of fresh jewelweed plants onto lesions
and reserve remains of plants for application as a compress
[this will help reduce itching - the other herbs listed here may 
also help with this]

OPTIONAL: 2) squeeze juice of aloe vera onto lesions and reserve remains of 
             plants for compress; promotes healing

3) liberally dust powdered goldenseal on top of the above plant juices
   before they dry onto the lesions; this will promote rapid healing

4) take a wooden meat maul and mash leaves and stems of the following plants:

comfrey
OPTIONAL: plantain leaves
OPTIONAL: remains of jewelweed and aloe plants used in previous procedure

form the resulting mass into a poultice or compress and apply it on top 
of the goldenseal on the lesions

hold poultice in place with a bandage of some sort, if possible.

After four hours or so remove poultice and clean the lesions with water;
a mild non-irritating soap could be used if necessary

Repeat this entire procedure every four hours as needed until
itching is reduced and lesions begin to heal.