Do you know what poison ivy is? Have you ever had a poison ivy rash?
Poison Ivy is a poisonous plant that carries urushiol oil. If in direct contact, the skin will develop dermatitis; causing itching, irritation, redness, blisters and sometimes a painful rash.
I have gotten it three times and trust me when I tell you that you will never want to come in contact with this evil plant. I have such a several reaction that spreads throughout my entire body and need a prescribed medication to kick it out of my system. In my case, once the oil touches my skin it gets into my blood stream. Therefore even my sweat carries it, and that’s how it spreads through my entire body.
If you come in contact with this wicked plant make sure to wash right away with soap and luck warm water. Use a wash cloth to rub the skin thoroughly. You might get a small rash and you can use any over the counter creams or ointments. Also, your doctor can prescribe hydrocortisone or a steroid cream that you can apply twice a day to alleviate the itching and irritation.
If none of these alleviate the uncomfortable dermatitis and would like to try a natural approach, here is my secret.
Aside from the pills my doctors prescribe me, my lavender and melaleuca essential oils keep my skin at ease. I place pea size of coconut oil on my hand, add a drop of either EO and rub it in the affected area. I immediately feel a relief and it lasts for a good period of time. Plus you can apply it several times a day.
In the past, the longest time a poison ivy rash lasted in my body was 8 weeks. It was a nightmare, but these EOs kept me sane! This ailment can not only affect your body, but takes a mental and emotional toll. So make sure to seek medical help if your rash starts spreading quickly to other parts of your body that had no contact with it, you might be experiencing a severe reaction and would want to kill it right away from the inside out.