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eLearning Series: Natural / Home Remedies
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Poison
Ivy Home Remedies
It is always worth knowing about home remedies
for poison ivy. You or your kids may come across this nasty
plant at any time, and if you do not take action, it spreads.
So what is poison ivy and what can you do about it?
Poison ivy and its friends poison oak and poison sumac contain
a substance called urushiol which is responsible for the allergic
reaction that most people have when they touch one of these
plants. Not everybody is susceptible; a few people are genuinely
immune to urushiol. However, in most cases the immunity will
not hold through prolonged or repeated exposure. Even if you
don't react to poison ivy the first time you encounter it,
you may the second, third or tenth time.
The usual response is a rash that looks like hives, forming
on any part of the skin that has been in contact with urushiol.
This is a greasy substance that stays on the skin and is easily
transferred either to another part of the body or to another
person, especially if it gets on the hands. The rash often
does not develop immediately but may take a few hours to several
days to appear.
So the first
thing to do is to clean the urushiol off of the
person who has it. This will not stop the rash if exposure
was more than about 15 minutes ago, but it will stop things
from getting worse. First use rubbing alcohol or a liquid cleaner
for oily hands, to remove the grease. Don't use a piece of
soap which will just pick up the urushiol. Then shower, first
in water only, then using liquid soap.
Next you will need to clean all of the clothes, gardening
tools or toys that you or your child were carrying. Wear gloves
and rub everything over with alcohol and water.
After everything is clean, the rash itself is not contagious.
It is simply an allergic reaction that can be treated with
anti histamine, moisturizer or an oatmeal bath, just like you
would treat hives. If the rash is severe or is forming and
spreading very quickly, especially in children, see a doctor.
A steroid shot may be required.
Home remedies for poison ivy also need to take account of
prevention. Educate yourself and your kids by finding out what
poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac look like, so that
you can avoid them. If you find poison ivy in your yard, spray
it with herbicide, dig it up or have it professionally removed,
but never burn it. Even the smoke is toxic and can be deadly.
If there are a lot of these plants in your area, consider
using an ivy block (available from drugstores) to prevent rashes
on hands or exposed areas. Wear gloves and long sleeved shirts
when gardening, and have your kids wear full shoes, not sandals,
when playing in the woods or near water. Home remedies for
poison ivy are never as good as avoiding it. Click here to discover my current SolveYourProblem recommendation and choice pick for the fastest, easiest and best natural health remedies & solutions you'll find anywhere. Get it and reward yourself with a healthier life.
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by SolveYourProblem.com
: 2010
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