Alexandra Ramirez
Introduction
Encountering poison ivy can be a very painful experience – especially when you have no idea how to go about alleviating its effects. Poison ivy, and many other poison-producing plants, can cause discomfort, itching, pain, and even swelling of the affected areas. If one does not look for a solution to address these effects, then he or she might end up suffering for quite a long time. Several pharmaceutical drugs are specifically designed to address the main symptoms of poison ivy, but these can be quite expensive, and sometimes out of reach if you don’t live in an urban area.
One of the most important pieces of advice that you should always remember is that prevention is always better than cure. This simply implies that you should take every opportunity to prevent an infection from the plant, especially while engaging in outdoor activities such as hiking or camping. One of the most effective preventive solutions is wearing protective clothing every time you engage in any outdoor activities. Protective clothing in this context can simply refer to long trousers and long-sleeved shirts that cover your entire arm.
You might take each conceivable precaution, but still end up in contact with poison ivy. In such a case, it is indeed important to know how to go about treating the affected area. Here are a few interesting ways to get rid of poison ivy that don’t require any form of medical intervention.
Five Unique Items That Can Help
1. Potatoes
Applying potato paste on the affected skin has proved to be one of the most effective methods that you can try to get rid of poison ivy. Potatoes contain special compounds known as anti-inflammatory compounds. These compounds in the potatoes are what is responsible for treating the inflammation associated with poison ivy and other such infectious plants.
2. Banana Peels
In addition to potatoes, another food item that is quite effective as a remedy for poison ivy is bananas. To be precise, ripe banana peelings can be applied to the affected skin area to offer substantial relief from some of the painful effects of poison ivy. Just like potatoes, bananas also have a special group of chemicals whose effects alleviate some of the symptoms of poison ivy. The banana peel should be rubbed against the infected regions and left there for a couple of minutes. You can repeat this exercise a few times if you notice that the effects of the poison ivy are taking longer to disappear. Banana peelings have been known to completely alleviate the effects of poison ivy, including getting rid of the rash that usually appears on your skin after you have come in contact with the plant.
3. Vinegar
Vinegar is also an effective solution that you can apply if you come into contact with poison ivy. One of the most notable attributes of vinegar is that it is a pain reliever that can quickly get rid of the uncomfortable sensation once it has been applied to the affected area. Use it on anything from poison ivy, to insect bites, to allergic reactions. Best of all, vinegar, like many of the solutions above, is quite readily available.
4. Alcohol
Coming into contact with poison ivy can result in a bad infection on the affected area. Such an infection implies that bacteria and other unwanted materials have been introduced into your skin. If left untreated, this bacteria can be quite harmful. Alcohol, especially strong alcohol such as spirits and vodka, is an effective disinfectant that can kill the bacteria that might have been introduced to your skin by poison ivy. Simply apply alcohol on the affected skin area and wait for a couple of minutes before wiping it off.
5. Coffee
Lastly, you can also try applying some coffee on the affected area. Coffee can also serve to alleviate the symptoms of poison ivy. In Appalachia, there is a folk medicine recipe that uses coffee to help with the pain and itching of poison ivy. Coffee contains chlorogenic acid which is an anti-inflammatory. Be sure always to use cold coffee since hot coffee can scald your skin.
