Jewel
Weed (Jewelweed)
The Jewel
Weed Stem should be crushed and the liquid rubbed
into the skin contacted by the Poison Ivy and
symptoms will not appear or will be much less
troublesome.
Jewel
Weed usually grows near water or in shallow ponds.
It is often found in areas where Poison Ivy grows.
Jewel
Weed totally neutralizes the Poison Ivy's oily
antigen called Urushiol, and you will no longer
spread it by scratching or rubbing. The Urushiol oil
may be carried on the fur of pets, clothing, shoes,
toys, tools, or other objects and then transferred
to the skin. Approximately 24 to 36 hrs after a
sensitized person is exposed to the Urushiol, a
blistery, itching rash develops. Usually within 15
minutes of contact, the Urushiol binds to skin
proteins. If it is washed off with soap and water
before that time, a reaction may be prevented. After
the antigen is fixed, however, it cannot be washed
off or transferred to other areas. Scratching or
oozing blister fluid cannot spread the antigen to
other areas of the body or to other persons.
Jewel
Weed Products
There are products made using jewel weed:
soaps, sprays, tinctures, salves etc.
Note - Jewel weed works best when the rash is new or
fresh.
Drug
Treatments
Aveeno, and mild steroid
creams, such as
hydrocortisone (brand names
Cortaid or
Cortizone 10). Oral antihistamines, such
as diphenhydramine (Benadryl),
can also help
relieve the allergic reaction.
There is a commercial poison ivy
wash called Zenfel that is used to wash away the Urushiol.
Mild cases of poison ivy can be treated with an
over-the-counter steroid preparation such as
hydrocortisone cream 1% applied three times a day.
Calamine lotion can relieve itch.
Oral Steroid are sometimes prescribed by doctors.
Usually for a sever rash and by a skin specialist.
*Note
-
Sometimes there can be adverse reactions with drugs.
First picture is a poison ivy rash before a
steroidal cream treatment. The second one is the
rash after.
* If the treatment is not strong enough to overpower
the rash then the rash can flare up to three times
worse. Something a lot of the medical team
does not tell the patient.
Blocks
There are
blocks that can be purchased to put on your skin
which will block the skin from absorbing the
Urushiol.
