All of us enjoy getting away from the stress of everyday life by escaping into the woods or to explore the countryside, but that enjoyment can come to an end if someone in the group brushes up against a poisonous plant.
Fortunately, there are plenty of home remedies for poison sumac that can be used in order to relieve the itching, burning and rash that results from contact with this plant.
Though poison sumac does not commonly lead to serious health conditions, those who experience extreme allergic reactions might need to be prepared for emergency relief by consulting a healthcare professional.
We’ve put together the following list of 13 home remedies that have proven helpful to others for relieving the symptoms of poison sumac. You can give each of them a try to see what works best for you.
Keep in mind that not every remedy works for everyone, so if something does not work, just give another option on the list a try. You should be able to find a remedy that will help you find relief from the itching and burning.
One word of warning to keep in mind: make sure you pay attention to possible allergies and sensitivities. Since you will be applying these remedies directly to the skin, you could experience adverse reactions. The last thing you want is to have a reaction that will not only make your poison sumac worse but that will also add additional symptoms you need to combat.
One of the most effective home remedies to help relieve the symptoms of poison sumac is oatmeal. The phenols and avenanthramides found in oatmeal not only help to sooth the irritation of the urushiol oil, but it also has anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce swelling and pain.
A great home remedy for all sorts of skin irritation involves the use of a banana peel. Its anti-inflammatory and cooling properties are a simple way to treat poison sumac skin irritation and blisters as well.
There is probably no more common ingredient found in every household than baking soda. Baking soda makes an excellent poison sumac home remedy due to its drying and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, because it is alkaline, it helps to reduce the acidic burning produced by the urushiol oil.
Using a cold compress with white vinegar is another top home remedy that successfully treats the symptoms of poison sumac. White vinegar helps to keep the rash from spreading and also helps to cool and relieve the burning and itching.
Since you are already out in the woods, why not use a home remedy that is available in the woods. Acorns have antiviral and antiseptic properties that are excellent for treating skin irritations, minor burns, cuts, abrasions and also the rash caused by poison sumac.
When it comes to burning, itching, and swelling, few things provide the cooling relief of aloe vera. This potent herb works well to bring relief to poison sumac irritation as well due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
One of the best home remedies to get control of swelling, itching and irritation right away is to get a cold compress on the area affected by the poison sumac oil. Not only will it reduce the itching and swelling, but it will minimize the spread of the urushiol oil and keep the rash contained to a smaller area.
Drawing the blisters out of a poison sumac rash is one of the best ways to relieve itching and reduce inflammation. A home remedy that will accomplish that end is buttermilk, which has protein and enzymes to help draw the fluid out of the blisters as well as bring soothing relief.
An excellent home remedy, which is very likely to be close at hand when you are camping or picnicking, is watermelon. The juice, similar to that of a banana peel, has vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that help reduce inflammation and soothe the itch and burning of poison sumac.
An effective home remedy which is also pretty common in most households is rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol in a 70% isopropyl solution is excellent for disinfecting the area affected by poison sumac. It also helps to cool the burning sensation while preventing infection.
You might not expect a raw potato to be an effective home remedy for treating poison sumac, but it is one of the best and easiest to come by. The vitamins, minerals, and starches in potatoes helps to dry up and relieve the itching, burning, and swelling of the rash.
Pouring coffee on the rash of poison sumac is a home remedy that you would not think of right off. The tannins in coffee help to neutralize the spread of the oil and also brings relief to the itching and burning; that is, if you use cold coffee.
Similar to coffee, black tea has tannins which help to relieve the symptoms from coming in contact with poison sumac. Black tea not only helps to relieve itching and burning, but it acts as a drawing agent to help dry out the blisters on the rash.
One of the best home remedies for relieving inflammation of any kind is turmeric. Curcumin, a compound in turmeric, is extremely effective at relieving inflammation. Turmeric also has antibacterial properties to help in treating poison sumac as well.
Another great kitchen ingredient which makes an excellent home remedy for the relief of poison sumac is cucumber. Cucumbers are mostly water, but they also contain a lot of vitamins and minerals which help relieve itching and swelling.
Don’t let your outdoor picnic or camping fun stop because someone in the group got attacked by a poisonous plant. Be prepared whenever you go to the woods or the countryside and have the ingredients for one or several of the 15 home remedies for poison sumac on hand. If you have other remedies to add to our list or have comments or questions to add, please do not hesitate to do so in the space provided.
Images: depositphotos.com.
