This article is about, how to kill poison ivy. Many people get rash from poisonous plants. Some plants consist of poison or some toxic materials and ivy are one of them. Poison ivy causes a rash on the skin. It consists of oil called urushiol, which is responsible for inflammation. Poison ivy is a native to North America. It grows in clusters where there is sufficient sunlight. This plant can be recognized by the cluster of three leaflets, connected to the main hairy stem. The poison ivy oil is found in every part of the plant including leaves, stem, roots. It is sticky in nature and causes blisters on the skin.
While gardening without gloves or enjoying the nature you might have experienced the itching in your hands, arms or feet, that was due to the contact with the poison ivy plant. The sap in the roots stems causes blisters when it comes in contact. These rashes or blisters may range from mild to severe. It also depends on upon your skin’s sensitivity. These rashes last up to 7 to 3 weeks, but in severe cases, it lasts up to 6 weeks. One can easily take care of poison ivy by taking some precautions. Poison ivy is not considered as a medical emergency in the majority of the cases. It can be cured easily at home by some simple remedies.
Causes of a Reaction to Poison Ivy:
- Contact to urushiol
- Touching on any plant part
- Gardening without gloves
Symptoms of Poison Ivy Rash:
- Redness
- Itching
- Rash
- Blisters
- Pain
- Swelling
Ways to Kill Poison Ivy?
1.) First Recognise the Plant
To kill the poison ivy you should be familiar with the plant. The poison ivy plant can be described as a wine with three pointed leaves. The middle step has a longer stem than rest of the leaves. The leaflet is larger and the stem does not have thorns. Its leaves are green in summers and red in fall. So once you have discovered the poison ivy plant, its time to step ahead to kill poison ivy.
2.) Pull the Plant Out
Once you have discovered the poison ivy plant its time to kill it. The first step in order to kill it is, pull the plant. This step is sheerly for all those people who are not allergic to the plant. In any of the way, it is suggested that should cover its face, wear long gloves and shoes so that sticky content present in the plant does not get stick to your clothes. Moreover, maintain a distance from the plant while pulling it. Pull the plants from its roots. Do not cut it from the middle.
3.) Cover the Roots
After pulling the plants from the roots, immediately cover the roots, since roots carry most of the sticky content that is harmful to the skin. Like we said above, cover yourself properly while handling the plant.
4.) Dump the Plant
Cover the roots and with utmost care keep the plant in the cardboard. Dump the cardboard, cover it with a plastic sheet. Dump it deep inside the soil. Spread the soil evenly on the dumped area. And cover the area with pots. This is the best way to kill the poison ivy plant. After dumping the plant wash your clothes thoroughly and do not touch them before washing since they have sticky content that is not good for the skin.
5.) Herbicides to Kill Poison Ivy Plant
You can also use herbicide to kill poison ivy. Make sure you chose a day that is not windy and rainy to use a herbicide, otherwise it could be harmful to you. Make sure once the plant is trashed it does not grow again in the future.
Remedies to Get Rid of Pison Ivy Rash
If you have got the rash, you can easily kill poison ivy. It is not a big task to heal it. To get rid of poison ivy, one can follow some simple remedies. The interesting part is that it can be done at home.
1.) Cold Compress to Kill Poison Ivy
A cold compress with ice helps to kill poison ivy. It helps to treat the inflammation, blisters, and pain caused by the sap of ivy plant. Ice packs slow down the blood flow and cure the pain. Take some pieces of ice. Crush it into little pieces. Wrap in a cloth. Put it on the affected area. Keep it for 2-3 minutes. Don’t over do it, as it can damage your skin. One can also apply a piece of ice directly on the rash. Repeat the process for 3-4 days. You will notice the excellent results.
2.) Cucumber to Get Rid of Poison Ivy Rash
Cucumber gives the cooling effects. It cures the inflammation by cooling. This cool veggie can help you out to heal poison ivy. It works particularly on skin irritation, blisters, rashes and reduces the pain. If you find yourself to get in touch with ivy plant, slice some cucumber and take a piece of it. Gently rub it on the rash for 10-15 minutes. Alternatively, you can use the juice of cucumber by grinding it in a mixer. With the help of cotton ball, apply this juice on the damaged area. Repeat it for some days to cure poison ivy.
3.) Apple Cider Vinegar to Heal Poison Ivy
An apple cider vinegar can help to soothe the infected skin. It consists of acetic acid, which helps to heal itching, redness, pain and inflammation on the skin. It is a good astringent and treats the poison sap. Take apple cider vinegar and mix equal ratio of apple cider vinegar and water. Take a cloth and soak it in the solution. Now wrap that cloth on the affected skin area. You can also take a bath by adding a cup of apple cider vinegar in a bathtub with warm water. Soak yourself in this water for about 20 minutes. This will take away the toxins and promote healing. Using apple cider vinegar will help to kill poison ivy.
4.) Turmeric to Treat Poison Ivy
Turmeric is considered as a traditional cure against poison ivy. It is antiseptic in nature. Turmeric kills the bacteria and helps in relieving the pain. Moreover, it helps to stop the growth of bacteria, rather than actually treating a problem. Take around one tablespoon of turmeric powder. Put some drops of coconut oil to make its paste. Apply on the infected part. Repeat it twice a day. Also, you can drink a glass of warm milk with half teaspoon of turmeric dissolved in it. Drink it before going to bed. It will boost up your immune system and will give strength to fight against the rash. Repeat this process for one week to kill poison ivy.
5.) Aloe Vera to Cure Poison Ivy
Aloe Vera is an ancient remedy for skin treatment. It is a natural herb which can be easily grown in lawns or gardens. Moreover,it has excellent anti-inflammatory properties that help deal with various signs of plant ivy. It cures the pain and soothes the skin. Take a leaf of aloe vera and extract the gel from it. Apply a thin coating of aloe Vera gel on the rash. Allow the skin to dry on its own. Wash it with normal water Repeat this process for 4-5 times daily for several days to kill poison ivy. This remedy is easy to do at home without taking much time.
6.) Baking Soda to Kill Poison Ivy
Baking soda has antiseptic properties. Due to its alkaline nature, it proves very soothing on the infected skin. It treats the redness, rash, blisters caused by poison ivy. To treat the rash with baking soda, take one cup of baking soda and put it in a bathtub with cold water. Stir it well. Take a bath in that water and allow your body dry. Alternatively, you can also mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda in water to make a paste. Apply this paste with the help of cotton ball on the skin. Repeat it three times a day. Do it regularly until you get positive results.
7.) Oatmeal to Get Rid of Poison Ivy
Oatmeal also helps to cure the poison ivy. It has soothing properties. It cures the irritation, redness by its cooling effect. In a bathtub add a cup of oatmeal and lukewarm water. Mix it. Soak yourself in a bathtub fir 20 minutes. Now wipe yourself with the help of a soft towel. Its cooling effect will kill the poison ivy. Alternatively, you can cook the oatmeal with enough water to make its paste. Cool the solution. Apply it on the affected area. Repeat this process for 3-4 times a day. This remedy will cure your infected skin.
8.) Banana Peel to Destroy Poison Ivy
Banana peel is also a good cure for poison ivy rash. It gives relief in itchiness, rash, and swollen skin. The cooling qualities of banana are a great itch relief. To treat a poison ivy with banana peels, take a peel of banana rub it on the affected skin. Make sure that you rub it gently and smoothly. Do not harm your skin. This application will cure you by its cooling properties. Do it twice a day. Repeat this process for one week to kill poison ivy. This is easy to use. Try this fruity remedy to destroy the poison ivy.
9.) Honey to Cure Poison Ivy
Honey is a pain reliever. It has been in practice since ancient times. Ancient Egyptians were known to use honey as a topical salve for skin treatment. Honey contains antibiotic agents and can cure the poison ivy. It is a natural method to get rid of the poison ivy. You can take some honey and directly apply on the affected area. This can help you to treat the affected area. Repeat this remedy twice a day. The cooling and anti-inflammatory effects of honey will cure the poison ivy. You will get a fruitful result instantly.
10.) Table Salt to Kill Poison Ivy
Table salt heals the rash of poison ivy. It helps to reduce itching and inflammation. Moreover, it is very inexpensive and can be easily available at our home. You can apply salt by taking a half teaspoon of it and mix it with warm water. Stir the liquid. Take a piece of cloth and give a warm compress to the affected skin. You can also dissolve it in cold water and apply a cold compress. Alternatively, soak yourself in a bathtub for 10-15 minutes. Dry yourself with a towel. Nonetheless, you can rub the pinch of salt on blisters caused by poisonous ivy plant. Repeat this method twice a day to kill poison ivy. This is a simple remedy to treat yourself from the effect of poisonous plants.