Make a Poison Oak Remedy That Actually WorksAlovera -

Make your own poison oak home remedy and find relief immediately using one of the methods shown here.

If you have ever gone hiking and exposed yourself to poison ivy or poison oak, you know how dangerous the subtle plant can be. Unlike poison ivy, a poison oak scratch can take a while to heal up and until it does, you'll suffer from the blisters, rashes and itching that it brings with it. Urushiol, the potent poison present in poison ivy, oak and sumac, only requires 1 nanogram to trigger an allergic reaction in most people, and an overwhelming 90% of the American population is allergic to the chemical! Just a quarter of an ounce of pure urushiol is enough to cause a rash on every person in the world, so learn how to identify the plants and stay far away from them. Unfortunately, if you've already triggered a reaction, most prescription medications and ointments won't work. You can use a number of products found in your household to create a poison oak remedy that will bring you immediate and long-lasting relief without any dangerous side effects.

Baking Soda

Available in almost every home, baking soda is the universal cure for most minor ailments. To eliminate scratching quickly and effectively, combine a small amount of baking soda with vinegar, which will react to form a paste. Apply the paste to the rash and use a washcloth to scrub the paste into the rash as hard as you can. This will sting and the scrubbing should hurt, but the rash will start to disappear in a couple of hours and be completely gone in 2-3 days.

Aloe Vera

You'll find aloe to be a major component in many home remedies because of its versatility and ease of use. As a poison oak home remedy, applying aloe directly to the rash relieves itching immediately and cools the area down. You can either use freshly squeezed aloe gel if you have a plant at home or use 99.9% aloe gel which is available at supermarkets and pharmacies. Reapply once every 2 hours to find temporary relief from itching and blisters. You can also dilute fresh aloe juice and drink it to help your body defend itself against the rash.

Oatmeal

Another great natural and safe poison oak remedy, oatmeal can be used to form a paste which you can apply to your rash which helps itching and blistering. Cook some oatmeal to a thick consistency (thicker than when you are eating it). While it is still hot (but not scalding), apply the oatmeal to your rash like you would apply icing on a cake. The heat will soothe the itching and the grittiness of the oatmeal will scratch the rash for you. As it cools off, the paste will harden and dry out any blisters.

Witch Hazel

This herb, available at most health shops, is a great drying agent and can be used on poison oak rashes during their oozing stage. Simply use a cotton ball to dab some witch hazel onto the affected areas. This poison oak home remedy will reduce itching and promote healing.

Brewer's Yeast

To notice results within one day, consume large doses of brewer's yeast with warm water and honey from four to seven times a day. Although this poison oak remedy may taste disgusting, it will relieve your pain and is worth the unappealing flavor.