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Natural Remedies Needed for Teenager Covered in Poison Ivy From Head to ToePosted By Stephanie (Long Valley, Nj) on 03/14/2016
Any cures for poison ivy? My teenager is covered head to toe. Very itchy, very swollen, can't open eyes! Can't go to school. If I can't cure him naturally, I will have to take him for a steroid shot and steroid pills, and I don't want to, because that is not healthy. It is difficult to take a bath, our house is cold, so any topical treatment or sprays would be easier, but he can take a bath if he must. Anything internal would be easiest. I don't have an easy time making concoctions, because I get very tired and confused easily. We need a simple treatment, or treatments.
Thank you for your help! - Steph
Replied by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 03/14/2016
I am sorry to hear this - so very miserable for your teen. We have dealt with serious poison ivy many times with our children....
I use lots and lots of natural remedies for poison ivy but once it gets really bad I do go get steroids for them. I have never been able to get rid of it naturally once it gets that bad even with very aggressive home treatment using a lot of internal and external treatments.
Personally, I would go get steroids at this point. Once this acute problem is past you can work on boosting back up the immune system.
One of my sons used to get terrible poison ivy and had to get steroid shots several times over the years. He also had asthma, which I treated with nettles daily for a year. Not only did it heal his asthma, he no longer got severe poison ivy, even though he has been exposed significantly when he does forestry work.
Nettle is inexpensive and can be taken as a tea, tincture or in capsules. It is a great blood purifier used long time.
I hope your teen feels much better soon!
~Mama to Many~
Replied by Stephanie (Long Valley, Nj) on 03/14/2016
Dear Mama to Many,Thank you so much. I did just take him for the steroid shot. The doc prescribed 6 days of methylprednisolone 4 mg. take 6 pills the first day, and one less each day. He is supposed to start taking the predisone tomorrow, but I am unsure if he should, since he had the shot today. But the regular doctor prescribed it. We dont have a natural doctor as we can't afford one. Its unfortunately much, much cheaper to go to the regular medical doctors here. He also does work in the woods, where he gets the poison ivy, and he had a little bout of asthma a few times, a few years ago, like your son. And he does usually get poison ivy pretty bad about once a year. I will get him the stinging nettle. Thats a great suggestion. Thanks! Did you also follow up with the prednisone after the steroid shot? and do you recommend certain vitamins at this time? currently he does not take any vitamins. I started him this morning on a Vit C and L-lysine. I am not sure if that is the best supplements for him to take, I am looking into starting him on: Magnesium, Vit C, L-lysine, Iron, Zinc, B vitamins. What do you suggest? Thank you so much! - Steph
Replied by Lolly (Tennessee) on 03/14/2016
If it is a severe reaction with oozing or lesions or gets in the eyes bring him to the doctor. Otherwise a $40 tube of Zanfel at any pharmacy can work wonders. My roomie went to the doctor and got steroids but it was the Zanfel that stopped his misery. Cheaper lotions didn't help. Some also recommend in addition to taking Aveeno oatmeal baths (maybe you can make your own).Replied by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 03/14/2016
Dear Stephanie,The last time I had a child with severe poison ivy, he had a shot and I did give him the internal steroids as well and frankly, with no looking back!
Vitamin C and L-lysine are a great idea. Yes, all the ones you mention are great and things I typically try to get into my children when something is acute. (Though maybe I have waited until after the steroids since I don't want to work against what they are doing...now I don't recall.)
Another great thing to help the immune system after he gets past this is milk kefir. It is kind of pricey to buy it already made but it isn't hard to make and is so helpful for lots of conditions.
Hopefully he will start feeling much better soon! My son would get it so badly on his face we would fear it would never look okay again, but it always does. Amazing how skin can heal.
~Mama to Many~
Replied by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn.) on 03/14/2016
HI ALL,,,,,,,,,,, for some unknown reason you can get poison ivy off and on during your life. Have no answer for that.Told this story before, but have no evidence to back it up. A couple in one of my EDTA Chelation groups told us that chewing on young poison ivy leaves would soon make you immune to this ailment. It a homeopathic thing. All in the group were spooked to do that. They said it must be young leaves.
How 'bout some of you trying that and let me know. No, I run my mouth, so I will do just that. I'm getting bored with my cancer and back treatments anyway.
=======ORH=======
Replied by Lolly (Tennessee) on 03/15/2016
One more thing, if you are on a budget and $40 is too much for a tube of Zanfel, I have read there is a similar product that is as effective for half the price, it's called "Mean Green Hand Scrub." Hope this helps end your sons misery soon.
