Condition
Treatment Support
immune stimulant
Application
homeopathic preparation only
Poison Oak
(Rhus toxidendron)
Botanical Information
A shrub which can grow up to six feet with shiny leaflets in three’s from the Cashew family. Poison ivy from the eastern U.S. is similar.
Working with Poison Oak
Part(s) Used
Leaf
Herb Forms
Homeopathic tablets.
Rhus tox is used in homeopathic preparations for contact dermatitis and rheumatism. It has also been used for genital herpes and herpes zoster, laryngitis, and mumps.
To treat poison oak or ivy rashes, try these recipes; apply several times daily on the affected areas, and take immune stimulants (echinacea), and blood purifiers (red clover, burdock root, yellow dock root, Oregon grape root) internally as a tea or tincture:
1. Mugwort vinegar–infuse 1 oz of mugwort herb in 10 oz of apple-cider vinegar.
2. Grindelia (gum-plant) tincture–rub 5-10 drops on the rash in the evening to prevent spreading and lower irritation.
3. Clay and Peppermint cream–blend 5-10 drops of peppermint oil in a creamy mixture of skin-colored cosmetic clay (available in most natural food stores) and a salt-water solution. Spread the cream on thickly and replace every 4 or 5 hours.
4. Apply the tincture of jewelweed (Impatiens spp.) externally and take the drops internally.
5. Apply the tincture or oil of St. John’s Wort liberally to the affected area several times a day as an anti-inflammatory.
Cautions
Direct contact with this plant can cause skin rash.
Conditions treated with Poison Oak
Condition
Treatment Support
Application
The information given here is designed to help you make informed choices about your health. The information is drawn from numerous sources—both traditional medicine practice, from the clinical experience of many herbalists currently practicing, and supported by decades of scientific research from the author. The research most consulted includes human clinical trials that help to determine the most effective and safe herbs for various needs, the best doses, and types of preparations.
The information offered in this database is not intended as a substitute for any that may have been prescribed by your health practitioner or physician.
