Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Adopted Motto

"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Jewelweed ~ Milk Weed ~ Poison Ivy Remedies


This is the jewelweed solution prepared by an acquaintance.  She simply boiled it in water, strained it and cooled it.  She gifted it to us in an old soda bottle.


We simply apply it with a cotton ball.  It's helped dry up Hubby's hands, but the rash is worse in other places.  I read up on jewelweed and the actual "juices" of the plant work best, and before, the rash appears.  Now this plant has me curious.  I'm reading all sorts of information on it.    



As for my own poison ivy, I opted to try the milk weed. 
I walked out to the pasture, pulled a few milk weed leaves and applied the milk to my ivy rash.  On contact, it burned a bit.  When Hubby got home from work, his rash was worse and irritated (his hands were dried up however).  So, he walked out and applied milk weed on his rash too.   He had been using a tube of Ivy Dry (has used up two tubes) all day, and it was not giving him much relief.  He's also been using Technu shower scrub (cost him $12), and again, no quick relief.  He works out in the heat at work, so the heat makes his even worse.




The milk weed burns, but it dries a layer over the rash.  We left it there overnight, washing it off with soap and water in the morning.  

I saw a difference right away with my rash.  Hubby's worst areas healed much faster too.  The milk weed does speed up the healing process.  It helps dry up the rash and gives relief to the itch.

8 comments:

Mama Pea said...

Seems like the "natural" remedies are the best, doesn't it? And certainly cost less!

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Mam Pea, I had no clue that milk weed worked. Now, I just have to remember where he pulled the ivy vines so I can watch out for those.

Kim said...

Kristina, the jewelweed works best if pulled and crushed in your hands and rubbed onto the affected areas as soon as you realize you have been into the poison ivy. And the crazy part about jewelweed is it almost always is growing near the poison ivy patch! Check it out!

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Thanks Kim. I don't have jewelweed here, and it's odd considering the river behind us and the wet ground too. I'll have to look for it next time I'm out visiting other places too.

RB said...

This is all good to know. Wonder if milkweed would work on fire ant bites. I've literally got dozens of scars on my feet and ankles from the darn things biting me through the years, especially this year.
God bless.
RB
<><

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

RB, the milkweed dried up our poison ivy very quickly. I might work on those bites too.

RB said...

Good to know about the milkweed. Found a blog on Jewelweed that does some mighty healing too that you might be interested in.
The url is:
http://www.blindpigandtheacorn.com/blind_pig_the_acorn/2015/09/jewelweed-blooms.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BlindPigTheAcorn+%28Blind+Pig+And+The+Acorn%29

I hope you'll take a look.

God bless.

RB
<><

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

RB, I'll have to check that you. Thanks.