The bane of anyone who enjoys the great outdoors, poison ivy could be a real annoyance for Native Americans. The plant contains a powerful oil that can be intensely irritating when it touches the skin. What’s more, the oil is extremely long-lasting, remaining active for months or even years. This means that even when people didn’t touch poison ivy directly, they could still get a rash by touching something that once did, like clothing or a tool handle.
The Native Americans didn’t waste time scratching; they came up with effective remedies for poison ivy. One of their favorites was impatiens, also known as jewelweed. The frail blossoms can be mashed and applied directly to the skin to stop itching. Other plants, including aloe, bearberry, willow, and sassafras are also helpful.
This Effective Remedies For Poison Ivy article is taken from :
Healing Secrets of the Native Americans - Porter Shimer
