Plantain: Poison Ivy Relief in Your Own Backyard
Written by Debra Kirchhof-Glazier, Member
Summer brings many good things to life. Poison ivy is not one of them. Luckily, however, summer brings relief from this scourge- right in your own backyard.
Earlier this month I experienced a bad case of poison ivy and found only temporary relief from liberal applications of Caladryl. During this time I was visited by a native American friend, who noticed my condition and told me he could fix me up in a few minutes. I was skeptical, but followed him outside to my yard where he located some plantain leaves. The treatment he gave me immediately stopped the itching and within hours the healing was obvious. I was so amazed that I feel compelled to pass on this simple technique to readers of the Natural Connection.
Plantain (pronounced “plan’- ten”-easy to remember, since I would give this little plant a “10”!) is a member of the genus Plantago. The variety my friend identified for my poison ivy treatment was Plantago major, a form of the plant with wide oval-shaped leaves that form a circular cluster on the ground. A nice picture of plantain, as well as information about the botanical uses of the plant and a link to pictures of poison ivy can be found at http://altnature.com/gallery/plantain.htm
Plantain has long been used by herbalists as a natural medicine. It has a wide range of therapeutic effects. Plantain generally induces cooling and drying and has been used as an antiseptic, an anti-inflammatory agent, a diuretic, and a treatment for urinary and respiratory tract infections. The leaves are prepared in various ways, depending on the condition being treated. Plantain can be taken as a tea, prepared as a liquid extract, or used as a poultice on wounds or to draw out splinters.
The technique for poison ivy treatment with plantain involves a variation on the poultice method of preparation. It is a bit tedious but simple. Pick about 10 leaves from a shaded spot (to ensure good fluid content). Tear them into small bits, put them in your palm, and macerate them by pushing with your thumb for about 3 minutes until fluid starts to flow out of the leaves. This is the tedious but interesting part. The leaves feel dry at first, and it takes a good deal of thumb action to release the fluid. Once this occurs, rub the wet leaf mass on all areas affected by the poison ivy. If you have a bad case you will need to be patient, as it will take several preparations to cover all the affected skin. If you have sensitive skin, are prone to allergies, or are taking medication for a severe case of poison ivy, consult your doctor before trying this technique.
Within a few minutes my blisters changed color from an angry red to brown and the itching stopped. The next day I was amazed at how much healing had taken place. I did not need to reapply the treatment.
The best treatment for poison ivy is prevention. But if you cannot avoid this vexing plant, I hope that you can take advantage of the plantain in your backyard and experience the relief that inspired me to write this article. Enjoy the rest of your summer!
The Huntingdon Health and Wellness Association makes no medical claims or recommendations. Check with your doctor about your specific health care needs.