Outdoor
Survival Tips
by
Jenny Boice
Your best ally against poison ivy is
jewelweed. Jewelweed has been used
for centuries to relieve skin irritation caused by poison ivy, poison oak or
other plant rashes. Jewelweed works
by neutralizing the chemicals these plants leave behind.
Just slice the stem long ways to open it then rub the juice from the stem
directly onto the skin. The juice
quickly relieves the itch, reduces the swelling and stops the rash from
spreading.
Jewelweed often grows near poison ivy
or stinging nettles. So if you are
in the woods, think you’ve been exposed to poison ivy and can locate some
Jewelweed, you are in luck. It likes
moist soil so you can usually find it near creek beds or in moist areas in the
woods. It is easy to identify
because it is tall and has a thick, hollow, juicy stem.
It grows anywhere from 2-4 feet tall and has distinctive orange to red
funnel-shaped flowers. See the
picture above.
Fortunately,
your best ally for stings is a very common weed and can be found all around you.
Plantain is one of the top two
“weeds” that grows in most any lawn. The
other is dandelion. There are two
types of plantain that grow in our area, broad leaf and lance leaf. One type has
a rounded leaf. The other has a longer, skinnier leaf. They can be
used interchangeably. The best way
to identify plantain leaves is that their veins are parallel, rather than
branching off in many directions.
If
you get stung take a few fresh leaves, crush or chew them and apply the chewed
leaves directly to the sting. Hold
it in place with a band-aid or gauze and repeat
if necessary. Plantain has amazing
drawing power and will bring quick relief. Plantain
is an anti-inflammatory substance that can kill germs, speed wound healing, and
stimulate the growth of new skin cells. It
can also be used for cuts, bug bites, and may even help with poison ivy if you
can’t locate any Jewelweed. Be
sure to gather Plantain away from the side of the road or in places where
chemicals are sprayed.
Another
handy tip is to use plants to repel mosquitoes!
Consider inviting Catnip, Basil, Rosemary and Marigold to your cookouts
this summer. These plants give off
fragrances that mosquitoes don’t like. Plant
them near the entrances to your home, near your patio or deck and throughout the
yard. The cats can feast on the
Catnip and you can feast on the Rosemary and Basil all summer long. Marigolds
can also be planted in the garden to help ward off bugs without using
insecticides.
I
hope you find these tips useful. Be
sure to check out our website for Poison Ivy Remedy, Bite Balm, Sting Stick and
bug repellent. All of these products
are all natural, hand-made and safe for kids.
Disclaimer:
This article is for educational purposes only.
Jenny
is the owner of Divine Creationz. She
is a Clinical Master Herbalist. She
provides personal health consultations. She
specializes in making individualized herbal formulas.
Jenny is also a certified Reconnective Healing practitioner.
Jenny has been doing energy work for 3.5 years.
www.DivineCreationz.com