Treating Poison Oak and Poison Ivy
- Aunt Plantsy
- Jul 28
- 4 min read
I’ve been asked if we have poison ivy, poison oak and/or poison sumac in Yavapai County. This got me wondering, since a lot of us are often out and about hiking to get fresh air and stay healthy.
Following is some information on the different Toxicodendron species. These are the poison oaks, poison ivies, and poison sumacs. If you want to jump ahead to read about some natural ways to treat these, go to the bottom of this page.
To quote our retired Yavapai County extension agent from one of his Backyard Gardener articles: “In the Verde Valley, we have poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) along the river, creeks, and ditches. It is not common, but creek walkers should learn to recognize and avoid it.”
The poison ivy he mentions is also known as Eastern poison ivy and, while it is not as common as Western poison ivy and not included in our Yavapai County plant database, it is in that area. This reliable website gives you more information and a nice feature (an interactive map that you can click on and blow up) that shows you where in Yavapai County it has been reported to be found: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxon=Toxicodendron+radicans&formsubmit=Search+Terms#.
Toxicodendron rydbergii (Western poison ivy) grows in much of the West. It can also be found throughout the United States. In fact, this poison ivy can be found at Lynx Creek and Grapevine Canyon, and is included in our Yavapai County plant database here: https://cals.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetail.php?genus=Toxicodendron&species=rydbergii.
This website has amazing photos: https://www.poison-ivy.org/western-poison-ivy.
A few other people in different forums have claimed to have seen poison ivy in the Groom Creek area and other mountainous areas with ponderosa pines. When our daughter worked in the emergency room, she treated a few patients with poison ivy as well.
As for poison oak and poison sumac, you will most likely never run into these in Yavapai County.
Toxicodendron diversilobum (Pacific poison oak) is found almost entirely in California. This website has amazing photos and information: https://www.poison-ivy.org/pacific-poison-oak.
Another website, https://poisonivy.aesir.com/, says “Toxicodendron diversilobum… is primarily found in the western most states of California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.”
Toxicodendron radicans (Eastern poison ivy) is the most widespread of these plants and is found in Arizona and grows as a vine. … “Both plants have similar characteristics and are often mistaken for the other.”
Toxicodendron vernix (known as poison sumac) is not found in Arizona. It is rare and found usually in wetland habitats. Here is a link with more information: www.poison-ivy.org/poison-sumac.
Several of these websites also offer tips for treatment in case you come in contact with poison ivy.
And, while remembering the quote “Leaves of three – leave it be” is a good rule of thumb, you will notice on the poison-ivy.org website that the plants don’t always play by the rules, so become familiar with them and be careful out there!
In my herbalism course, we have covered how to naturally treat poison oak and poison ivy. Here are a few things you can do for yourself if you get into a jam.
1) Don’t touch anything or anyone because it can spread and don’t itch or scratch for that same reason.
2) If you have some Fels Napththa soap, wash the area well with that but avoid using hot water or taking a hot shower because the heat will activate the oils and help spread the rash.
3) Don’t put on any salves or oils because the oils will cause it to spread. Instead, I might suggest taking a lukewarm bath with baking soda and soak in it for some relief.
4) You might also apply yogurt on your skin where the rash is because it will act as an astringent to dry the rash out.
5) For nervous reactions, you can drink herbal tea of Valerian root and White Willow bark.
The recipe for this tea is: 2 parts Valerian root and 2 parts White Willow bark.
To prepare this tea, infuse the Valerian root overnight since you cannot decoct this root. You could also add the White Willow bark and infuse them together overnight to have a strong tea. If you need the tea faster than that, you will need to infuse them both for about 45 minutes. Pour a quart of boiling water over the herbs and let them infuse for 45 minutes with a tight cover on top. Strain and drink 3 to 4 cups per day until symptoms subside.
6) If you want to apply a clay paste, mix clay with water and/or apple cider vinegar until it forms a paste. Then apply that to the rash and leave it on until it completely dries. Rinse it off after it dries with cool water – not hot water because that will cause irritation. Don’t scrub it off, but rather use soaked cloths to help soften it and then rinse it off.
7) Avoid eating any sweets, fruits, or juices because these could cause irritation.
8) Or, if you have the materials available, make a liniment and have it on hand for such emergencies.
The recipe for this herbal liniment is 1 part of Golden Seal root, 1 part Myrrh powder, and 1/4 part Cayenne powder. Add 1 pint (or 1/2 pint depending on your measurements) of rubbing alcohol to the herbs and make sure it is covered by a few inches. Shake this daily to distribute the powders from the bottom of the jar and let it sit in a warm area for at least 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, strain out the liquid and apply this frequently or as often as needed. You can even dilute this with cold water if it burns.
Other treatments that I’ve read about (i.e.: herbal teas, clay mixture, herbal liniment, poison oak tincture, or clay mint toothpaste) could also be an option. Worst case scenario if you are out in the woods with nothing … use your own urine! Seriously.
Photo credit goes to master gardener, Sue Smith.
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