Inspired by a Rash.

A friend of mine posted a photo of her legs covered in a horrendously looking painful rash. They are treating her for Uticaria (Hives). 

My legs every summer end up covered in some type of dermatitis, rash, poison, and hives, because I just refuse to stay inside away from things that cause me allergic reactions. I feel her pain. Though, my outbreaks are generally much smaller than hers, they have at times brought me to tears with discomfort.  Those of you who know me well, know that I’m not easily brought to tears over skin discomfort.

In lieu, of all this it got me thinking, what exactly can you do for rashes, hives, poison etc. Yes ladies and gents I broke out the books!

Ayurvedic Herbology -

Coriander 1 cup boiling water onto 1 teaspoon bruised seeds let infuse in closed pot for 5 minutes.  Drink before meals

Fresh cilantro is one of the best home remedies for cooling the blood and relieving hot itchy rashes such as hives and poison Ivy. Blend a cup of fresh cilantro leaves in a blender with just enough water to make it semi-thick paste then apply to the rash and hives. Also, cilantro juice can be squeezed out from the pulp and gently rubbed onto the rash and left to dry

The Complete Herbs Source Book
 

Herb bath

Echinacea            2 parts

Jamaican dogwood         1 part

Oats       1 part

Passion flower   1 part

St johns wort     1 part

Balerian                1 part

Eat a Vitamin B complex rich diet

National Geographic Guide to Medicinal Herbs

Use a soap, cream, ointment, salves, or lotion with extracts of Calendula flower

Please note that if you are allergic to plants in the Asteraceae family this will cause a rash.

Witch Hazel is a natural skin astringent and will help with some rashes/ skin out breaks

Edible and Medicinal Plants

The Native Americans used cattails medicinally by applying the jelly from between the young leaves to wounds, sores, carbuncles, external inflammations, and boils, to soothe pain.

The Wild & Weedy Apothecary

Bath of the sea

Equal parts

Epsom salts

Baking soda

Sea salt

Place several scoops (coffee scoop size) of combined salts into a warm running bath. Then take a small handful of granulated kelp (seaweed) and tie it in a large muslin bag and place in the tub while its running. Don’t be tempted to completely fill the bag with kelp – it expands to almost double.

Kelp has the ability to draw out impurities through the skin while nourishing through the skin at the same time. The salts will not only soften the skin but also reduce inflammation, aches, and pains!

Plantain

Mash plantain leaves and apply to all manner of common irritations. It works on nettle rash, sunburn, bleeding, stings, bruises, bites, and so on.

For larger areas you can make a tea out of the leaf, dip a soft cloth in the tea and lay the cloth on the affected area.

Yarrow

Take one big handful of dried yarrow and simmer in 1 quart of water for ten minutes, then strain into the tub. Used to relieve pain from inflammation