How to Treat Poison Oak in the Wilderness

With the possible exception of a grizzly bear attack, nothing ruins a hike or camping trip more than poison oak. Normally, you can treat poison oak with over-the-counter medication or a trip to the doctor, but if you're out in the wilderness, those options simply aren't available. You can treat poison oak in the wilderness mainly by proper preparation.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hiking clothes
• Tecnu or topical ointment
• Protective lotion
• Cold presses
• Ice
• Clean cloth

1. Dress appropriately. Before setting out on your trip, make sure you pack clothes that don't reveal a lot of bare skin and shoes that can handle a lot of walking. Blue jeans and hiking boots make excellent deterrents against poison oak, as do long-sleeved shirts made of flannel or similar durable materials.

2. Pack anti-poison oak medication with you. Topical medications like Tecnu are available over the counter and come in easy-to-carry sizes.

3. Apply protective lotion before you leave. Creams such as Ivy Block and similar medication help block the toxic oils secreted by poison oak, affording you an extra layer of protection.

4. Keep a sharp eye out for poison oak during your hike or camping trip. You can identify it by its three-leaf configuration (the source of the famous adage "leaves of three, leave them be.") Spotting it early means avoiding brushing up against it as you walk.

5. Wash the affected area thoroughly as soon as you can reach water. The sooner you treat poison oak, the less chance it has of becoming a problem. Soap may help in the early stages, but after about 30 minutes, the urushiol oil has bonded to the skin, and applications of soap will likely just spread it further.

6. Apply ice or cold compresses to the affected area. Poison oak rashes soak up the moisture of the skin and heat it up considerably. Keeping the skin cool and moist may alleviate the worst symptoms.

7. Search for natural remedies that may be nearby. American Indians used the resin from gum plants (grindelia robusta or grindelia camporum) to alleviate the conditions. The resin can be found on the unopened flowers of the plant. Crushed aloe vera leaves and boiled leaves of yerba santa shrubs may also aid in the treatment of poison oak.

8. Avoid scratching or itching the skin. It will spread the toxic oil further and make the problem worse.

9. Thoroughly wash all clothes and tools that come into contact with poison oak. Urushiol gets on clothing as well as skin and can spread from there when someone touches it.

Tips & Warnings

• If poison oak affects someone in your party, consider cutting the trip short and seeking medical attention. Though minor cases can be endured on a wilderness trip, serious inflammation needs a doctor's care.

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[Yibbie]

on 5/8/2009 I like your article, I would like you to know that I have also written an article on this subject that shows how to treat poison ivy by using the Native American Remedy. So if your interetsted check it out!