The intense itching you feel happens as the blisters swell, literally ripping the top layer of skin away from your body. Anything that dilates pores or capillary beds will increase the speed of swelling in your skin, and therefore aggravate your itch. As a kid, I remember pouring hot water on my poison ivy to 'numb' it. But after I studied Ayurveda, I realized the foolishness of this habit. Heat increases blood flow and the size of the blisters, not to mention the speed at which poison ivy spreads. Anything that makes you sweat will agitate your itch. Even thinking about sitting in the sun makes me feel itchy all over with memories of poison ivy rashes. Instead, keep cool and dry.

My dad swears by this remedy: "Go to the beach and rub sand over the blisters until they pop. Then go swimming in the salt water. The salt water burns like hell, but it will dry up the blisters fast." I've never tried this technique, so I can't vouch for it, but it sounds interesting. Ayurvedically, the best way to combat something that is hot and wet is with something cool and dry. An air-conditioned room. A cold shower.

Foods that taste sour (lemons), spicy (cayenne), or aromatic (mint) make you sweat. These foods will send salty sweat to the already damp, hot area, aggravating your rash. Other common diaphoretic (sweaty) herbs include household spices ginger, chili pepper, black pepper, cinnamon, bay leaf, and garlic. Oily or overly sweet foods thicken your blood and could cause lymphatic congestion. These should be avoided as well.

Instead, favor cool, bitter herbs like cilantro, fennel, & carraway. Cilantro is also a drying refrigerant with anti-inflammatory qualities. It is quite detoxifying and can be used both internally and topically for rashes. In fact, it works best when you do both at the same time! Cilantro has anti-histamine effects, meaning it directly calms the immune system. It is a traditional remedy for rashes like summer poison-ivy, allergy related hives, and simple sunburns.

The astringency of pomegranates, cranberries, hibiscus, raspberry leaf and witch hazel will cool down an angry rash (topically or internally). Astringency constricts vessels, to directly reduce swelling and itching.

Adverse reactions to poison ivy point to a weak liver, so common in modern society. The liver is responsible for detoxifying the blood. Toxins from pharmaceuticals, poor digestion, drug use or long term illnesses are stored in the liver. As the liver gets weaker and your levels of toxicity rise, any irritant could provoke a hair trigger histamine response with angry intensity. You may react strongly to a simple mosquito bite or develop adverse reactions to foods. On the other hand once you start to detoxify, you may notice that reactions to bug bites or poisonous plants are much less intense.

Weak liver is a Vata disorder. If your liver is weak and you have multiple sensitivities, try strawberries, blueberries and other liver tonics to strengthen your liver. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, tobacco and other toxins. Nourish your liver with coconut oil, & applesauce. Ayurveda offers excellent methods to heal the liver, and that's how I healed my allergies to both poison ivy and cats.

A great remedy for criticism is appreciation. You can start by appreciating all the wonderful gifts of poison ivy. As an herb poison ivy is a potent though rather harsh lymphatic cleanser (literally oozing your lymph out through the skin). If you can't appreciate the herbal benefits of poison ivy, love poison ivy for its ability to protect the fragility of nature. Start calling it sister ivy, instead of a poison. The epidemic of poison ivy is not murphy's law or fundamental to God's way. Rather, it is an appropriate reaction to desecration of the land.

Urban legends and folktales of poison ivy abound - such as the horror of peeing or pooping in the woods and using a leaf to wipe yourself. There's even a saying, "leaves of three let it be" (although usually plants with three leaves are peas, not poison ivy). Fear is an even greater immune stimulant than anger. Since ancient times, people have feared nature (ticks, poison ivy, and 'spirits in the woods'). Yet, nature is also the source of nurture and nourishment, if you can bear with the loss of control you feel in the wild. To overcome your fear of poison ivy, sit near to it (without touching), and say something sweet to a nearby poison ivy plant. It may sound silly, but it worked for me!

Note: Avoid burning poison ivy, inhalation of which can be fatal. Although we hear of some brave individuals who expose themselves to micro-doses of poison ivy through ingestion, this is often fatal. Never eat poison ivy.