Poison Ivy nature provides the itch, and the cure

PRIME – July 2014 By Jonathan Evans Herbal Information Specialist for the Herbarium Happy summer folks! If you are one of the many people who tried to do some outdoor activities and found yourself with poison ivy, do not despair. If you are out and come in contact with poison ivy, look around for a pretty little plant called jewel weed (Impatiens capensis) Usually found in moist areas, it also is usually in close proximity to the poison ivy ... ain't Mother Nature grand? Jewel weed has beautiful orange flowers, serrated leaves and a thick, fibrous and juicy stalk. Ask permission of the plant before you pick it, (seriously), then crush the stalk, and rub the juice on the affected area. It is Nature's best remedy for poison ivy and poison oak. Find a picture of it so you can be prepared. If botany is not your strong suit, there are homeopathic remedies that work very well, and truth be told, one of the ingredients in the remedy is actually a very dilute form of poison ivy. Another remedy/ treatment that should be in your natural first aid kit is green clay. Mix with water to make a thin paste and coat the affected area. It will help draw the blisters and soothe the itch. I find it works better than calamine lotion. Health study updates Here are some stories I ran across in my reading. You may have missed these, as there was not a lot of coverage. A Harvard study showed fluoridated water contributed to lower IQ scores in children. You would think that kind of information would stir some controversy and discussion. It also explains a lot. A report came out detailing children as young as 2 and 3-years-old are being given medications for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) There are more than 10,000 little ones on these powerful medications. And, worse than that, we only know about these kids because they are on Medicaid. There are no numbers available for people with private insurance. Has anyone looked at the diet of these children? How about supplements? Good grief! The egg controversy continues and here is a story to warm my heart. A 2012 study from Canada concluded eating one egg a day was as bad for the heart as smoking. That study drew sharp criticism from cardiologists and nutritionists. The researchers admitted they only had a vague idea of how many yolks subjects were eating.(Remember my previous story about studies?) Just in the nick of time, researchers from the University of Connecticut (UConn), Storrs School of Nutrition, report the yolk is high in absorbable lutein and zeaxanthin and the often-maligned cholesterol from the yolk appears to have very little effect on a person's cholesterol and triglycerides. Besides the whites contain inositol and choline, which helps keep the cholesterol in suspension. Eggs, it appears, are a nearly perfect food. high in easily-digested protein, antioxidants and so much more. One thing I noticed was a possible relationship between people that stopped eating egg yolks, and the rise in macular degeneration. The yolk contains the carotenoids that are the best for the eyes. We stopped eating them and bam – eye problems. I always felt it was not the egg that was a problem, but the bacon fat or sausages we were eating with the egg. Score another win for UConn. Plantar warts A reader sent in a question about a common foot problem. As it's summer, a time when many of us pay more attention to our feet, I thought the answer might be helpful to readers. Dear Jonathan, My daughter has plantars warts on her feet. The doctor wants to burn them off and I am not too comfortable with that idea. Is there anything you could suggest before we go that route? – Angela Dear Angela, One remedy that has been tried and is successful is using mullein oil or garlic and mullein oil topically. First soak the feet to soften the warts. Rough them up with an emery board or pumice stone, then apply the oil. Cover with a pad and wait. If it is not too painful to do this during the day, great. If not, make sure to really saturate the pad at bedtime and leave it on all night. The mullein penetrates down and helps to promote new skin growth, while the garlic is working to kill the virus. The wart slowly comes to the surface and literally falls out, root and all. It usually takes about six weeks for the oil to do its job. – Jonathan Herbs and pets I have written several stories about how helpful milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is for the liver. It is also good for pets. One of our customers came in to tell about her 11-year-old cat with liver failure that was just about to be put down. The veterinarian used one-eighth teaspoon. of milk thistle powder per day and within a month the cat was not only back to normal, but her owner said she was bouncing around like a youngster! Jonathan Please send your questions on botanical remedies to Natures Rx. You can reach Jonathan Evans via email at herbarium258@gmail.com, or by regular mail by sending your questions to: The Herbarium, 264 Exchange St., Chicopee, Mass. 01013. If requesting additional information from Evans, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your questions.