A: All it took was one caller to the show this past weekend to reignite the conversation about a dreaded plant in the garden... poison ivy!

Glyphosate (ie: Roundup) is a non-selective weed killer that is a foliar spray on unwanted plants. Careful when applying this to poison ivy because it could also damage desired plants nearby. If you’d prefer a more targeted herbicide, BioAdvanced brush killer works for me every time.

Some listeners have shared great suggestions for prevention and for soothing:

Fels Naptha- a drying laundry soap, but use on your skin

Ivory soap- again, the drying agent gets to the oils

JR Watkins liniment oil- I haven’t researched this one

Jewelweed- a caller said its sap relieves the itch

Tecnu- should pay me because I promote it so much, LOL, has both cleansers and anti-itch products

Poison Ivy drops, found at Newton Homeopathics in Conyers

Rubbing alcohol- if you’re in a pinch, try this household staple!

And this from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration dispels some of the common assumptions about poison ivy.

©2023 Cox Media Group