antidote

Pronunciation: AN ti doat

Audio pronunciation: hear antidote pronounced

Definition: A substance that acts to neutralize a poison or its effects.

• chemical: reacts with a poison to produce an inert or less harmless substance.



• mechanical: prevents the absorption of a poison.



• physiologic: produces the opposite effect caused by a poison after it has already been absorbed.

Herbal antidotes:

• Activated charcoal works mechanically by absorbing most toxic substances in the stomach before they are absorbed by the body.

  It might be a bit of a stretch to think of this as an herb. But after all, it is made from trees which are nothing more than really big herbs! Well, maybe not in the strictest sense of the word, but close! ;-)

  Anyway, this is something that should be in every first aid kit because it is so effective. I have never had to use it on one of my family members, but I did save the life of one of our baby goats with it.

  Twice actually! He was not on the particularly bright side...I found him staggering around the field foaming at the mouth. I was able to identify what he had eaten by the leaves in his mouth (rhododendrons which are highly toxic).

  I put activated charcoal in olive oil and put it down his throat with a turkey baster. After several treatments, he was back to normal! I have kept it on hand ever since.

  It is also effective in case of food poisoning as it absorbs the toxins given off by the bacterias' metabolic processes.

  The more you learn about activated charcoal, the more you will want to have it in your house! You can purchase it in tablet form at Wal-Marts and other drug stores, and in bulk at most health food stores.

• Jewelweed works chemically by neutralizing the toxins in poison ivy, poison oak, urticaria caused by an external irritant, stinging nettle rash and other types of contact dermatitis. It literally stops the rash from ever developing!

All parts of the plant will work, but I like to use the stem best.

Pull up the plant, then slit open the stem by running your thumbnail down its length. The stem is semi-hollow, quite succulent and juicy, so this is easy to do. Then rub the juices on the area that was touched by the poison ivy. As long as you cover the entire area exposed, you will have no rash! I promise! It's wonderful!!

But what if you don't know you have been exposed in time to use the antidote? Jewelweed works after-the-fact as well to relieve the burning sting and itch of poison ivy better than anything else available.

Try it! You will be amazed at the results!

Once you learn to identify jewelweed you will be surprised how often you find it growing right along side the poison ivy or at least somewhere nearby.

It has sure taken the fear out of my many tramps in the woods! Now I march along with reckless abandon enjoying every minute without worrying about poison ivy!




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