Maybe this will help.... There are many ways to use Peach tree leaves to treat poison vegetation human reactions. They (poison ivy, oak, sumac, and others) all cause a reaction from the same chemical. Oddly, peach leaves also cure (in my opinion and experience) many kinds of skin ailments. Some old folks did the tincture or liniment method... Some of which are great, many though are just "snake oil". This treatment I know works, and ya don't have to waste good vodka to prepare it
But I do believe that peach leaf liniment is great for winter skin irritation, or if you can't get fresh peach leaves (peaches don't grow everywhere, so liniment, or tincture are a viable but less effective alternatives that last for years and work if done properly---(Not the youtube /herbology method)
Here's the easy summer method.... simply find a large stock pot and pack it full of peach tree leaves, then cover with water and boil (adding water as necessary). Boil for at least 1/2 hour (preferably longer - 2 hours if you plan to bottle & store it frozen for later use) Then pour the water into a tub and fill with hot/warm water and soak, """"YES SOAK for at least 20 minutes""" I sometimes boil three pots of leaves for more/faster/better results... seed ticks usually back out (too weird when you see their carcusses in the water), chiggers are eradicated and the chemical they inject that causes skin eruptions later is neutralized, if an infection has begun, it is (in my experience halted on the spot)... This is a cure in my opinion for most near surface infections and reactions. It has worked in deeper infections too. I can't tell you the why's and How's... I can tell you my grandma saved me many times with this from simple "free" remedy from the hell of infection, rashes, bites and worst of all - calamine lotion - Not to mention heavy antibiotics (mom took me to doctors, doctors actually made it worse, grandma fixed it in less than an hour, Mom is still alive and says grandma was right.... AND it has saved friends in the midst of horrible seed tick infestations, no-see-ums, mosquitoes, fire ant and even major multiple infected bites, poison plants, psoriasis, eczema etc... they never believe it works, till they try it... For a regular stock pot it takes at a minimum as many peach leaves as you can stuff "AND I do mean stuff" in a t-shirt bag (Walmart bag "we used a regular brown paper grocery bag in my youth") For my large stock pot I use twice as many. I actually dump leaves and all into the tub and use a straining mesh to drain the tub to keep it as strong as possible. The weaker your peach water the longer you should soak. Oddly it often (in my experience always) has immediate effects, thus the reason I consider it a cure, If I take a bath and no longer have a rash I'd call that a cure... But the FDA might not agree... Hope this helps someone... BTW Peach leaf baths smell like almonds. I am not chemist, biologist, or a doctor, and I can't say to do this, I can't say it's safe... I can say I have done it throughout my life (ain't no spring chicken), and I have had nothing but a good experience from it... DO NOT CONSIDER THIS MEDICAL ADVICE! This is just my opinion on something that I personally use. BTW, for best results I sometimes boil three pots to add to one bath (but many don't have as many stock pots as I do) I have never hurt a peach tree taking the leaves, heck I need to go harvest our peaches, they are ready
