Does anyone have a remedy for a Stinging Nettle rash?

[Blue Belle]

I think that's what I tangled with today - a stinging nettle bush. I was doing the SOLVE River Clean-up and wound up with this blistering rash pulsing down my forearm. Completely freaked out, I went to the emergency room and was promptly given (after an hour and a half of waiting) some hydrocortisone creme which seems to have only made the burning/stinging worse. I've lived in the Pacific Northwest my whole life and have never had this sort of reaction to a plant before - this rash looked like something off of "X-Files". Anyway, it's driving me absolutely bat-shit crazy. Does anyone know of any remedies?

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Before the lock, if you have aloe, use it.

Back when I would tangle with nettles, I'd break a piece off the aloe plant and rub it directly on the stings - perfectly gone, immediately.

However, I've never a "go to the hospital" nettle rash, so I could be wrong.

[RevolutionaryActs]

2. Yup, fresh aloe.

And I had my share of nettle stings as a tomboy growing up in the boonies.

[Blue Belle]

3. Well, When I got home...

I immediately washed the Hydrocortisone creme off and put aloe on it and it felt a little better. I've also been using a little ice and it and the swelling seems to have gone down. but it still burns like hell.

[otherlander]

4. Nettles....

Nettles...
Ah, the joys of nettles...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5403198817393633119&q=nettles

[SPKrazy]

5. take some LSD, or psilocybin mushrooms

and look at it again in about 30 min.

tell us if it looks any better :P

[skygazer]

6. I don't know if jewelweed grows where you are

But that's what I've always used. Very good for poison oak or ivy and especially stinging nettle.

http://altnature.com/jewelweed.htm

[KitchenWitch]

7. Check your PM!

:)

on edit - ignore the hc cream stuff in the PM

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. What about calamine lotion? Or a paste of baking soda or oatmeal?

[Nikia]

9. It goes away a lot faster than poision ivy

At least that was true for my sister and I. If you were me, by now it should have mostly run its course.
If you are not as lucky, see the others advice.

[conscious evolution]

10. Pee on it

The uric acid does something.
Or try soy sauce.Or A1 or hienz 57.

It all sounds crazy but it works for a lot of stuff like that.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. You might try Aveeno colloidal oatmeal products...

Jewelweed is the classic on-the-spot remedy. It likes the same environment as nettle, so it's often found nearby.
But since you're home now, that's probably impractical.

[Louis C. Phurye]

12. Just plain water. Don't use anything else.

It's actually a resin that is reacting with your skin. just continue to wash off with plain water.