Are there medicinal uses for poison ivy or poison oak?

Sort of.: An ointment of equal parts poison ivy vine, prickly ash bark, and alfalfa seeds is supposed to be good for arthritis. I donít know if it works, and i suggest you don't try to find out; there are many safer alternatives. Poison ivy is also used in homeopathic treatments, which are supposed to stimulate the body's defenses. Of course, there are conflicting claims about whether homeopathy works.