HERB OF THE MONTH - JEWELWEED

This month I’m featuring Jewelweed. Why? Because it’s June and we are ALL dealing with mosquitos, black flies, poison oak and ivy and possibly some leftover itching from spring allergies. Jewelweed is a wonderful natural remedy for the itch that these bring.

Common Names: touch-me-not, spotted jewelweed, snapweed, wild celandine, lady’s earrings,

quick-in-the-hand, wild balsam, balsam-weed, slipperweed, silverweed, wild lady’s slipper,

speckled jewels

Description: Height is to 5 feet and width of 2 feet. The stems are smooth, glassy, water-filled

and swollen at the nodes in the spring and early summer. The flowers are drooping, suspended on a thin stem, with 1-inch spur on back, a few grouped together, usually orange-yellow with red-brown spots. The leaves are elongated ovals, about 3 ½ inches long, coarsely toothed around the edge, gray-green. It blooms from June to September. The seeds are fired from the capsule in summer which has provided inspiration for some of the common names.

The spurred flowers are followed by a capsular fruit which bursts elastically into spirally coiled

valves, expelling the seeds.

Cultivation: An annual from Canada south to Alabama and Oklahoma. Germinates in 10-18

days. Needs light, but not direct sunlight, to germinate. You will normally find this in the woods in. Space 3 feet apart when planting. Prefers semi shade. Propagated by seed. History: The names impatiens and touch-me-not describe how the seed capsules burst open even when lightly touched. Native Americans called it crowing cock.

Constituents: 2 methoxy-1, 4 naphthoquinone, fungicide, tannin

Energetics: sweet, bland, cool, toxic

Meridians/Organs affected: liver, stomach

Medicinal Uses: The juice from the broken stem is a well-known folk remedy for poison ivy rash. It also works on poison oak. It can be frozen into small ice cubes and used. Also

relieves the pain of insect bites, nettle stings, burns, sprains, ringworm, and various skin

diseases. The juice can also be made into an ointment for hemorrhoids, warts, and corns. It

used to be taken for jaundice and asthma. Jewelweed tea has a foul taste and is emetic, cathartic and diuretic so probably NOT something you want to take internally!

Remedy: Simmer leaves and stems in a large pot of water, which will burn clear to medium

dark brown. Bottle or freeze.

Ointment: Simmer a small amount of jewelweed in light oil like avocado or olive, (I actually prefer jojoba wax if you have it, because it does not go rancid) for 10-15 minutes. Use only a small handful of stems per quart of oil. Strain out the herb, add ¼ cup of beeswax to each cup of oil to thicken it, and heat until melted. Add more beeswax if you want a harder salve. Break open one oil-soluble vitamin E capsule, add and cool. Lasts months if refrigerated, but if you use jojoba, refrigeration is not necessary. (See why I prefer it!?)

Toxicity: Large doses taken internally induce vomiting.

Cosmetic Uses: Jewelweed makes a good hair rinse for those troubled by itchy scalp. Add the

greens to baths for a skin-soothing soak. The juice has been used to stain fingernails red.

Other uses: The whole plant can be used to produce a yellow dye.

My favorite way to use this is to make an infused oil and add it to salves for poison ivy or itchy skin. You will normally find Jewelweed growing close to poison ivy. Isn’t God wonderful!? He provided the remedy right there in the vicinity. I LOVE that!

If you aren’t the do-it-yourself type, no worries! You can find my Ancient Healers’ Salve, which contains jewelweed, in the Apothecary or to keep those biting beasties away from you, try my Bugger Off Spray!

Until next time, herb lovers!

Karen