What are the medicinal uses of jewelweed?
Jewelweed has a long history of use in Native American medicine. When applied topically, sap from the stem and leaves is said to relieve itching and pain from a variety of ailments, including hives, poison ivy, stinging nettle, and other skin sores and irritations. Take your Jewelweed plants and chop them up so they fit in the bowl you have. The smaller the pieces are, the better it works. Now fill up your pot with water, put the plant in, and toss it on the stove. Bring it to a nice rolling boil to ensure all of the helpful juices have come out of the plant.Jewelweed is said to be especially potent when flowering. Chop the plant coarsely and pour boiling water over it. Let it steep until cool, strain, and freeze or refrigerate. This herbal preparation will be a deep reddish tint, and the fresh juice will often leave a red stain on your skin.If you find a stand of jewelweed festooned with ½- to 1-inch pods, stop and see if they are ripe. If you hold a pod tightly in your hand,if ready, it will pop open, expelling its seeds into your hand. Collect only a few seeds at each spot.The Jewelweed will by then look and smell like a soggy heap of boiled spinach. Remove it, and strain off the lovely orange liquid. Strain the liquid through cheesecloth, or a coffee filter, and pour into ice cube trays. Freeze.Jewelweeds also have edible uses. The shoots can be eaten in the early spring and the flowers, leaves, and stems can be eaten in the summer.
What is jewelweed tincture good for?
Why use Jewelweed? Jewelweed is great for combating poison ivy, oak, sumac, and even bug bites! Jewelweed is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth or applied directly to the skin. No significant side effects have been reported.
Does jewelweed have any side effects?
Jewelweed is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth or applied directly to the skin. No significant side effects have been reported. Jewelweed has a long history of use in Native American medicine. When applied topically, sap from the stem and leaves is said to relieve itching and pain from a variety of ailments, including hives, poison ivy, stinging nettle, and other skin sores and irritations.Jewelweed is most effective used as a fresh plant poultice (rubbing the juice from the broken stem and leaves onto an affected area can cause immediate relief), but can also be an effective medicine as a fresh plant preparation, such as a salve, an infusion in witch hazel (external use only), or as a skin wash.A tea can be made with a few large handfuls or as much as you can cover with water. Use the whole above-ground part of the plant, including leaves, stems and flowers. Jewelweed is said to be especially potent when flowering. Chop the plant coarsely and pour boiling water over it.
Does jewelweed actually work?
Conclusion. Jewelweed is an efficacious plant for preventing development of dermatitis following poison ivy contact, but soap is more effective. Lawsone content does not correlate with PI rash prevention. Perhaps saponins, the soapy component of jewelweed are the effective agents. Remedies for this sting include a plant that often grows next to it called jewelweed. Applying the crushed stem of this plant to the affected area soothes the irritated skin.
Can humans eat jewelweed?
Jewelweeds also have edible uses. The shoots can be eaten in the early spring and the flowers, leaves, and stems can be eaten in the summer. Jewelweed Seeds The seeds shoot quite a ways, which helps the plant dispurse. If you’re careful, you can pick the seed pods by their stems without touching them. This keeps them intact so you can eat them. Believe it or not, jewelweed seeds taste just like walnuts, and they’re incredibly delicious.