Jewelweed DIY Salves

Jewelweed DIY salves can be made this summer if you find fresh jewelweed. Or you can make jewelweed DIY salve in the winter using dried jewelweed. You can make your own DIY jewelweed salve for poison ivy irritations, just follow along. Jewelweed’s common name is “Impatiens Capensis”, or “touch-me-not, a plant native to North America.

With the DIY jewelweed salve, you’ll be using the jewelweed leaves and stems. The leaves and stems are used for the treatment of skin rashes, mainly poison ivy. To make the DIY salves and soaps you may use freshly cut or dried jewelweed. There are quite a few home remedies you can DIY with Jewelweed such as soaps, salves, bath salts, and more.

Jewelweed commonly grows in shady areas, often sharing their habitat with the poison ivy. As soon as you meet the rash culprit in the forest, you can find the defender. It feels like an oxymoron in nature.

Jewelweed is an antidote to poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Spray it on the skin before or following contact with these toxic plants to prevent a rash, or apply it to rashes to reduce itching and inflammation. Some people also wear jewelweed directly on the skin to protect themselves from poison ivy. That is something we do not do. We have, however, immediately rubbed jewelweed on a spot that was touched by poison ivy and it worked!

What States Does Jewelweed Grow In?

According to the map from USDA. Gov, jewelweed grows in almost all the USA states with the exception of a few, west of Texas.  Check out the USDA Map to see where jewelweed grows.

How Does Jewelweed Work?  

The juice from Jewelweed leaves and tender stems should be used to combat poison ivy. Apply it to the skin that may have come into contact with poison ivy. Jewelweed obviously contains some compounds that counteract either urushiol in the poison ivy or the body’s reaction to that allergen.

Athletes’ foot and ringworm (anti-fungal), why buy expensive Cortiscosterioid creams and salves for athletes foot when you can make your own by using the sap right from the plant itself?

If you live anywhere near poison ivy habitats, growing Jewelweed in a shady corner of the garden is not a bad idea. It is a good remedy for other skin complaints like eczema, ringworm, and warts too.

Jewelweed is another miracle product of Mother Nature that is found in the wild. It is a known cure for poison ivy but has also been used to treat everything from insect bites to razor burn to acne. It is most effective if the liquid found in the stem of the plant is rubbed directly onto the affected area. If you want to use it for use when it’s not in season, a simple ointment/salve with the fresh plant to save for later is a viable alternative to use it right in the field.

Want to try beard oil? Follow my steps in my blog and video, How to Make Your Own Beard Oil and Save! Trying to use some infused jewelweed coconut oil for soothing beard oil.

Jewelweed for a Poison Ivy Rash

Jewelweed is best against poison ivy rash when used as preventive i.e. applied before you come in contact with poison ivy. However, this advice will be of little use to you if you happen to come in contact with it in your backyard. Luckily, you could just have another herb, the Jewelweed, in the garden, the juice of which serves as a treatment for mild cases of poison ivy rash, relieving this terrible itch.

Jewelweed likes damp areas and can reach a height of 6 feet in damp earth. Its flowers can be yellow or orange. But what really gives jewelweed away are its juicy, light green trunks. The plant looks juicy and it is exactly its juice that you want to reach (by pounding the stems) to treat your rash.

Furthermore, for jewelweed to be effective as a treatment for poison ivy rash in severe cases, you really need to derive an extract from it. If you do not have a lot of time, buying a Jewelweed extract is more workable than your own.

Jewelweed Special Precautions and Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about using jewelweed if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use if you have any concerns. Be mindful if anyone has plant allegies. Always test on the forearm and wait to see if an allergic reaction or rash occurs.

Jewelweed Infusion Using Coconut Oil

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unrefined coconut oil, organic is best
• Finely chop jewelweed, use as much stalk as provided (WEAR GLOVES)
• 1 cup jewelweed fresh (has the most potency than dried)
• 1/2 cup dried lavender (optional)

You may choose to add 1/2 cup dried lavender to the jewelweed mixture-more or less for a more soothing effect

•  Harvest fresh Jewelweed or buy it dried at your local health food store or herbal supply company
•  Rinse the fresh jewelweed and chop the herb roughly
• ** Combine the jewelweed with the refined coconut oil in the double boiler and simmer at very low heat for one hour
•  Place a finely woven cloth in the hand sieve and pour the infused oil through and into a clean bowl
• Push the remaining oil through the cloth and into the bowl

**Alternative: You may use what I use to infuse the jewelweed with the coconut oil, which is an electric candle warmer I purchased from a thrift store for $2.00. When I use a candle warmer, I tend to infuse the jewelweed anywhere from 1 to 4 days. (2 days seems to be the best).

Or **Solar Power way: Place ingredients in a canning jar with a tight-fitting lid and place in the sun for a few days up to a week in the summer (either outside or on an inside windowsill). I find using Balls’ UV jars works wonders, the sun is not baking the ingredients per se but heating them up without the actual light on them. They need the heat, not the light.

The infused oil is complete once the oil changes to a pretty green. If the oil gets too low, add more oil and add more time to infusion.

Jewelweed Salve

Ingredients:

• 1 cup infused unrefined organic coconut oil
• 1-2ounce beeswax (2-4 tablespoons melted)
• Essential oil (optional) start with 10 drops per cup (20 drops is more standard)
• Complimentary essential oils: lavender, lemongrass, peppermint, rosemary

The next step is after the jewelweed and oil have been infused:

• Wipe the double boiler pan clean and pour the infused oil into the pan
• **Warm at low heat until warm
• Add beeswax to the heated oil and let it melt, stirring occasionally
• Add any essential oil starting with 10 drops and adding more to your liking
• Pour the melted mixture into a sterilized glass and allow cooling completely before sealing
• Optional: purchase lipstick tubes to give out to individuals on the go
•  Store in a cool, dark place until use

**Alternative: If using an electric candle warmer, strain the infusion after a few days and put the jewelweed infusion back in the warmer. Ensure the vessel is wiped clean of any debris before adding the oil back to the warmer. Proceed with the next steps.

Or **Solar Power way: Place ingredients in a canning jar with a tight-fitting lid and place in the sun for a few days up to a week in the summer (either outside or on an inside windowsill). I find using Balls’ UV jars works wonders, the sun is not baking the ingredients per se but heating them up without the actual light on them. They need the heat, not the light.

Strain the infusion after a few days and put the jewelweed infusion back in the warmer. Ensure the jar is wiped clean of any debris before adding the oil back to the warmer. Proceed with the next steps. Using the sun’s heat to melt beeswax will take longer than the other methods and not guaranteed to melt the beeswax all the way.

Jewelweed Infusion Using Witch Hazel (no oils)

This is a cooling “splash” that can be made and put in the refrigerator for helping with itchy poison ivy rash or other plant irritants as well as bug bites.

• Add chopped, fresh jewelweed mostly stems and then leaves to one inch from the top (less is ok too).
• Fill the jar with a good quality witch hazel (I use UV jars for this) if not, store in a dark, cool place
• Once a day, give it a little shake to mix up the jar contents
• After 7-10 days, put in smaller containers to carry while hiking, camping or biking
• Use a cotton ball to soak, apply to the affected area
• I like to store the whole canning jar in the refrigerator and just fill a travel container as needed

I use witch hazel for many other things, be sure to check out my blog Amazing Benefits of Using Witch Hazel.

How to Grow Jewelweed in Your Yard

Pick a shady moist spot in your yard. If you have an invasive spot being taken over by weeds, jewelweed can help with that. Use jewelweed to take over the invasive plants and replace them with a plant that butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds will be grateful for! In the early fall, direct sow fresh seeds in the area where you wish the plant to pop up in the next spring. You will only need to plant it once. Once established, it will propagate all on its own. Be sure the check the US Forest Service’s post on Jewelweed for more information!

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