Try That Herb Tuesday- Jewel Weed

While most people use jewel weed to neutralize poison Ivy (actually to be more specific, it's the oily antigen, urushiol, that causes the irritation), it is also an effective remedy for poison oak, okra spines, stinging nettle, bug bites, heat rash, and other irritating plant reactions and other skin disorders. For more than a hundred years, a poultice made from this plant was frequently used to treat burns, cuts, sores, sprains, warts, eczema, and even ringworm. 


Often called the "touch me not" impatient it is botanically known as Impatiens Capensis, and is commonly known as Jewel Weed. Jewel weed produces trumpet-shaped flowers, which bloom from early summer to fall. They are under an inch in length and have three petals. One of the petals curls to form a long slipper, or sack shaped spur. They come in a variety of colors and like to grow near water or in shallow ponds. It's been said that jewel weed grows wherever Poison Ivy is found, but that isn't really true. Poison ivy can grow well under most any conditions, sunny or shady. But jewel weed is a shade loving plant, one that prefers valleys with rich soil and moist bottom lands. It may sprout in a sunny area, but it will not survive for long in the light. 

There are many ways to use jewel weed, but drying it is not practical because it has a very high moisture content. For this reason, the soaps, salves and sprays  made from this herb are made from either the fresh or from frozen jewel weed. 

One of the easiest ways to benefit from this flower is simply to take the stem and slice it, then slather the juice onto the skin that has come into contact with poison ivy. If you get it applied before the rash appears, it will generally prevent any from developing. If you already have a rash, it will help to ease the irritation. In fact, many people use the stem juice as a preventative treatment for poison ivy reactions, and it seems to work well.

When foraging, make sure that you are looking for the orange flowering jewel weed though, not the yellow. The yellow is less concentrated, and will probably not offer you the relief you are looking for. A fresh plant will last about a week in a sealed container when placed in the refrigerator, or you can make an infusion and freeze it for later use. 

To make an infusion, boil the leaves of the plant. Brew the chopped jewel weed leaves in boiling water, until you get a dark orange liquid in your pot. Then strain the liquid, and pour it into ice cube trays. Then, when you have a skin rash, just grab out a cube and rub the affected area with your "jewel cube". It will keep in the freezer for up to one year, or you can preserve the infusion by canning it (in a pressure cooker). 

You can make a tincture with witch hazel and the jewel weed juice or the infusion previously described. Preparing the tincture in witch hazel will help to prevent mold growth, if you want to keep some jewel juice unfrozen. 

If you want to make soap with the jewel weed, either make an infusion to incorporate as your liquid, or you can just use the jewel ice in place of all or a portion of your liquid. 

You can also make jewel weed ointment. Simply simmer a small amount of jewel weed in a light vegetable oil (do not use olive oil) for 10-15 minutes. Use only a small handful of jewel weed stems per quart of oil, or bubbles of the juice will form in the ointment, and they will cause mold. When time is up, strain out the herb and add a handful of beeswax, to thicken it, and heat until it is melted. Take out a spoonful and allow it to cool, to test the thickness. Add either more oil or more beeswax until it is the consistency that you prefer. Once it is just right for you, remove from the heat and pierce 2 gel caps of vitamin E, and add the contents of one oil-soluble vitamin E capsule, pour into a jar, and allow it to completely cool (with the lid off).

Whatever you do, do NOT make alcoholic tinctures from Jewel weed. Some people have had very bad reactions when mixing and using jewel weed with alcohol. 

- More Under the Radar EO's- Manuka

Have you ever heard of Manuka essential oil? If not, then this EO has flown under your radar until now. But no worries, because today we are going to change that!


Botanically known as  Leptospermum scoparium, this is a small tree, or shrub, that is considered native to New Zealand, although Australia also has an abundance of it, and is one of the chief exporters of the EO made from the leaves and branches. It does also grow in New Guinea and Southeastern Asia. The Eo is  steam distilled, and gives off a rich, but sweet, woody and herbaceous middle note fragrance. It is warmer and richer than tea tree EO, but is the New Zealand cultivar of the tea tree.  


While the leaves of this plant have primarily been used in remedies for urinary complaints, congestion, and muscle aches and pains, every part of the plant has been used by the Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand,  when making their [natural] medicines. In fact it is still widely used today. Historically, a decoction of the leaves was drunk for urinary complaints and fevers, while the leaves were boiled in water and the steam inhaled for relief from head colds. The leaves and the bark were also used to make a decoction where the warm liquid was used to rub into aching joints and muscles. They also used the emollient white gum, called pai manuka, to give nursing babies, as well as to treat burns. And even the bark was chewed to relax and to enhance sleep. It truly was, and is, an all around useful plant.


As an interesting side note, it is believed that both the manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) and the Melaleuca alternifolia, were mixed,  made into a tea, and drunk by Captain Cook, which is how the Melaleuca alternifolia  got its name, [the] Tea Tree.


Manuka possesses analgesic, anesthetic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antiviral, deodorant, expectorant, immune stimulant, nervine, sedative, and vulnerary properties, as well as being an immune stimulator. 


Because of the above properties this essential oil will be a beneficial additive in remedies for; acne, arthritis, asthma, athletes foot, burns, candida, colds, cold sores, cough, cracked skin, dandruff, eczema, fever, infections, insect bites and stings, intestinal infections, muscular pain, rheumatism, ringworm, sinus congestion, sinusitis, sore throats, sunburn, thrush, urinary infections, wounds. While it is not recommended for internal use at all, it may be used in a steam inhalation treatment, where it will act as an expectorant.


According to one source found in my research, the concentration of the components in this oil will vary with the height of the tree that the leaves were taken from, but I was unable to confirm this claim. While it is very similar in qualities to the Australian tea tree eo, several sources report that it is stronger in its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal actions. There is research, from both Britain and New Zealand, that indicates that this eo posses a broad spectrum antibiotic action.  While it is considered generally safe for healthy tissue, the claim by some vendors that it is non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non-toxic, is debatable. I have found growers that caution that, in some people, it can be mildly irritating to the skin, and that acute toxicity can occur when it is used in amounts above the recommended dosages. So, as with everything, caution and moderation is advised.


This EO is also used to treat wounds and cuts, seedy toe, thrush, mudfever, and rainscald in horses. When mixed with lavender, it offers a treatment for hives and skin reactions to insect bites, and when diluted, it is applied for a once a week skin conditioner, after the bath.  


It also makes a good treatment (when diluted) to use on the hot spots that dogs get when they are bit by fleas, or in a spray for flea repelling, or even added to a dogie shampoo for general cleansing. 


This EO should be in the medicine cabinet for sure. And now that it is no longer under your radar, you can put it there!