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How do you harvest and use jewelweed?

Jim Brown

How do you harvest and use jewelweed?

Jewelweed can also be used immediately. Squish the leaves and rub directly on the skin where needed. You can also blend jewelweed and strain out the juice for immediate use or refrigerate to use within several days. Jewelweed spoils quickly.

How do you harvest jewelweed for Salve?

Jewelweed Salve Once jewelweed is dry, it loses most of its medicinal properties. Harvest the aerial parts of jewelweed (leaves, flower, and stems) once it has started blooming. Jewelweed likes water and the woods, so I encourage folks to do some woods walking if you don’t already know of a patch.

What does jewelweed do for poison ivy?

Rub up against stinging nettles — jewelweed to the rescue. Native Americans used its sap to treat various skin rashes. If you crush the hollow stem and rub the sticky, clear sap on your skin, it quickly takes away the itch from poison ivy blisters or the burning sensation caused by stinging nettles.

How do you use jewelweed salve?

Instructions

  1. Chop up the jewelweed and place it in a mason jar.
  2. Fill it with olive oil.
  3. Make a warm infusion by gently heating the jar in a bath of simmering water for a few hours.
  4. Strain the oil by using a coffee filter, napkin, or paper towel.

What is jewelweed salve?

This salve made with Jewelweed will take the “itch” out of mosquito bites, bee stings, flea bites, spider bites or almost any insect bite. Any skin irritation will benefit from this salve. Olive Oil and aloe vera oil, beeswax, lavender and sweet orange essential oil are added to this salve.

What is the quickest way to dry up poison ivy?

Applying topical OTC skin protectants, such as zinc acetate, zinc carbonate, zinc oxide, and calamine dry the oozing and weeping of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Protectants such as baking soda or colloidal oatmeal relieve minor irritation and itching. Aluminum acetate is an astringent that relieves rash.

Why is jewelweed called Touch Me Not?

The Jewelweed is also called a “Touch-Me-Not” because upon touching the ripe seed pods, they explode. The Spotted Touch-Me-Not is orange with spots. The flower has an opening at the top, and the flower hangs off of the stems.

How to make jewelweed Salve with olive oil?

Put your can/jar with jewelweed and olive oil in the pot. Let that steep for at least a few hours on very low heat, adding a little more water when necessary. Don’t boil the water, as you want just enough heat so that the can or jar is very warm to the touch.

How big of a jar do you need for jewelweed Salve?

Fill the 1 quart Mason jar ½ to ¾ of the way full with the jewelweed chopped bit and the plantain bits. Fill the jar the rest of the way up to the lip – leaving a small amount of headspace, with your chosen carrier oil.

What’s the best way to make soap with jewelweed?

It’s a super easy method to make jewelweed soap with no handling of lye required! In a heatproof jar or container, combine the chopped jewelweed, water and soap base and cover loosely with a canning lid or heatproof saucer. Place the jar in a saucepan containing a few inches (at least 5 cm) of water, forming a makeshift double boiler.

How to make jewelweed Salve Shafer Springs Farm?

Add a few inches of water to your pot and put it over very low heat on your stove. Put your can/jar with jewelweed and olive oil in the pot. Let that steep for at least a few hours on very low heat, adding a little more water when necessary.

How do you harvest and use jewelweed?

Jim Brown

How do you harvest and use jewelweed?

Jewelweed can also be used immediately. Squish the leaves and rub directly on the skin where needed. You can also blend jewelweed and strain out the juice for immediate use or refrigerate to use within several days. Jewelweed spoils quickly.

How do you make jewelweed lotion?

For this batch of jewelweed salve, I used 2 tablespoons of beeswax to 1/2 cup infused oil in a glass jar. Heat the jar in a water bath on the stove until the beeswax is dissolved. Let cool slightly before adding in your essential oils (about 15 drops), and vitamin E to act as a preservative.

How do you process jewelweed for poison ivy?

Rub up against stinging nettles — jewelweed to the rescue. Native Americans used its sap to treat various skin rashes. If you crush the hollow stem and rub the sticky, clear sap on your skin, it quickly takes away the itch from poison ivy blisters or the burning sensation caused by stinging nettles.

Can you touch jewelweed?

If you have ever touched a ripe jewelweed pod, it is easy to understand where the name touch-me-not originated. If a ripe pod is touched, it splits open and shoots seeds four to six feet away from the plant.

What is jewelweed good for?

Jewelweed is most commonly known for its antipruritic use in the treatment of poison ivy rash. It has also been used as an agent to promote blood flow, for postchildbirth and joint pain, bruises and swelling, and as an antidote to fish poisoning.

Does jewelweed get rid of poison ivy?

People take jewelweed by mouth to treat mild digestive disorders, as well as rashes caused by poison ivy.

What animals eat jewelweed?

Jewelweed seeds are consumed by a number of species of birds (including ruffed grouse, Chinese pheasant, and bobwhite quail) and rodents (including white-footed mice).

Why is jewelweed called Touch Me Not?

The Jewelweed is also called a “Touch-Me-Not” because upon touching the ripe seed pods, they explode. The Spotted Touch-Me-Not is orange with spots. The flower has an opening at the top, and the flower hangs off of the stems.

What’s the best way to store jewelweed leaves?

Once dried, the jewelweed should be stored in an airtight container, and kept in a cool dark, place until ready to use. Mason jars and vacuum sealed bags make superb airtight storage containers. Making a wound wash releases the sap in the leaves, which is a rather quick process. Simply crush the leaves and put them in a pot.

What’s the best way to get rid of jewelweed?

After trying several natural remedies, the only thing that works to control the issue is jewelweed. During summer, if the need arises and you have access to the plant, it’s simplest to rub the plant on the affected skin or to make a poultice of the fresh leaves, flowers, and stems.

How long does jewelweed last in a jar?

Allow to infuse for 3 to 4 weeks, then strain into a clean jar. Cover with a plastic cap, label, and store until needed. Shelf life is about one year. To use jewelweed vinegar: Saturate a cotton ball with the infused vinegar and gently rub over itchy spots.

What kind of oil do you use for jewelweed?

{Jewelweed Herbal Oil} An herbal oil is the most versatile way to prepare jewelweed. I prefer to make a warm herbal oil by stuffing a jar full of the plant- cleaned roots, stem, leaves, and flowers and covering it with olive oil.