the truth about jewelweed
Jewelweed (Impatiens canadensis) photo credit: Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program
We're ankle-deep in poison ivy season where I live. I've already had it twice. (Ok, I currently still have it.)
Poison ivy season brings one of my top herbal pet peeves: myths about Jewelweed.
Jewelweed (Impatiens canadensis) is a lovely native plant that grows near streams and waterways. It's best known for its ability to help you deal with Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans, which I will henceforth refer to as "P.I.") and for it's raucous exploding seed pods.
I love Jewelweed. But I'd like to set the record straight.
Myth 1: Jewelweed grows next to Poison Ivy
This is annoying because it is simply wrong. Jewelweed grows in shady, damp areas, such as beside a creek or river. It will grow in floodplain forests, ditches, and bogs. Jewelweed needs moisture to grow.
Poison Ivy has much wider range: it thrives in partial shade areas, particularly in edges or somewhat disturbed soils. It does like moist areas but truly is a pretty adaptable plant, so it can appear in many places.
Does P.I sometimes grow near Jewelweed? Absolutely. Do they always grow together because of a mystical poison/healer relationship? No.
Myth 2: Jewelweed can help get rid of a Poison Ivy rash.
This is also false. Jewelweed is an incredibly soothing plant (more on this in a moment.) It can help to prevent a P.I. rash. But once the rash occurs, Jewelweed will be minimally helpful, at best. Honestly, I don't think you'd notice any anti-itching qualities.
Jewelweed can, however, help to prevent a rash from occurring in the first place.
When your skin touches P.I., the leaves transfer an oily sap called urushiol onto your skin. Urushiol causes an allergic reaction in many people. For people who are very allergic, this can happen within minutes. For others, you might have a few hours before the rash occurs. If you're hot and sweaty and thus your pores are very open, the urushiol will probably get into your skin more quickly. If you're not sweaty, you might have more time.
Your goal is to remove the urushiol from your skin as quickly as possible. Once a rash forms, it's much harder to deal with. Jewelweed is rich in a phytochemical called lawsone, as well as saponins, which can help remove the urushiol from your skin.
How to use Jewelweed to prevent a Poison Ivy rash:
Within a few hours of exposure to P.I., before a rash has formed, find some Jewelweed.
Use your thumbnail or a knife to slice open the stem.
Rub the juice from the stem on the exposed area.
Rinse with cold water.
Alternatively, you could mash up the stem and leaves to make a poultice, and apply the poultice to the exposed area for a bit, then rinse with cold water.
If you don't have jewelweed:
Get liquid soap as quickly as possible. Dish soap is best, but any will do.
Apply the liquid soap to dry skin. Rub on the exposed area.
Rinse with cold water.
This will help remove the urushiol. It's surprisingly effective if you can do it within an hour of exposure, especially if you weren't too sweaty when exposed.
Jewelweed soap is also good option, but it's not more effective than dish soap.
So, to review: Jewelweed can help remove urushiol from your skin, which can help prevent the urushiol from creating an allergic reaction in your skin and thus forming a rash. But once the allergic reaction has occurred, Jewelweed isn't going to help make it go away faster.
Three herbal ideas that might help with a Poison Ivy rash:
(I say "might" because some people are much more allergic than others and every situation is different).
Take Nettle + Quercetin capsules. I like these. Nettle has anti-histamine qualities and quercetin helps with allergic inflammation. Many herbs, including Nettle and Goldenrod, are rich in quercetin. Take these before a rash forms, and continue taking throughout the first 24-48 hours if a rash does form.
Make a paste from Bentonite clay or Green clay. A clay paste will be drying and help draw out the phytochemicals that are causing the inflammation. This is truly the best topical treatment I've found.
Take a bath in Epsom salts + White Yarrow infusion. If the P.I. is covering a lot of your body, a clay paste could be too difficult. Instead, take a drying bath. Make a strong infusion by adding 1 cup of dried White Yarrow to a quart jar, then fill the jar with just-boiled water. Let steep for 10-30 minutes, then strain. Draw a bath. Add in 1-3 cups Epsom salts, and add in the White Yarrow infusion. You can also add some clay, but don't add more than 2 cups or you might clog your drain. I'd take a more cautious approach and just add 1 cup. Soak for at least 30 minutes, then rinse off.
How to Use Jewelweed for skincare
I don't want you to think that I'm anti-jewelweed. I'm not! I love jewelweed! Jewelweed is extremely cooling and soothing to the skin.
The important thing to know about Jewelweed is that it's water-soluble, not oil-soluble. So it's not going to be effective in an oil or a salve. Also, you need to use fresh Jewelweed.
My favorite way to use Jewelweed is by applying it directly to my skin, as I described above. However, if you want to "preserve" Jewelweed for future use, here are some ideas:
Mash stem and leaves up with a bit of water and freeze in ice cube trays, then thaw as needed.
Make a Jewelweed infusion, strain, and freeze in ice cube trays.
Use the infusion in a soap or lotion.
Infuse Jewelweed into Witch Hazel to use as a spray*
Infuse Jewelweed into Vinegar to use as a spray*
Infuse Jewelweed into alcohol to use as a spray*
Blend Jewelweed with aloe and store in the fridge.
*I haven't done these yet, but I suspect they would be an excellent way to remove urushiol from the skin. Or generally sooth itchiness or inflammation. Maybe I'll try it this year! Also, if you have Jewelweed-infused vinegar that would be great to add to a P.I. bath.
How Jewelweed can help your skin
Jewelweed is amazing! Jewelweed is cooling, soothing, and anti-inflammatory to skin, so you can use it topically for all sorts of itching and redness. It can be helpful for bug bite itchiness, acne, eczema, small cuts, hives, etc.
I have personally used Jewelweed to great effect for a burn, but that's a story for another time.
I highly suspect that Jewelweed-infused Witch Hazel would make a great facial toner, but again, I haven't tried it.
So there, you have it: the truth about Jewelweed. I hope this helped clear a few things up, or validate your feelings if you also get annoyed about Jewelweed myths. Or maybe inspire you to make Jewelweed medicine! Let me know if you do :)