Jewelweed is a great remedy for Poison Ivy

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With the advent of summer and the fairer weather, if you are anything like me the woods are calling you and asking you to explore. There are so many lovely things to see and experience on a walk in the woods. As with all things in life, there are some not so wonderful things as well. For instance, Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) creates an itchy rash or worse when most people touch it.Why do those annoying plants make us break out in itchy rashes?  The culprit is urushiol, a chemical found in the leaves and stems of the plants. Urushiol is one of the most potent toxins; a mere one billionth of a gram is enough to affect a sensitive individual. Direct contact with urushiol causes skin irritation in about 90% of the population.

The first line of defense against poison ivy is to get to know what it looks like and never touch it. It is potent and has the ability to give you an allergic reaction all year round. Nevertheless, sometimes it is unavoidable. Therefore, the next best thing is get to know Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis). Jewelweed’s blocking and healing properties are amazing.  The active ingredient in Jewelweed is a chemical called lawsone, which binds to the same molecular sites in the skin that the urushiol attacks.  If Jewelweed is applied quickly enough, it can beat the urushiol to those sites and lock it out.  If applied later, the lawsone works to block the action of the allergic resin in the skin and helps heal the rash.

Apparently, if you apply Jewelweed within three hours of contact with Poison Ivy you can block the allergic reaction. On a hike a couple of years ago, we tested this theory. I was hiking with Mike and Mathew around a lake in the National Forest, all of sudden we were surrounded by Poison Ivy. We had to make a decision, turn around and go back or go forward through large patches of Poison Ivy, which was high as our knees. It was a tough decision as we were ¾ of the way around the lake, it was very hot, we were running low on water and very tired. I noticed some Jewelweed and we decided to risk the walk through the Poison Ivy. After we got through all the Poison Ivy, we took the Jewelweed, mashed it up in our hands and rubbed it all over the exposed areas of our legs. Jewelweed makes a very moist pulp and is easy to spread.  I am overjoyed to tell you that it worked. None of us got a Poison Ivy rash.

Jewelweed blossom

Jewelweed is easier to identify when it’s flowering, then again aren’t most plants. No need to wait until late summer to identify Jewelweed, it’s growing now and will block the rash from contact with Poison Ivy. It’s stem is distinctively succulent, which is rather unusual. The delicate leaves are 1/4 to 1/2″ long-oval, long-stalked, with a few rounded teeth. The upper leaves are alternate, the lower ones opposite. They’re water-repellent, so they look like they’re covered with tiny jewels (raindrops) after it rains, hence the name Jewelweed. Another name for Jewelweed is “Touch-Me-Nots” which refers to its seeds. When the seeds are ripe and lightly touched, they burst apart as they have a spring mechanism inside. When I was a kid, I loved liberating the seeds in the fall.

jewelweed

Jewelweed

Luckily, Jewelweed and Poison Ivy tend to grow in the same habitat. So get to know what Poison Ivy and Jewelweed looks like. You may need to be saved someday.

jewelweed and poison ivy

Jewelweed surrounding Poison Ivy

 

Encouraging sleep with Valerian flowers

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valerianJune is a wonderful time for flowers on the land. Everything seems to be popping, the air smells lovely and the pollinators are happy. This is also an exciting time for me, as it’s the time when I start to replenish our apothecary with herbs, tinctures and infused oils. Every spring, I re-evaluate what we used the previous year and decide what we might require this year.  Except for a couple of items, I usually need to increase the quantities that I made in the previous year, since I am I big fan of sharing. As the flowers are opening different herbs call upon me to explore or delve deeper; some are new ones, others are old friends. Over five years ago, I started working with Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) flowers. Most people use its roots but the fragrant flowers kept calling me and I am so glad I listened. It is always important to go with your instincts.

Valerian is best known as a sedative. It calms the nervous system and reduces stress, tension, anxiety and insomnia. Basically, it calms restless minds.  When I was surrounded by Valerian’s sweet scent, I was compelled to harvest blossoms as they were so aromatic. It is no big surprise it was used in perfumes during the 16th century. With such a potent fragrance, I knew the flowers had to contain powerful medicine. I decided to compare. I used dried Valerian root and harvested half of the flowers (I wanted to leave some for the pollinators). I tinctured both separately. My husband and I both tried them and found that we liked them both. Each tincture soothed frazzled nerves and helped with insomnia but the flowers were much gentler and subtle. The flowers encouraged sleep while the roots demanded it. What I really love about the tincture made from the flowers, is how it gently quiets my mind into a restful sleep, with dreams. When I woke, I felt truly rested and not zonked out.  As a result, we became big fans of Valerian flowers tinctures. Now it’s a staple in my apothecary.

Although, Valerian flowers are gentle and generally calming, there are people who experience the reverse affects. About 5% of the population experiences Valerian as a stimulant and become somewhat agitated instead of relaxed. So, like anything new, try a small dose, less is always better anyway. Valerian enhances the action of alcohol and sleep-inducing drugs, so please avoid if taking this type of medication.

Sweet dreams!valerian with ladybug

All information is shared for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.