Jewelweed Rub For Poison Ivy

Urushiol, an oily resin in the sap of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac, causes an allergic reaction in those who are sensitive to it. Jewelweed has strong anti-inflammatory properties. It acts on urushiol to relieve the itching and blisters and halt the spread of the rash.

Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) is a tall, stemmed plant with orange and yellow trumpet-shaped flowers, usually found growing wild near streams and in deep shade in the woods. My family keeps a batch of this handy during poison ivy season. (jewelweed can sometimes be found at nurseries, but don’t confuse it with the shade-tolerant garden annual Impatiens walleriana, also known as “Busy Lizzy” That one will not help your poison ivy)

What You Need

  • 1 quart (946ml) water (or more if you have lots of jewelweed)
  • Armful of jewelweed

Preparation And Use

1Bring the water to a boil in a big pot.

2Turn off the heat.

3Put the jewelweed in the pot, cover it, and let it steep for at least 30 minutes.

4Pour the mixture (a deep brown tea) into a gallon jar or into icecube trays and freeze.

5Rub on the poison ivy rash as soon as you experience the first signs of itching.

Yield

Enough For Dozens Of Applications

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