Good Herbal Health

If you are feeling bad, there might be some cure for you that do not include chemically induced medications. There are medicinal plants out there known as herbs that can be helpful to cure certain conditions as well.

One herb is the jewelweed. This herb is best known for its skin healing properties. The juices and leaves that come from Jewelweed’s stem are used to cure rashes induced by other plants and poison ivy. This weed works by counter reacting it with chemicals of other plants that cause irritation.

The salves and poultices of plants are common folk remedy used for cuts, burns, bruises, insect bites, eczema, sprains, warts, sores and ringworms.

When you are out camping or in the woods without any first aid or medication with you, you could use jewelweed. However, you are not a walking encyclopedia to know if the plant you’re stepping on is jewelweed.

Here is a quick description of jewelweed to help you find some and use it when you are in the woods.

Jewelweed is a smooth annual plant that grows about 3 to 5 feet long. The leaves are oral and round toothed. The leaves are a bit trumpet shaped and the flower is hanging that looks like a necklace; hence the name jewelweed.

There are various jewelweeds. Pale jewelweed will bloom yellow flowers. The spotted touch-me-nots will be blooming orange flowers that have red spots. The touch-me-not’s seeds will pop once touched. The spotted jewelweed is the one used mostly for rashes.

Jewelweed blooms mostly at Northern America, North Florida and the South of Canada during periods of May to October. Maybe they really are to be used for rashes against poison ivy, because you’ll be finding them near poison ivy as well.

Jewelweed often grows on moist forest or creek beds. These weeds are really not to be raised at home. This is because they are difficult to transplant and do not store well. The plant also becomes evasive that is spread by birds or other means. This herb will eventually crowd out other herbs.

When you are out in the woods and have been a victim of poison ivy, stinging nettle, or oak. Find a jewelweed, slice the stem and rub the juice of the inside on the body part that has been affected. This will help ease the irritation and prevent further breakouts.

Jewelweed cubes has healing properties that can be used for skin rash. Jewelweed cubes can be made from infusing leaves of impatiens capensis. The jewelweed must then be boiled until it becomes orange. Then strain the liquid and pour into ice cubes. Then rub into the skin rash.