Jewelweed: My Poison Ivy Hero - Salve Recipe and More

Becca Pray
Sep 4, 2022
4 min read

Updated: Jun 10, 2024

Once upon a time, I was one of the lucky few who had immunity to poison ivy. Here I am in 2009, all cocky and smug about my gift:

That didn't last long. I started having mortal reactions to Poison Ivy in about 2011.

Then I began my journey to find some relief!

Jewelweed and I became instant friends upon meeting back in 2012 or so. Not only was I immediately enthralled with its medicinal properties, but also captured by its unique beauty.

The Field Guide Identification booklet I used at the time mentioned that the leaves glisten when submerged underwater. "Glisten" is an understatement. Hold the leaves underwater and you will see the slick, silvery sparkle of a fairy's wings. Through the mirror-like sheen that sparkles on the leaf surface, you can peer into a whole new enchanted realm of dancing colors and tiny bubbles. Eyes widen in awe each time I show this to someone new, without fail.

It wasn't until 2015 that I made my first batch of jewelweed salve. I followed the guidelines of my several medicinal plants books, and harnessed the fat-soluble power of jewelweed's tannin molecules. These are what bind to the Urushiol Oil that makes us itch and cry.

Almost every year after, I have sought out a healthy patch of jewelweed for the same use. Flashback to my 2017 batch:

In 2017, I worked at a farm growing Traditional Chinese Medicinal plants, where my supervisor was a wise gardener and healer. She told me that instead of using the Jewelweed Salve to assuage the Toxicodendron Dermatitis that poison ivy causes, it would be more effective if used as a preventative, before exposures to the Urushiol Oil. I have found this to be true!

Products like Tecnu and Poison Ivy Soaps are most effective when used after an exposure to the Urushiol Oil.

I no longer say "when exposed to Poison Ivy" because I know how to avoid the plant and rarely handle it or walk through it. I know immediately after accidentally touching the plant that I must go wash up. The true problem lies in contamination, where the Urushiol Oil can remain on surfaces for up to a year in the right conditions. Poison Ivy oils can be lingering on gardening tools, shoes, clothes, and more. These days I mostly get poison ivy from handling my goats, who are completely covered in it. Putting some jewelweed salve on my hands and wrists before I do my goat chores gives me the comfort of knowing that I have protection against unnoticeable Urushiol Oil exposures.

I milk my goat every day, and give many goat-hugs daily. I have suffered the consequences of not being careful enough.

Identifying Jewelweed

My Aunt says that as kids, she used to enjoy playing with jewelweed. They would wear the flowers as "witch fingers," and got a kick out of shooting the seeds via the projectile nature of the plant's seed pods.

There are no dangerous lookalikes to Jewelweed, so you can be confident that if you find a plant of this physical description, you are indeed looking at Jewelweed.

Height of ~3 ft
Oval, alternate leaves with coarsely-toothed margins
Spotted yellow or orange flowers with curved backside, blooms July - September

Jewelweed Toxicity Precautions

Jewelweed is potentially toxic and it is not recommended for consumption. Experienced foragers have a particular way of preparing Jewelweed for consumption, but let's save that for extreme survival situations, okay?

Where to Find Jewelweed

There is a high likelihood that if you see a Poison Ivy plant, Jewelweed is not too far away. The two can typically be found growing side-by-side in moist, shaded woodland areas. I typically find large patches on the North-facing tree-shaded corners of a lowland meadow. It is customary in foraging to seek plants that are more than 20-30 ft from busy roads. Additionally, take care to not over-harvest. A large batch like the one I made yesterday only requires 3 mature and flowering stalks.

Propagating Jewelweed

If you are here for my Jewelweed growing advice, this is it: Good luck! I have worked in or visited over 4 greenhouses where there has been a seed tray tucked in the corner labeled "Jewelweed," and none of these intelligent, experienced growers have been able to so much as sprout a Jewelweed seed. This is how Jewelweed obtained its other common name, the "Touch-Me-Not." It has been notoriously difficult or impossible to propagate throughout history. If you know the secret to sprouting and growing Jewelweed in a location other than where it appears in nature, please do share with the rest of us!

Jewelweed Salve Recipe

Working with beeswax can be tedious in a home kitchen. Be prepared to use a few rounds of boiling water to thoroughly clean whichever pot and spoon you use for this project.

Your local beekeeper can provide quality beeswax. Support local businesses where possible!

Tools & Equipment

Medium or Large Pot

Stirring Spoon

Sieve

Jars

Optional: Funnel

Ingredients

3 Cups Coconut Oil

~2 Stalks Flowering Jewelweed, roughly chopped

3/4 Cup Beeswax

1 1/2 Tablespoon Vitamin E Oil

Optional: ~4 Drops Essential Oil

Directions

Add the Coconut Oil to the pot and bring to a simmer.
Add the Jewelweed to the pot. If it rises above the level of the coconut oil, that is okay to a degree. It will wilt down and eventually become smaller.
Allow to simmer on low for up to 4 hours.
Strain out the leaf matter and return the mixture to the stovetop.
Add the Beeswax and let it melt into the mixture.
Remove the mixture from heat and add the Vitamin E Oil.
Allow mixture to cool until just the top layer begins to solidify. Crack the solids and stir back into the liquid.
Divide the mixture into glass jars. Be aware that plastic containers may melt with the hot temperatures of the oil.
Add the Essential Oils as desired.
Allow to cool and solidify.