Its name alone is enough for you to know that jewelweed is a pretty herb — the slightly trumpet-shaped yellow-orange flowers that it bears hang beautifully just like jewels from necklaces. However, jewelweed is more than just an ornamental plant. In fact, traditional healers use it for managing various problems, most especially on the skin.
Do you have jewelweed growing in your neighborhood? If so, continue reading this article to know some of the amazing medicinal properties that it is known to possess.
It is said that if there’s poison ivy around, chances are there’s jewelweed nearby. That’s because jewelweed is one of the best antidote for the various symptoms that poison ivy tends to brings. Actually, you may rely on jewelweed for attaining much-needed relief from the unfavorable skin reactions one might get from coming into contact with various poisonous plants such as poison oak, poison sumac and stinging nettle.
By the way, jewelweed is also known by so many other names because it can be found in various parts of the globe, such as Asia, Africa and other tropical and subtropical areas. Jewel balsam weed, garden balsam, spotted touch-me-not, impatiens and lady’s eardrops — jewelweed is also known by these names.
Some people say that jewelweed can be consumed as a vegetable, while others say that including it in the diet is a no-no because it is said to contain toxins. But for those who attest to the edibility of jewelweed, they say that the parts most suited for consumption are young fresh shoots harvested just before the plant bears flowers.
But as a medicinal plant, everyone agrees that jewelweed is quite valuable. The following are some of the most impressive uses of jewelweed as a healing type of herb:
It Relieves Skin Rashes
Something as simple as crushing the leaves and stems of jewelweed allows for a highly effective remedy for skin rashes brought about by toxics plants such as poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac and stinging nettle. The juice from the mentioned parts of the herb is known to possess antipruritic properties.
It Alleviates Insect Bites and Stings
Whenever you are bitten or stung by an insect, simply look for jewelweed if you want to attain relief from some of the most annoying symptoms like itchiness and burning sensation. Simply gather a few leaves and crush them with your fingers, and then daub the juice directly on the insect bite or sting.
It Disinfects Wounds and Burns
Traditional healers also employ jewelweed for keeping minor wounds and burns from becoming infected. That’s because the juice of jewelweed is said to possess anti-microbial properties, too. By keeping an infection from striking, delayed healing of the wound or burn as well as various complications can be prevented from happening.
It Zaps Warts and Ringworm, Too
Jewelweeds is known as an effective healer of unsightly warts as the potent juice coming from its leaves and stems is known to have the ability to kill off the infamous human papilloma virus or HPV. If you are suffering from ringworm or any other fungal infection of the skin, you may also try using jewelweed for relief.
CAUTION: It’s a good idea to use medicinal plants such as jewelweed under the direct supervision of an experienced and a reliable herbalist. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding or diagnosed with a medical condition, tell your doctor about your plan on using jewelweed for therapeutic purposes.
Do you have family and friends who are always on the hunt for herbs that they may use for dealing with an assortment of skin issues? Then have this article reposted online to get the acquainted with the medicinal properties of jewelweed!
