Jewelweed Salve Recipe

 

Close up view of spotted jewelweed blooms.

Jewelweed Salve Recipe

Dana Koogler

Saturday Sept. 12, 2020

  

   I remember as a child spending time at Mamaw & Papaw's house in Vesuvius.   The yard was green and lush, and smelled of mint and damp earth.

Along the fence near the edge of the yard in Summer was a thick swath of spotted jewelweed.   I remember how pretty it was.  Mamaw showed me how the seed pods burst open giving them their nickname "Touch Me Nots".  

She also told me how when she was a child her mother, my great granny Mohler, would make salve out of the plants to use on rashes.  It was especially good against poison ivy rash.  The plant can be used as a preventative as well as a soothing agent to help heal it faster.   I never thought the day would come when I'd  find myself making that same concoction and using it!   

I guess I have more of Margaret Frye Cash-Mohler in me than I ever knew.

Below is a photo of my Granny Mohler.  She is sitting at the window at Aunt Mary Margaret & Uncle Bob Groah's house.  That is where she lived for the last  few decades of her long life.   She lived to be ninety-seven and clear minded.   I loved her and miss her.    

*Reader Amy Wagner wisely advised me to warn folks that this stuff doesn't smell good. The cooking the weeds down part really is smelly.  I set my crock pot out on the screen porch and let it simmer out there. * Thank you, Amy! 

That said my grandson Michael uses this stuff to heal poison ivy and prevent it and it works! 

      Ingredients & Materials: 

Quart mason jar

2 cups olive oil

1 Wal-mart plastic grocery bag of jewelweed

crock pot

tea towel

2 Tablespoons bees wax pastilles plus

2 Tablespoons coconut oil  OR 2 1/2 tablespoons coconut and beeswax blend

1 Tablespoon shea butter

20 drops of essential oils like tea tree, grapefruit, sweet orange or lavender

strainer and cheese cloth

 mason jar ring

1/2 pint jar or containers for salve.

I got some neat little plastic tubs with lids at Dollar Tree .. a dozen of them for $1.00!  

Go someplace safe to forage where the jewelweed will be clean and free of contaminants like pesticides and road dust.  Pick you a plastic grocery bag full of the leaves, stems, and flowers.   Take it home and wash it and check it for bugs and any stray parts of other plants.    If you cannot process it immediately it will keep in the refrigerator for a day or two.

 

Above and below are two images that illustrate what the plants look like.  They are abundant and like to grow in damp areas like creek banks. 

Another form of jewelweed is pale jewelweed.  It is also acceptable to use.  It apparently doesn't have as much potency as the spotted variety, but will do fine.

Above: photo of pale or yellow jewelweed.

   Infusing your Carrier Oil 

 Once you have your jewelweed washed chop it up into smaller pieces and pack a clean mason jar with the plant parts.   Pour olive oil into the jar to nearly cover the plant parts.   I packed the plant material down a little bit.

Put a tea towel into the bottom of your crock pot, put about four inches of water in the pot and turn it on to low.  

Place a cheese cloth over the mouth of the mason jar and put the jar ring on it.

Allow this to sit overnight in the crock pot on low.  In the morning turn it off and strain the jewelweed infused oil through the cheese cloth into a clean container until all the plant material is removed.  You don't want water or plant parts in your infused oil or it will spoil.  Interestingly jewelweed plant infused in water turns orange while it turns pale green infused in oils.  

   Directions to Mix Salve

In a pot that you don't care if it gets messy-- place your jewelweed containing oil .. should be about 2 cups

Add in beeswax coconut oil and shea butter place on a burner on low heat.

Stir frequently til it is all melted together.

Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.  Add 20 drops of essential oil of your choosing.  I used grapefruit, lavender and a few drops of tea tree oil.

Any plant like this that I have ever infused has a "cooked grass" odor that is not the most pleasant.   The essential oils mask that funky smell.  

Pour your liquid into jars or containers. 

Allow to sit undisturbed several hours til the salve has set.

Should be soft and easy to apply.  Use care in measuring the beeswax or you'll get chapstick instead of salve!  

Above: The finished product.  I label my salves and homemade remedies with the name and the date.  This will keep at room temperature for a year or more.