Friday, October 29, 2010

Jewelweed

Jewelweed (3)

Impatiens capensis
Also called spotted touch-me-not

I learned from my friend, Arthur, who seems to run into poison ivy a lot, that jewelweed is the antidote. John tells me that jewelweed grows where poison ivy grows, so that I must have poison ivy in Vermont. It does — often but not all the time.

You can Google "jewelweed and poison ivy" to find information, salves, soaps and even videos about the connection between the two. The site I visited says this:

Jewel Weed totally neutralizes the Poison Ivy's oily antigen called Urushiol, and you will no longer spread it by scratching or rubbing. The Urushiol oil may be carried on the fur of pets, clothing, shoes, toys, tools, or other objects and then transferred to the skin. Approximately 24 to 36 hrs after a sensitized person is exposed to the Urushiol, a blistery, itching rash develops. Usually within 15 minutes of contact, the Urushiol binds to skin proteins. If it is washed off with soap and water before that time, a reaction may be prevented. After the antigen is fixed, however, it cannot be washed off or transferred to other areas. Scratching or oozing blister fluid cannot spread the antigen to other areas of the body or to other persons.
Jewel Weed is still quite helpful even if you have developed scabs, though you need to work — Rub — it in longer, and it takes time for the blisters to heal.

 
 

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