- Region
- North America
- Origin
- Moist woods, stream banks and marshes across most of North America; naturalised in Europe, including the Netherlands, along rivers
- Traditions
- Cherokee medicine
North America · Herb · № 999
Impatiens capensis
Herb · North America
Orange jewelweed
Impatiens capensis
An annual, juicy herb with orange, spotted flowers. Ripe seed pods burst open when touched and shoot the seeds away, hence the names touch-me-not and jewelweed. The sap contains saponins and naphthoquinones; one study found it can prevent a poison ivy rash after short exposure, though washing with soap works at least as well.
Safety notes
External use only. Do not take it internally: large amounts irritate stomach and gut. Not in pregnancy. A blistering rash over a large part of the body or on the face needs a doctor. Traditional use is no proof of effect; consult a doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take medication or have a medical condition.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Cherokee (Tsalagi) medicine: External use only; not in pregnancy.
Preparation
Crush fresh stems and leaves and rub the sap on the skin.
Use in traditions
One of the best-known home remedies of eastern North America for the rash of poison ivy, which grows in every wood there. According to Hamel and Chiltoskey the Cherokee rubbed the juice on 'ivy poisoning', gave babies with hives an infusion of the root, and rubbed crushed leaves on the belly of a child with a sour stomach. Women were given a decoction of the stems to ease childbirth, and an infusion of the leaf was drunk for measles. The plant also went into the medicine of the Green Corn festival.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Cherokee (Tsalagi) medicine
Attributed effects
On poison ivy rash, crushed leaves on the belly of a child with a sour stomach, an infusion of the root for babies with hives; also in the medicine of the Green Corn festival.
Preparation and amount
Rub the sap of crushed stems and leaves on the skin.
Caution: External use only; not in pregnancy.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Compress, poultice and paste