Poison Ivy Infusion Relief - Jewelweed (Impatiens Capensis)

There is an interesting anecdote attached to this one. One summer, we found a mysterious and attractive wildflower out back of my bf's mom's house. Later the same summer, I contracted a horrific case of poison ivy. Close to three weeks of scratching, squirming, Calamine-encrusted misery ensued. During a heatwave, no less. I tried everything available over the counter to no avail. Reading up on wildflowers out of simple curiousity - I fortuitously discovered this plant I'd been curious about was called Jewelweed, or Spotted Touch- Me-Not. The field guide I was reading metioned that it's considred an excellent treatment for poison ivy. Right in our own backyard! After doing some research on how to prepare the stuff for use, I found the following instructions at www.altnature.com. It worked within a couple of days after everything else had failed. That it could be frozen as ice cubes had added benefits on a really hot day. Best of luck with this and please let me know if it works for you, too. : )

• Ready In: 2 hrs
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 1  cup  bruised herbs
• 1⁄3 cup water

Directions

1. Gather the whole plant - with the orange - not yellow - flowers.
2. Chop jewelweed (the whole plant, stems, leaves, flowers and all) and place in an enamel saucepan, or a slow-cooker with a non-metallic liner.
3. Pour in water, just to cover. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer (or cover and turn the crock pot on high) for several hours until a dark orange liquid emerges.
4. The Jewelweed will by then look and smell like a soggy heap of boiled spinach. Remove it, and strain off the lovely orange liquid. Strain the liquid through cheesecloth, or a coffee filter, and pour into ice cube trays. Freeze.
5. The cubes can then be used to rub the affected areas as needed. Brings very rapid relief, and will clear the rash in a day or two. The remainder of the cubes can be wrapped in a double layer of labelled freezer bags and it will keep for up to a year.