Easy Anti-Itch Jewelweed Salve Recipe

Need some help with poison oak, poison ivy, or and other itches? Learn how to use jewelweed to help! Use this easy jewelweed salve recipe and find relief right away!

Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) is a common wildflower that grows throughout North America near wet, shaded areas.

This vibrant orange and yellow flower has long been used by indigenous peoples and folk herbalists for its skin healing properties.

The juice and oils from the jewelweed plant can be extracted and made into a simple salve that is helpful for treating a variety of skin irritations and conditions.

While you can use jewelweed right as you pick it off for a poultice, I have found success with making jewelweed salve too.

Jewelweed contains compounds called saponins that give the plant its soap-like qualities. When the leaves and stems are crushed, these saponins produce a jelly-like substance that has emollient, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

Jewelweed salve helps to soothe and calm all kinds of skin irritation and inflammation. While many use jewelweed for poison ivy, it can be used for so many things!

In this guide, learn all the wonderful jewelweed uses and benefits, along with how to make jewelweed salve for poison ivy, burns, and so much more!

Jewelweed Salve Uses

There are so many jewelweed medicinal uses, I wanted to quickly go over a couple of them:

Poison Ivy and Oak

One of the most popular uses of jewelweed is as a treatment for poison ivy, oak, and sumac. The saponins in jewelweed help break down the resin in these toxic plants that causes the characteristic blistering rash.

Applying jewelweed salve helps stop the itch and dry up the rash faster. Jewelweed can prevent the painful rash from forming if applied immediately after contact with these poisonous plants.

Most people love using jewelweed for poison ivy, and it truly does make a huge difference! If you spend lots of time outside in nature, you will want to have this poison ivy salve on hand at all times.

I make a jewelweed spray that I love for quick itch relief too!

Skin Rashes

Jewelweed salve also helps relieve the discomfort of heat rash, eczema, rosacea, hives, athlete’s foot and even acne.

Anything that causes red, inflamed and itchy skin can be helped by this gentle botanical salve. The anti-inflammatory action reduces swelling and irritation, while the antimicrobial properties prevent infection.

Insect Bites and Stings

Bug bites and bee stings can result in swollen, uncomfortable skin reactions. Jewelweed salve is an excellent home remedy for taking down the swelling and itching caused by mosquitoes, flies, spiders, bees and wasps.

For most insect bites, simply rubbing on some jewelweed salve will provide quick relief. The active compounds reduce inflammation and the urge to scratch.

Jewelweed’s antimicrobial action also prevents insect bites from becoming infected. For bee stings, the saponins help break down the toxins from the venom.

Just be sure to remove the stinger before applying the jewelweed. This natural salve can spare you from using chemical creams or taking oral medications to treat bug bites.

Minor Cuts, Burns, and Scrapes

The next time you have a minor kitchen burn or scrape your knee while gardening, reach for the jewelweed salve. The natural oils soothe injured skin and form a protective barrier.

Jewelweed’s anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties speed up healing by reducing pain and preventing infection. This salve can be used on minor cuts, scratches, burns, and abrasions for natural relief and healing.

DIY Jewelweed Salve Recipe

Learn how to make a jewelweed salve! It is so simple and requires very few ingredients. First you will make a jewelweed oil and then the salve from the infused oil.

For this recipe, I decided to add a few different flowers to help increase the benefits, but you can also just make this recipe with jewelweed to be effective too!

Here is how to make your own jewelweed salve:

Ingredients

• ¼ cup jewelweed
• ¼ cup lavender flowers
• ¼ cup calendula 
• ¾  cup avocado oil
• 1 ½ tablespoons beeswax 

Instructions

Add the calendula, lavender, and jewelweed into a glass jar.  

Then, add in the avocado oil to fully cover everything. Cover the jar with a lid and keep it in a dark spot for a few weeks, shaking ever so often. Then strain.  

In a double boiler or a heat-safe bowl set over a pot of simmering water, melt the infused oil and beeswax pellets. 

Pour the mixture into tins and let cool for a few hours or overnight.

Notes

• This recipe usually makes about 2 2oz tins. 
• You can use any carrier oil of your choice and can add in other herbs or essential oils if you want. 
• Again, I added a few different flowers to help increase the benefits, but you can also just make this recipe with jewelweed too.

The Benefits of Jewelweed Salve

Jewelweed salve has many benefits you will love:

• All natural and free of chemicals, dyes, and preservatives
• Safe and gentle enough for children and babies
• Soothes itching, inflammation, redness, and swelling
• Anti-microbial to prevent infections
• Breaks down plant toxins and bee venom
• Speeds healing of minor cuts, burns, and scrapes
• Inexpensive and easy to make yourself

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Jewelweed Salve

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Materials

• ¼ cup jewelweed
• ¼ cup lavender flowers
• ¼ cup calendula 
• ¾  cup avocado oil
• 1 ½ tablespoons beeswax

Instructions

1. Add the calendula, lavender, and jewelweed into a glass jar.  
2. Then, add in the avocado oil to fully cover everything. Cover the jar with a lid and keep it in a dark spot for a few weeks, shaking ever so often. Then strain.  
3. In a double boiler or a heat-safe bowl set over a pot of simmering water, melt the infused oil and beeswax pellets. 
4. Pour the mixture into tins and let cool for a few hours or overnight.

Notes

• This recipe usually makes about 2 2oz tins. 
• You can use any carrier oil of your choice and can add in other herbs or essential oils if you want. 
• Again, I added a few different flowers to help increase the benefits, but you can also just make this recipe with jewelweed too.

Handmade Jewelweed Salve FAQs

Jewelweed Salve Recipe Wrap-Up

The vibrant orange jewelweed is not just a beautiful wildflower. With its many therapeutic properties, jewelweed is truly a jewel of a medicinal plant that has multiple uses as a skin healing salve.

Keeping a jar of jewelweed salve on hand is a smart addition to your natural medicine cabinet.

You will love these other great DIY natural recipes: