Touch-Me-Nots, Jewelweed or Home Remedy

Jewelweed is an old home remedy for Poison Ivy rash. I can attest to this since lately Poison Ivy vines and I seem to be at war with one another on a weekly basis. Maybe I am just never completely cured of one bout before contracting another but I cannot seem to cut grass, clear underbrush or even walk in the woods without itching. I was hiking to the creek on a weekly basis to gather a stem of Jewelweed to use but since summer is in full force the heat and moccasins have called a halt to this. Now I have to depend on the much weaker cultivated version. (Jewelweed belongs in the Balsam group.) Although the cultivated ones are not as potent, they are much more convenient. These my dad called Ladyslippers. I am not sure that is the proper name but I still call them this. The name Touch-Me-Nots (another Balsam) almost sounds ominous but it is actually referring to a peculiarity of the seed pods. When picking one, you really have to be careful not to lose the seeds because the pods explode on contact. The pod curls into little spring shapes that spew seeds everywhere! This makes for endless entertainment for children as they burst the pods replanting seeds everywhere! In the gardens, on the lawn, on the walkways and some even wind up on them! The name Jewelweed (some say) comes from the dewdrops or raindrops that "bead" on the leaves. But back to the medicinal aspect..to use for Poison Ivy relief simply pull a few leaves or flowers and rub them vigorously onto the rash. Sometimes it takes several applications over a couple of days to rid yourself of the rash but the itch is relieved instantly. I will admit, it took a week or more to clear a bad case of Poison Oak that I had earlier this spring. I was pretty much covered in a red, horribly itchy rash and over-the-counter medicines were not working at all. I resorted to herbal concoctions and almost immediately felt the difference. Balsams of all sorts are great for fighting rashes! (I also learned a valuable lesson..make sure not to burn Poison Oak nor Poison Ivy! The smoke can cause a horrible rash and it covers a much larger area than physical contact with the plant..OUCH!)

It is definitely summer..all signs point to it! Ummm..well..it is HOT! Today, again, it was near 100 degrees..in the shade! Another sure sign of it being summer here on the Bayou is that the Madonna Lilies are in bloom. Their five foot tall stalks are heavy with white trumpets. This is another plant that just haphazardly grows wherever the wind blows the seeds. I try not to cut them down when mowing even if they pop up in the middle of the lawn. I like them..I guess I like most plants if they bloom. I have threatened to leave the yard go without mowing and call it a wildflower field just because I hate to run over any flowering plant. The Madonna Lilies make the wonderful seed pods, also! When little, my boys used these stalks as "swords" while my daughter would say they were "faerie wands". They would run through the yard waving their swords and/or wands scattering the millions of seeds into the wind. What may not have started as an invasive species sure became one rather quickly with the aid of three youngsters! (Oh and just an added thought..Madonna Lilies are great in a Night Garden. Their white blooms almost glow in the moonlight!)