Jewelweed is a natural remedy for itchy skin. You can forage wild jewelweed and use it to make an oil infusion in just a few simple steps, with items already in your kitchen. Add the jewelweed infused oil to homemade skincare products like soap or salve for soothing poison ivy, bug bites, and more.
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I run a goat grazing business and get into a lot of poison ivy as a result! What helps soothe the itch is my goat milk soap made with jewelweed infused olive oil.
I’m going to share how I make this easy oil infusion in my slow cooker for cold process soapmaking, but you can use it for a variety of things. Add it to melt and pour soap, hot process soap, a homemade salve, or any other skincare product.
Benefits of Jewelweed
Jewelweed has natural anti-inflammatory and anti-itch properties. It has been used topically for ailments including poison ivy rash, bug bites, bee stings, and eczema. It can provide a steroid-free option for symptom relief of skin irritation.
Identifying Jewelweed
In Michigan, jewelweed blooms in late summer and early fall. Jewelweed can be identified by its tall, leafy stalks and bright orange, funnel-shaped flowers. It is usually plentiful and easy to find, growing in moist areas on the edge of forests.
If you are new to foraging or unsure about the species of plant you have encountered, I recommend using a plant identification book or app. I have the free PlantNet app on my phone and I love using it!
Harvesting Jewelweed
Once you are confident it’s jewelweed you have encountered, go ahead and pick some. Jewelweed stems are watery and easy to break off by hand, so there is no need for using shears.
You will want to harvest the flowers, leaves, and several inches of stem from the plant for making your oil infusion. Don’t pull the jewelweed up from the roots, leaving the bottom of the stem will allow it to grow back. I have found that one large bouquet that fits in my hand is enough for making a quart of infused oil.
Jewelweed wilts fairly quickly after being harvested, so you will want to make your oil infusion the same day that you pick it so that it is fresh.
Materials Needed for Making Jewelweed Infused Oil
- Fresh harvested jewelweed
- Cutting board
- Chef’s knife
- Olive oil
- Measuring cup
- Slow cooker
- Rubber spatula
- Mesh strainer
- Cheese cloth
- Large bowl with pouring spout
- Mason jar and lid
You will use equal parts jewelweed and olive oil to make the infusion. To make one quart of infused oil, I use 4 cups of jewelweed and 4 cups of olive oil. It fits perfectly in a Mason jar.
Use a cutting board and chef’s knife to prepare the jewelweed and a slow cooker to steep the oil and jewelweed mixture. Filter the plant matter out of the oil with a mesh strainer and cheese cloth.
Directions for Making Jewelweed Infused Oil
- 1. Harvest a large bouquet of fresh jewelweed.
- 2. Roughly chop 4 cups of jewelweed flowers, leaves, and stems using a cutting board and chef’s knife. Place in a slow cooker.
- 3. Measure 4 cups of olive oil and add it to the chopped jewelweed in the slow cooker. Stir gently with a rubber spatula.
- 4. Set the slow cooker to low and cook for 6 hours, stirring periodically. You do not want to boil or burn the mixture.
- 5. Line a mesh strainer with cheese cloth and put it on top of a large bowl with a pouring spout.
- 6. Carefully pour the oil and jewelweed mixture from the slow cooker through the mesh strainer and cheese cloth. This will filter the plant matter from the oil. Gather and squeeze the cheese cloth before discarding.
- 7. Using the spout on the collection bowl, pour the oil infusion into a Mason jar for storing.
- 8. Use your lovely, green jewelweed oil infusion for making soap or a homemade salve within 6 months.
Ways to Use Jewelweed Infused Oil
I substitute jewelweed infused oil for regular olive oil in my soapmaking recipe. It behaves well in cold process soapmaking with goat milk as long as I keep my temperatures low and put the molds in the freezer after pouring. The jewelweed infusion gives the soap a nice earthy, green tint!
You can make a simple salve by combining the jewelweed oil infusion with beeswax. Add some plantain for extra itch-relief or your favorite essential oils too.
Mother, farmer, author, and teacher by trade… She loves tending to things and watching them grow!