The aerial parts of this plant are famous for relieving the itching of poison ivy dermatitis. Jewelweed is a native of North America and grows wild in moist soils along creek beds. The plant has unusual yellow (I. pallida) or orange (I. capensis) flowers that dangle downward from the stems. When the seeds are ripe and the pod is touched, the seeds go flying outward for several feet. This characteristic leads to another common name for the plant, “touch-me-not.” A different type of jewelweed in Asia (I. balsamina) is also used topically as an anti-pruritic remedy and also to sooth rheumatism, bruises, and swelling.

Part used::
Aerial parts

Origin:
North America, Asia

Hull, Kathleen; Photog. Hull, Meredith /Indiana Medical History Museum: Guide to the Medicinal Plant Garden./ USA: Indiana Medical History Museum. 2010. -- p. 58.