Teach Soap

Hi
I am new to this forum and looking forward to it.
My question is I want to add jewel weed to my soap.(My sister gets poison ivy).
Unsure how to add the solution to the process. any help?

Hi janetalice! Are you doing cold process or melt & pour?

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Welcome! I would dry it first, then infuse it into one of your soapmaking oils if this is for CP.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Actually jewelweed does not dry well because it has a high moisture content. The soap, salve and spray products made from jewelweed are fresh, not dried. You can take the stem, slice it and run the juice on the affected skin to ease irritation and this can be used as preventative treatment, as it will usually prevent breakout [for most people].

To make an infusion, you boil the leaves of Impatiens capensis and can even freeze for later use. Brew chopped jewelweed in boiling water until you get a dark orange liquid. [Yellow Jewelweed will not yield orange color and may not be effective]. Then strain the liquid and pour into ice cube trays. When you have a skin rash, rub it with a jewelweed cube. It will keep in freezer up to a year. You can also preserve the infusion by canning it in a pressure cooker. If you are doing soap, you use this method and then use the cooled or frozen liquid.

Just do not make alcoholic tinctures from Jewelweed, because some people have had a bad reaction when using jewelweed with alcohol.

And welcome to the forum!

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

i've used a dehydrator to dry my herbs. Since I don't freeze mine, I didn't want to take a chance of any nasties growing in my infusion with fresh herbs. .

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.