Teach Soap

Hi All,
I am new to additives and would like to add jewel weed to my soap not sure how though.
any ideas?

Hi janetalice! SoapBuddy left you a response to this question in the welcome section.

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

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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.

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

Tammy

Wow I just learned a lot of new stuff! I'm going foraging this weekend to see if I can find some jewelweed near my house. (I feel like Ewell Gibbons!)

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

I LOVE foraging, Linda! You can find jewel weed more near water or in shallow ponds. And it is often found in areas where poison ivy is growing. But it is a shade lover, so while it may sprout in a sunny area, it dies there pretty fast too. Just make sure you get the orange ones, they work the best cuz they have a higher concentration of the stuff that neutralizes the urushiol in the poison ivy.
Have fun, and if you need some tips on using it in other ways, just let me know, I have a few !

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

Tammy

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

Depends what you want to make. The leaves and the stalks are both good. See my 1st post on this thread.
Sounds like you live in teh perfect area for it. Look up the picture on wikipedia and happy hunting!

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

Tammy

You guys are braver than I! =) With my luck, I'd accidentally pull the poison ivy!

=) Be careful. That would be a fairly badly received soap, me thinks =)

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Happy Soaping!

Anne-Marie
blog: www.soap-queen.blogspot.com
supplies: www.brambleberry.com

You are so cute Ann-Marie! But jewel weed is really easy to pick out, so no worries there! And you of all people are NOT one that I see backing down from a challenge, especially a small one such as this!

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

Tammy

LOL Anne-Marie! Fortunately jewelweed doesn't look anything like poison ivy!

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