I hope everyone is enjoying the plants!

Jewelweed & Poison Ivy

Almost everyone gets it. It's practically unavoidable. Poison ivy is spouting up everywhere! Thankfully in New England along with the bountiful poison ivy plants there are plenty of remedies around too.

The best known remedy usually grows near poison ivy in fact: Jewelweed (impatiens capensis AKA Touch-me-not or silverweed) grows in wet areas, near swamps and streams, and can be used topically to treat poison ivy.

How to use Jewelweed...

Pick a bunch, crush it, and rub it on exposed parts of your body that might come in contact or have already come in contact with poison ivy. It is a juicy plant and breaking it up and rubbing it on your skin is very easy to do. It is more effective before the oils set into your skin that cause the rash.

Jewelweed tea

Collect a bunch of jewelweed and make a tea: Bring about 4 cups of water to a boil , chop a large handful of jewelweed and add it to the boiling water. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then strain it out.

You can bath in this tea, just treat the affected area OR freeze it into ice cubes. You can apply the ice to exposed areas or areas that are already suffering from the rash. Ahhh, relief!

Springtime Nettles

It's early spring! Start looking out for young Stinging Nettles....one of my favorite herbs and the first plant that made me curious enough to start an herbal apprenticeship. I have a strong connection with the nettle plant and feel obliged to say "Thanks!" every time I see it.

Nettles are among the most nutritious of wild foods. When they are cooked, the sting disappears, leaving behind an herb packed with more vitamins and minerals than you can imagine. Stinging Nettle is truly a super-food and very bountiful on the east coast of MA. Search for nettles in the early spring when they are still young and low to the ground. Make sure to bring gloves if you don't like being stung...it can be quite painful if you're not used to it! Cut the top 1/3 of the plant, give thanks to it by offering a pray, some hair, or tobacco, and put in your bag or basket. Bring it home to tincture, dry to tea, or make this soup:

Spring Nettle Soup
(adapted from a recipe from Susan Weed)

6-8 cups of nettle tops

6 cups water (or bone broth...even better)

1/2 chives, chopped

2-3 carrots, chopped

1-2 leeks, chopped

3 tablespoons miso

1-2 potatoes, cubed

salt & pepper

butter

1 cup yellow dock leaves (optional)

1/2 cup dandelion leaves (optional)

Directions: Wash vegetables and greens. Saute greens, leeks, and carrots in some butter for 5-10 minutes. Add bone broth or water and potatoes. Bring to a boil then simmer for at least a half hour. Add salt, pepper to taste and miso just before serving. Puree for rich green soup. Enjoy!