Jewel Weed

Botanical Name

Family Balsamaceae
Impatiens biflora

Common Names

Pale Touch-Me-Not, Touch-Me-Not, Wild Celandine, Spotted Touch-Me-Not, Speckled Jewels, Balsam Weed, Wild Balsam, Balsam A'Florae, Slipperweed, Silverweed, Wild Lady's Slipper, Quick-in-the-hand

Cautions

None listed.

Description

Jewel Weed is from a genus of annuals and perennials and one of over 600 species that can be found in South Africa, Africa, the Americas, Eurasia, and in several mountainous climes around the world. Jewel Weed is a fleshy plant, growing to about six feet in height and producing orange-yellow flowers with large reddish-brown spots. The fruit capsule bursts open when ripe and spreads seeds over large distances.

History

In folk medicine, the fresh plant was used in ointments for hemorrhoids, while the juice was used for removing warts.

Key Actions

antiparasitic
digestive aid
diuretic
liver stimulant
mildly laxative

Key components

naphthalene derivatives

Medicinal Parts

Aerial parts

Traditional Uses

Jewel weed has a variety of medicinal uses, including for mild constipation and as a stimulant of the liver. It has been used as an adjuctive in treatment for jaundice and in some hepatic-related ophthalmic conditions.

In ointments, it can be used to treat hemorrhoids and other varicose conditions.

As a parasiticidal, it is used to treat certain skin infections, including two types of ringworm (Tinea tonsurans and Tinea sycosis). The herb is also mildly effective against Tinea circinata, although this type is a particularly intractable form of the disease.

As a diuretic, it is effective in cases of edema (dropsy).