Disclaimer: The contents in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.
Impatiens capensis, also known as spotted jewelweed, spotted touch-me-not, or orange balsam, is an annual plant native to North America. It is common in ditches and along creeks, often growing side-by-side with its less common relative, yellow jewelweed.
Jewelweed has a long history of use in Native American medicine. When applied topically, sap from the stem and leaves is said to relieve itching and pain from a variety of ailments, including hives, poison ivy, stinging nettle, and other skin sores and irritations. The sap has also been shown to have anti-fungal properties and can be used to treat athlete’s foot.