One of the interesting plants you can find in the woods is Jewel Weed. It has a reputation of being an antidote to poison-ivy, and it does seem to work in preventing or relieving dermatitis from poison-ivy contact.
Susan is an experienced soapmaker, and this year she has begun making extract from Jewel Weed. We use it as an ointment, and as an ingredient in homemade soap. It really does work! Here is Susan showing the plant to a class of soapmakers.
Discussing oil selections for various types of soap.
Measuring lye: a postal scale is a necessity for consistent results. Lye is difficult to find nowadays because dopers use it to make some of their poison.
Pouring the Jewel-Weed extract.
Adding lye to the Jewel Weed extract; very carefully and slowly.
Adding the lye solution to the oils.
Mixing it up. Stick blenders sure are an improvement over the spoon!
Pouring the mixture into a mold.
Soon-To-Be-Soap.
One of her finished bars. This one is lavender.
Free Samples! 
The finished Jewel Weed bars.
No comments:
Post a Comment