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in South Africa, but grows mostly in the mountainous regions of Asia and Africa.” That makes
me think they are talking more of I. balsamina, but their monograph is labeled I. biflora, and
refers to jewelweed, an American species. They cite only two German references, the same two
they cite in their first edition PHR. Much of the confusion may hark back to EFS who rather
“lump” I. aurea, I. balsamina, I. biflora, and I. nolitangere. I suspect they all contain lawsone,
which makes them rather generic medicinally. For the moment I am reluctant to aggregate the
data on the garden ornamental, I. balsamina, and my lovely wild flowers here in Maryland, the
orange and the yellow jewelweed.
Activities (Jewelweed) — Analgesic (1; FNF); Antibacterial (1; FNF); Antihistaminic (1; CEB;
FNF); Antiinflammatory (1; FNF); Antipyretic (1; FNF); Antiseptic (1; FNF); Antisarcomic (1;
FNF); Antisickling (1; FNF); Antispasmodic (1; FNF); Antitumor (1; FNF); Aperitif (f; PH2);
Digestive (f; PHR; PH2); Diuretic (f; APA; DEM; PHR; PH2); Emetic (f; CEB); Emmenagogue
(1; FNF); Fungicide (1; APA; FNF); Laxative (f; CEB); Oxytocic (1; FNF); Uterotonic (1; FNF).
Indications (Jewelweed) — Anorexia (f; PH2); Asthma (f; CEB); Bacteria (1; FNF); Bruise
(1; APA; CEB; DEM; FAD; FNF); Bug Bite (1; FAD; FNF); Burn (1; APA; DEM; FAD; FNF);
Cancer (1; FNF; JLH); Childbirth (f; DEM); Cold (f; CEB); Constipation (f; APA; CEB); Corn
(f; JLH); Cramp (f; DEM; FNF); Cut (1; FAD; FNF); Dermatosis (1; DEM; FNF); Dropsy (f;
CEB; DEM); Dyspepsia (f; PHR; PH2); Dysuria (f; DEM); Eczema (1; DEM; FAD; FNF);
Eyelid (f; DEM); Fever (1; FNF); Fungus (1; APA; CEB; FNF); Gastrosis (f; DEM); Headache
(f; DEM); Hemorrhoid (f; APA; CEB; PH2); Hepatosis (f; APA); Hive (1 DEM; FNF); Infection
(1; APA; FNF); Inflammation (1; FNF); Itch (1; APA; FNF); Jaundice (f; CEB; DEM); Liver
Spot (f; DEM); Mycosis (1; APA; FNF); Nephrosis (f; DEM); Pain (1; FNF); Poison Ivy (1;
FNF); Rash (f; APA); Ringworm (1; APA; CEB; FAD; FNF); Sore (1; APA; DEM; FAD; FNF);
Sprain (1; CEB; DEM; FAD; FNF); Swelling (f; APA); Tumor (1; FNF); Urticaria (1; DEM;
FNF); Wart (f; APA; CEB; FAD; JLH; PH2); Water Retention (f; APA; DEM; PHR; PH2);
Wound (f; DEM).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Jewelweed) — Not covered (AHP). “Hazards
and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2) (but PH2 designates no specific
quantified dosage! JAD). The reported emmenagogue and oxytocic activities of lawsone dictate
caution in pregnancy (JAD). Failing to dye my beard red with jewelweed extracts, I fear it was
only my cosmetological ignorance. Much later (2000), I read in EFS (ca. 1957), speaking of
impatiens, “The juice of the plants is used in combination with alum by the natives of tropical
countries to dye their nails.”
JIAOGULAN (Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino) ++Synonyms: G. pedatum Blume, Vitis pentaphylla Thunb.
Activities (Jiaogulan) — Adaptogen (1; X2364471); Antiaggregant (1; ABS); Antiatherosclerotic
(1; X7804367); Anticancer (1; X11155680); Antiedemic (1; X8328423); Antifibrotic (1;
X10999436); Antiinflammatory (1; ABS; AJC28:87); Antiischemic (1; ABS); Antioxidant (1; ABS;
AJC28:87); Antiradicular (1; ABS); Antisenility (1; ABS); Antistroke (1; ABS); Antithrombic (1;
ABS; X8219678); Apoptotic (1; X10643643); Cardioprotective (1; ABS); Cardiotonic (1; ABS);
Chemopreventive (1; ABS); Hematopoetic (1; ABS); Hepatoprotective (1; ABS; AJC28:87); Hyper-
tensive (1; ABS); Hypocholesterolemic (1; ABS); Hypolipidemic (1; ABS); Hypotensive (1; ABS);
Immunomodulator (1; X2364471); Immunostimulant (1; ABS); Leukocytogenic (1; ABS); NO-
genic (1; X10534439); Radioprotective (1; X8739185); SOD-genic (1; ABS).
Indications (Jiaogulan) — Altitude Sickness (1; ABS); Atherosclerosis (1; X7804367); Bronchosis
(1; ABS); Cancer (1; X11155680); Cancer, esophagus (1; X8732068); Cardiopathy (1; ABS;