Chickweed: Materia Medica

Société Apothecary

SUMMARY Chickweed was traditionally harvested as a vegetable, also used to heal wounds and included in poultices for drawing boils. . MATERIA MEDICA Latin Binomial: Stellaria medica Common Name(s) : Chickweed TCM Name : Yin chai hu Ayurvedic Name : n/a Family: Caryophyllaceae Physical Description of the Plant: Chickweed is covered in soft hairs on the stem, leaves and flower buds. The soft hairs on the stem are found in a line on one side of the stem. At each pair of leaves, the line of hairs switches to the other side of the stem. The small, ½-inch long oval leaves are arranged in opposite pairs along the stem. The flower has five white petals, which have very deep clefts so it looks like there are 10 petals. The flower has ten stamens with dark anthers that surround three white styles growing from the center. The flower opens in the mornings and closes in the evening. Roots are close to the ground surface and easy to pull up except for the one tap root, which is thin but has little rootlets growing from it. Habitat: Europe and Asia Harvest and Collection: Chickweed is an easy-to-grow perennial plant that loves nutrient-rich, moist soil in partial to full shade. I often find it bordering shaded gardens, in the forest under tree cover, and in well-fertilized (with animal manure) lawns. In World War II, Americans were encouraged to use chickweed in their victory gardens as an easy-to-grow green that self-sows seeds (thus acting like an annual), is nutrient-rich, and grows in colder weather. You will often find it popping up as one of the first greens of spring and as one of the last greens in fall. It can even be found green and blooming under the snow! When weather is hot, chickweed lays dormant, and comes back when the weather cools again. If you chose to plant chickweed in your garden or yard, be ready for it to spread vigorously. It is a self-seeding annual, and it disperses its tiny seeds at least twice a year. Because chickweed is rich in nitrogen, it makes a wonderful soft ground cover, and when it is cut down and allowed to self mulch, it adds vital nutrients to the soil. It is a wonderful natural fertilizer and a boon to any winter garden. Sow the seeds where you would like them to sprout and spread. Tamp down lightly and water well. I tend to let nature take its course allowing the spring and fall rains to water these tasty green weeds. This is a wonderful food for chickens, rabbits, gerbils, and other vegetarian animals around the home, but beware, if you allow the chickens and rabbits free range of the chickweed patch, you might not have any left for yourself! Parts of the Plant Used: Aerial Parts – Leaves, Stems and Flowers. Harvest throughout growing period. Qualities: Sweet, moist & cool (Ody) Chemical Constituents: Taste: Milde Actions: Astringent Anti-rheumatic Cooling Demulcent Herbal saponins are known to irritate mucous membranes: used as expectorants Mild laxative and diuretic Soothing properties when applies to the skin Indications: Internally used in helping to treat conditions characterised by fever and bronchial phlegm Taken orally it can be used as a cough suppressant Topically it may sooth inflamed and itchy skin. Anecdotal evidence suggests it has some effects when treating conditions such as urticaria, eczema, rashes and burns. (Braun & Cohen, 2010) Contraindications/Cautions: Allergic skin reaction can occur with topical use. As with any other herb, some people may have an allergy to chickweed but most do not. Contact dermatitis has been reported in some cases. Chickweed is generally regarded as safe in food doses for pregnant and lactating women. Large doses may cause digestive upset with diarrhea, especially if large quantities of seeds are eaten. Drug Interactions: Dosage: Freshly harvested: 1-3 cups a day fresh, cooked, pickled, or stewed Dried or fresh as an infusion (fresh is best, dried is better than nothing): 1-3 cups a day The roots of Yin Chai Hu are decocted 3-9 grams a day. Topically in a salve or oil for up to 6 months. Can be used daily and persistently for skin problems Succus: 3-6 mL daily Infusion: Combinations: Energetics: Folklore: Flower Essence: Applications: DECOCTION: Use the herb fresh if possible for a cleansing, tonic mixture to help relieve tiredness and debility. Also good for urinary tract inflammations. TINCTURE: Add to remedies for Rheumatism POULTICE: Apply fresh plant to boils, abscesses , eczema or hot skin conditions COMPRESS: Soak pad in hot decoction or diluted tincture for painful rheumatic joints CREAM: Apply to eczema- ESPECIALLY if ITCHING. Use to draw out insect stings or splinters. Use on burns or scalds INFUSED OIL: Apply as alternative to creams for irritant skin rashes or add 1 tablespoon to bath water for eczema RECIPES CHICKWEED 4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 4 teaspoons walnut oil Salt and freshly ground pepper 6 cups chickweed leaves and tender stems (about 6 ounces) How to Make It Pour the lemon juice into a large bowl. Gradually whisk in the oil. Season with salt and pepper. Add the chickweed, toss until evenly dressed and serve at once. Suggested Pairing A light, snappy red with a peppery quality and oak-free finish like a French Sancerre Rouge would pair nicely. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH Anti-hepatitis B virus activity of chickweed [Stellaria media (L.) Vill.] extracts in HepG2.2.15 cells. Antiobesity effect of Stellaria media against drug induced obesity in Swiss albino mice. Antiobesity effect of Stellaria media against drug induced obesity in Swiss albino mice. β-carboline alkaloids from Stellaria dichotoma var. lanceolata and their anti-inflammatory activity. Bioactive constituents from Chinese natural medicines. XIV. New glycosides of beta-carboline-type alkaloid, neolignan, and phenylpropanoid from Stellaria dichotoma L. var. lanceolata and their antiallergic activities. Ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal uses of plants in the district of Acquapendente (Latium, Central Italy). Evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of water-soluble polysaccharide fraction of Stellaria media L. In vitro antibacterial and antitumor activities of some medicinal plant extracts, growing in Turkey . In vitro antioxidant activity of non-cultivated vegetables of ethnic Albanians in southern Italy. Isolation and characterization of a pentasaccharide from Stellaria media. Nutritional and toxic factors in selected wild edible plants. Purification and characterization of a novel anti-HSV-2 protein with antiproliferative and peroxidase activities from Stellaria media. Quality assessment and anti-obesity activity of Stellaria media (Linn.) Vill. Screening seeds of Scottish plants for antibacterial activity . References: Bone, K. (2003). A Clinical Guide to Blending Liquid Herbs: Herbal Formulations for the Individual Patient. St Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Hoffman, D. (1996). The Complete Illustrated Holistic Herbal. Element Books LTD. Fetrow, Charles & Juan Avila (2000). The Complete Guide to Herbal Medicines. New York, NY: Pocket Books. Ody, Penelope (1993). The Complete Medicinal Herbal. New York, New York: Dorling Kindersley. Gladstar, Rosemary (2012). Medicinal Herbs. A beginner's guide. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing. Groves, Maria Noel (2016). Body into Balance. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing. Thayer, Samuel (2006). Forager’s Harvest. Birchwood, WI: Forager’s Harvest. Foster, Steven (1993). Herbal Renaissance. Layton, UT: Peregrine Smith Books. McIntyre, Anne (2010). The Complete Herbal Tutor. London, England: Hatchet Company. Time. 100 Most Healing Foods. https://materiamedicaresource.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/chickweed/ http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/chickweed-salad Three Chickweed Recipes to Try at Home Chickweed Infusion Tea 1 tablespoon dried chickweed 1 cup boiling water Honey or lemon (optional) Place the dried chickweed in a mug or small teapot. Pour the boiling water over the herb. Cover and let steep for 10-15 minutes. Strain and sweeten with honey or a squeeze of lemon, if desired. Enjoy this soothing tea, but always consult a herbalist if you're new to chickweed. Chickweed Healing Salve 1 cup fresh chickweed 1 cup olive oil 1/4 cup beeswax Optional: a few drops of lavender essential oil Chop the fresh chickweed and place it in a glass jar. Cover with olive oil and let it infuse for 2 weeks in a sunny spot, shaking occasionally. Strain the oil into a saucepan and warm gently, adding the beeswax until it melts. Stir in the lavender oil if using, then pour into tins or small jars to set. For minor skin irritations, this salve can be a gentle companion, but seek advice from a practitioner if you have concerns. Chickweed Pesto 2 cups fresh chickweed leaves 1/2 cup walnuts 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 cloves garlic 1/2 cup olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Combine chickweed, walnuts, Parmesan, and garlic in a food processor. Blend while slowly pouring in the olive oil until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Use immediately as a spread or toss with pasta. This vibrant pesto is a delightful kitchen experiment, but if you're unsure about chickweed's culinary uses, consider consulting an expert.