CHICKWEED

Stellaria media Adders Mouth, Passerina, Satin Flower, Starweed, Starwort, Stellaire (French)

ORIGIN OF PLANT / HABITAT It is an extremely prolific weed, providing an abundant source of edible & medicinal foliage, even in winter in milder areas. It has been used as an healing herb for centuries, and was also valued in many countries as a food for birds & domestic fowl, hence the name chickweed. Stellaria comes from the Latin stella, star, referring to the star shape of the flowers. Native to Europe but spread through many countries. Cosmopolitan weed of temperate regions. GROWTH Spreading, mat-forming annual, often over-wintering, with a long slender taproot and diffusely branched brittle stems. Moist soil in sun or shade. It is tender & fragile and does not like the soil around it disturbed. LEAF SHAPE Ovate leaves, go 2.5cm. FLOWERS White, star-shaped flowers, 5mm across, with deeply notched petals, appear at any time of the year. PARTS USED Whole plant. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS Mucilage, anti-inflammatory saponins, rich in mineral salts including calcium & potassium, ACTIONS

A soothing, cooling, slightly saline herb that relieves itching, promotes healing, and has alterative, anti-rheumatic effects. CAUTIONS Excess causes diarrhea & vomiting. CONTRAINDICATIONS Contraindicated during pregnancy.

MEDICINAL
Internally Rheumatism & chest infections, aid for digestion Externally Itching skin conditions, eczema, psoriasis, vaginitis, urticaria, ulcers, boils, abscesses, Combines well with: Often blended with Althaea officinalis or Ulmus rubra in anti-pruritic prescriptions.

CULINARY
Sprigs are added to salads and cooked as a vegetable. Liquidized with other herbs & vegetables as a tonic juice. It combines well with parsley to make a dip. Add to soups & stews in the last minutes of cooking. The Tswana people gather young chickweed shoots & add potatoes & onions to make a type of spinach dish. It is believed to give them strong blood.

COSMETIC
Has antiseptic qualities and can be made into a mild lotion & dabbed onto spotty & problem skins. It is an excellent slimming herb a standard brew taken once or twice a week.

HOME
Add to compost it is rich in nitrogen.

HISTORICAL
The leaves are readily infused in oil as a simple remedy for dry, itchy skin; Culpepers recommendation was to Boil a handful of Chickweed, and a handful of red rose leaves (petals) dried, in a quart of muscadine, until a fourth part be consumed; then put to them a pint of oil of trotters of sheeps feet; let them boil a good while, still stirring them well; which being strained, anoint the grieved place wherewith, warm against the fire, rubbing it well with one hand (The English Physician Enlarged, 1653).

FOLKLORE/MYTHICAL
POWERS: Fidelity, love.

 MAGICKAL USES: Carry or use in spells designed to attract love or to maintain a relationship.

INFO REF: Van Wyk, B.; Van Oudtshoorn, B. & Gericke, N. 2000. Medicinal Plants of South Africa. Mills, S. Y. THE DICTIONARY FO MODERN HERBALISM. Healing Arts Press, 1988. Brown, D. THE NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HERBS & THEIR USES. Dorling Kindersley, 2002. Houdret, J. COOKS KITCHEN REFERENCE HERBS. Lorenz Books, 2002. Roberts, M. A Z OF HERBS. Struik Publishers, 2000. Cunningham, S. ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MAGICAL HERBS. Llewellyn Publications, 2002. SPECIMEN COLLECTED My garden PE DATE 01/2004