Chickweed

Species name: Stellaria media.

Also known as: common chickweed, Starweed. Star Chickweed. Alsine media (Linn.). Passerina, mouse ear, tongue grass.

What is Chickweed: What is chickweed?  Did you know that this common weed that could be growing in your lawn actually has medicinal properties when used properly?

There are many common ailments and conditions that can be helped by the use of chickweed. This simple weed actually helps people every day feel better.

Chickweed is a winter annual that is found throughout North America except for in the far west. Common chickweed is primarily a weed of turfgrass, lawns and winter small grains.

Chickweed is a plant native to Europe. It grows across North America as a common weed. The parts used medicinally are the leaves, stems, and flowers. Chickweed has been used in folk medicine for skin conditions, indigestion, and a variety of other conditions.

Home Remedies using Chickweed:

Chickweed is believed to help with many skin conditions such as eczema, rashes, burns and chapped skin, diaper rash and even insect bites and stings.

It also has a history of being used as a cough expectorant. It has other uses as well.

Benefits of Chickweed:

This herb has been well known in the herbal medicine community for some time and it is used to treat a multitude of illnesses and conditions.

Chickweed is used mainly as a topical cream applied to the affected area. It can also be taken as a tea or tincture. In tincture form, some herbalists recommend 15 to 30 drops in 1/4 cup of water taken by mouth, up to three times a day.

There are many different conditions which chickweed is believed to help with, many of which are skin related conditions. Chickweed has proven helpful in treating eczema and inflammatory skin conditions that often don’t respond well to other types of treatments.

Uses of Chickweed:

  • Eczema
  • Cough (acts as an expectorant)
  • Rashes, burns, chapped skin
  • Inflammatory skin conditions
  • Insect bites, stings, wounds
  • Diaper rash
  • Itchy skin
  • Inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatism, psoriasis
  • Blood "cleanser"
  • Stomach ulcers
  • Chickweed comes in capsule, liquid extract, tinctures, tea, ointments, oils, and dried herb

Side Effects of Chickweed:

Chickweed contains nitrate - if you experience symptoms of nitrate poisoning after taking chickweed, call your doctor right away. Symptoms include weakness, headache, fainting and dizziness.