- Region
- Europe
- Origin
- Originally Eurasia; now a weed worldwide. Stellaria media
Europe · Herb · № 94
Stellaria media
Herb · Europe
Chickweed
Stellaria media
Traditionally used externally as a cooling ointment or compress for itching, eczema and minor skin irritation. There is hardly any clinical research.
Safety notes
Safe as a vegetable in normal amounts. It contains nitrates and saponins; do not eat large quantities.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine: A miscarriage needs a doctor or midwife.
Preparation
Fresh herb as ointment, compress or in salads. No dosage is given here.
Use in traditions
Ody describes chickweed as a classic English home remedy for itching. It was also eaten as a vegetable and fed to chickens and birds, hence the name.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Herbal medicine worldwide
Attributed effects
Astringent, antirheumatic, wound-healing, soothing.
Preparation and amount
Fresh herb tea as a cleansing tonic for tiredness and weakness, for cystitis; fresh plant compress on boils, abscesses and rheumatic pain; tincture for rheumatism; cream for itchy eczema; oil as an alternative to cream, or 1 tbsp in bath water for eczema; S. dichotoma root for fever in chronic illness.
Western herbalism
Attributed effects
Soothing, emollient, tonic, cleansing; heals wounds, burns and skin diseases, for dry cough and asthma, inhibits internal bleeding and inflammation, supports kidneys/fluid balance.
Preparation and amount
Tea: 1–3 tsp per cup, 10–12 min, 1–3 cups a day; compress, poultice or ointment as needed; tincture 1–3 dropperfuls 1–3 times a day.
Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine
Attributed effects
On cuts; after a miscarriage and for a sore back.
Preparation and amount
Crush the fresh herb as a poultice; boil the whole herb as a drink.
Caution: A miscarriage needs a doctor or midwife.
Folklore and herbal magic
Symbolic meanings from folk use and modern herbal magic. These are handed-down associations, not effects.
Animals, love, fidelity, healing, weight loss.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Tea (infusion)TinctureSalve and balmCompress, poultice and pastePowder and kitchen