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Chickweeds
Stellaria media, Stellaria pubera,
Other Names: Common Chickweeds, Star
Chickweed, Mouse-ear Chickweed
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| Habitat
Chickweeds are an annual herb, widespread in temperate zones, arctic zones, and
throughout, probable origin Eurasia. Chickweeds have established themselves all over
the world, possibly carried on the clothes and shoes of explorers. They are as
numerous in species as they are in region. Most are succulent and have white flowers,
and all with practically the same edible and medicinal values. They all exhibit a very
interesting trait, (they sleep) termed the 'Sleep of Plants,' every night the leaves
fold over the tender buds and the new shoots.
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The cultivation of this one is not necessary
it is abundant and easy to find. Gather fresh edible plant between May and
July, as soon as flowers appear, it can be used fresh or be dried for later
herb use.
Properties
Chickweeds are Medicinal and
edible, they are very nutritious, high in vitamins and minerals, can be added to
salads or cooked as a pot herb, tasting somewhat like spinach. The major plant
constituents in Chickweed are Ascorbic-acid, Beta-carotene, Calcium, Coumarins,
Genistein, Gamma-linolenic-acid, Flavonoids, Hentriacontanol, Magnesium, Niacin,
Oleic-acid, Potassium, Riboflavin, Rutin, Selenium, Triterpenoid saponins, Thiamin,
and Zinc. The whole plant is used in alternative medicine as an astringent,
carminative, demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, laxative, refrigerant, vulnerary. A
decoction of the whole plant is taken internally as a post-partum depurative,
emmenagogue, galactogogue and circulatory tonic. It is also used to relieve
constipation, an infusion of the dried herb is used in coughs and hoarseness, and is
beneficial in the treatment of kidney complaints. as an astringent, carminative,
demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, laxative, refrigerant, vulnerary. A decoction of the
whole plant is taken internally as a post-partum depurative, emmenagogue, galactogogue
and circulatory tonic. It is also used to relieve constipation, an infusion of the
dried herb is used in coughs and hoarseness, and is beneficial in the treatment of
kidney complaints. New research indicates it's use as an effective
antihistamine. The decoction is also used externally to treat rheumatic pains, wounds
and ulcers. It can be applied as a medicinal poultice and will relieve any kind of
roseola and is effective wherever there are fragile superficial veins or itching skin
conditions.
Folklore
Chickweed water is an old wives'
remedy for obesity.
Recipes
Medicinal tea: To 1 tbls. dried
herb, 2 if fresh, add 1 cup boiling water steep for 10 min. Take in ½ cup doses 2 to 4
times daily, during a cold or flu.
Article by Deb Jackson & Karen Bergeron
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