CHICKWEED
Family Name: Carnation
Family Name: Caryophyllaceae
Latin Name: Stellaria media
Common Names: Common Chickweed, Indian chickweed, stitchwort, starwort, white bird’s eye, chick wittles, chickwhirtles, satin flower, adder’s mouth, mouse ear, starweed, passerine, tongue grass, cluckenweed, michevious Jack, skirt buttons, cyrillo, bindweed, and winter weed (1:387; 2:332).
Native American Names: None found.
Related Species: Stellaria alsine, Stellaria borealis, Stellaria calycantha, Stellaria umbellate, Stellaria crispa, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria humifusa, Stellaria longifolia, Stellaria longipes, Stellaria nitens, and Stellaria obtuse (7).
Sitting With/Dreams/Sense of the Plant: I placed a small cloth bag filled with dried Stellaria media under my pillow. I had a dream that night of an event that happened the next day. I don’t know if this was coincidence, but it was very interesting. I have sat with the dried plant. My sense is that it is a free, happy plant – a free spirit, if you wish.
Body System Affiliations:
- Digestive System
- Respiratory System
- General Nutritive (All Systems)
- Skin
- Immune System
- Urinary System
(1:387; 4:77, 139, 185)
Botanical Description:
Habit: Low-growing, trailing herb – Annual; can reach considerable length
Arrangement: Opposite pairs
Stem: Branched and trailing, with hairs on one side only, alternating with leaves
Leaves: Small, light green, oval, entire; 1-3 cm long and 3.15 mm wide
Flowers: Small, white, 5-petaled in a star shape, 6 mm across
Fruit: Tiny seed capsules, single chambered with 6 teeth
Underground Parts: Taproot
(3:333)
Habitat: Mineral-rich soil in shady, moist locations near gardens, at the edge of woods,
in clear-cuts, and near human habitations. It is also often found in the shade of
oak trees.
Range: Europe, North America
Native: Native to Europe
Ecological Relationships: Not found
(1:387)
Personal Observations of Locations Observed, Dates, and Descriptions of Plants:
I have observed this plant in a clear-cut near my house last year (2005), but I cannot give an accurate description from that sighting at this time. I did not find the chickweed when I went back there on 11/17/06. I looked at a map of Washington State the showed the distribution of Stellaria media and it was not located in any of the counties close enough for me to travel to. I know it grows near me, but have not located any fresh plant at this time.
Western (European-American) Uses/Relationships:
Food: It is a nutritious herb and was fed to caged birds and rabbits (time period not
stated in source). The plant can be eaten steamed or fresh by humans. The
leaves can be boiled like spinach, or eaten fresh with dandelion greens as a salad.
(1:387; 4:40)
Medicine:
Part Used: Whole fresh or dried plant, crushed plant or plant juice
Medicinal Actions:
Anti-Inflammatory, Diuretic, Anti-itch, Anti-irritant, Analgesic, Anti-rheumatic,
Anti-microbial, Emollient, Vulnerary
Indications:
Inflammation of the digestive and respiratory system
Itching and irritation of the skin
Toxicity of the Liver and Kidneys
Painful Urination
Body System Associations:
1. Digestive System
2. Respiratory System
3. General Nutritive (All Systems)
4. Skin
5. Immune system
6. Urinary System
Constituents:
Saponins, mucilage, silica, coumarins, flavanoids, triterpenoids, and carboxylic acids
Minerals: Copper, Iron, Vitamins A, B, and C
(1:387; 3:77, 132, 139, 154, 185)
Applications:
Infusions, poultice, or tincture (1:388).
Preparation:
Infusion: Place 2 oz. of fresh chickweed leaves in a warmed glass container and cover
with 2.5 cups of boiling water. Cover and steep for 10 minutes. This will store for
approximately 2 days in the refrigerator. An infusion may also be added to bath water or
used as a skin wash for itchy, inflamed skin (1:388).
Poultice: Chop fresh stems and leaves in quantity to cover area being treated. Sprinkle
the chopped plant with water and cover the area with the wet herb. Wet gauze or cotton
can be used to hold the mass in place (1:388)
Tincture: Combine 4 oz. of fresh or powdered dry herb with one pint of alcohol
(brandy, gin, or vodka) in a glass container. Make sure plant parts are covered with the
alcohol. Store the mixture in a dark place for 2 to 4 weeks, shaking several times a day.
Strain the mixture and store in a dark glass bottle with a tight lid (1:388).
Pharmacy:
Infusion: By the cupful, up to 3 times per day.
Tincture: 1 – 4 ml, 3 times a day.
(1:388)
Cautions:
May aggravate hay fever, use in moderation for internal treatments.
There have been no side effects reported as of yet.
(1:388)
Indigenous and Non-Western Use/Significance/Relationships
Food: An Iroquois forage food and used as food for chickens.
Medicine:
Indigenous Group: Iroquois
Part Used: Plant fragments in combination with other plants
Indications:
Antirheumatic (external)
Dermatological Aid
Applications:
Poultice for swellings
Raw, compound poultice for cuts and wounds
Medicine:
Indigenous Group: Chippewa
Part Used: Leaves
Indications:
Eye Medicine
Applications:
Decoction of strained leaves used as an eye wash for sore eyes.
(6)
Propagation:
Technique: This plant is started by seed and does not need encouragement. It is
adaptable to almost any soil type.
Timing: Anytime
(7)
Harvest:
Plant Part: Entire plant
Season of Harvest: Throughout the year – gather the young plant before flowering
Method of Harvest: Snipping of the stems as to encourage new growth for later harvest.
Ecological Considerations of Harvest: Leaving some stem for growth for later harvest.
This is a weed and reproduces quickly. It self-seeds and can produce as many as 5
generations within a season.
Cultural Considerations of Harvest: None found.
Cautions: May aggravate hay fever.
Personal Experience: None.
(1:387; 3:185)
Personal Experience:
Medicine:
Part used: Dried leaves, stems, flowers
Desired Medical Actions: Respiratory aid, anti-inflammatory
Targeted Indications: Chronic cough and cold, itchy skin
Procurement:
Source: Radiance in Olympia, WA
Condition: Dried
Cost: $ 1.08 per ounce
Other Procurement Information: None found.
Application/Preparation/Pharmacy:
Applications: Tincture and Infusion
Preparation:
Tincture: 11-16-2006: I warmed 8 oz. of organic apple cider vinegar on
the stove. While I waited, I put 1/4 oz. of dried herb into my
tincture jar. I poured the warm vinegar over it and sealed the
lid tight. I put the jar into one of my cabinets where it would
stay dark.
Infusion: 11-18-2006 I put 1 teaspoon of dried Chickweed and 1
teaspoon of dried Peppermint into my tea mug. To this I added
about 8 ounces of boiling water. I put the steeping lid on the
cup and let it sit for 10 minutes. I then strained it and drank the
infusion.
Pharmacy: The tincture is not ready to use yet. It should be ready by 12-9-2006.
I took 8 ounces of the tea one time so far.
Reason/Purpose: The infusion is to help relieve my cold symptoms and the
tincture will be tried on any skin irritation when it arises. I
might try it on my dogs.
Experience: The tea helped a bit, but I think it was more the work of the
Peppermint opening my sinuses.
Cautions based on experience: None.
Cautions: May aggravate hay fever, moderation for ingestion.
There have been no side effects reported as of this time.
(1:388)
1. Krapp, Kristine, and Jacqueline L. Longe, Editors. The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative
Medicine. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group, 2001.
2. Royer, France, and Rich Dickinson. Weeds of the Northern U.S. Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada: The University of Alberta Press and Renton, WA: Lone Pine Publishing, 1999.
3. Hoffman, David. The Holistic Herbal. Findhorn, Scotland: Findhorn Press, 1983.
4. Maybe, Richard, Michael McIntyre, Pamela Michael, Gail Duff, John Stevens, Editors. The
New Age Herbalist. London, England: Gaia Books Ltd., 1988.
5. Moore, Michael. Medicinal Plants Of The Pacific West. Sante Fe, NM: Red Crane Books,
Inc., 1993.
6. Moerman, Daniel E. Native American Ethnobotany Database. May 2003. Online at
http://herb.umd.umich.edu/ [1]. Visited 11-17-2006.
7. Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future. June 2004. Online at
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Stellaria+media [2]. Visited 11/17/2006.
Chickweed Stellaria media
Photo By: Scott and Sandi Stevenson
Source of Photo: Live plant in Henry W. Coe State Park, CA
Tracy Wilson - Healing Gardens - Fall Quarter - 2006