Chickweed, Stellaria media, is popping up all over the place at the moment. I keep pulling it out of my flower beds feeling terribly guilty as I do so, because it is such a gentle and effective herb, I should be using it much more. If I still had chickens, I would be encouraging them to eat it, because they love it and it keeps them healthy.
Primarily we would use it for clearing the lymph and for itchy skin conditions. It is a very nutritive plant and is a great source of vitamins A, B, C and D, and folic acid, as well as providing minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and rutin (particularly good for the heart). Like all these spring plants, we would have needed them in our diet in ancient times to recover and rejuvenate after the long winter months.
It can be picked (making sure you know exactly what you are picking) and put into salads or juiced. It lubricates and clears heat as well as regulates, preserves and balances the water content in our bodies. It helps to decongest the lymph and, being slightly diuretic, it clears wastes through the kidneys.
Chickweed is also used for weight loss, because it aids the breakdown of fatty deposits and has been used with success for obesity and fatty lipomas. A good strong tea of chickweed will help with constipation – boil a good handful of the fresh plant in about a litre of water so it reduces down about a third and then drink the tea.
For itchy skin it can be used fresh or dried and put into a muslin bag and popped into the bath. Run hot water over the bag and then leave it to steep for a good 10 minutes or so before you soak in the bath. You can also make an oil balm with it. Pick the leaves on a dry day and chop finely. Pour over a good quality olive oil and leave it to steep for a few days. Strain and then it can be used for dry itchy skin conditions including eczema. For those with wet eczema, use a strong infusion of tea. It can also be used as a salve for drawing out foreign bodies in the skin.
No wonder I feel guilty pulling it up!

Fiona Chapman is studying naturopathy and herbal medicine at the College of Naturopathic Medicine (pellyfiona@gmail.com).

by Fiona Chapman