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Chickweed -Uses and Benefits
Alternative Names:
Tongue grass,Common Chickweeds, Star Chickweed, Mouse-ear Chickweed, Adder's mouth, Indian chickweed, Satin flower, Scarweed, Starweed, Starwort, Stitchwort, Winterweed .
Herb Description
Chickweed is an annual herb native to Europe. It cultivates across North America as a common weed. The weak stem is trailing along the ground without putting down roots, often reaching a considerable length, juicy, pale green and slightly swollen at the joints.Most leaves are attached to the stem by hairy petioles, but some upper leaves lack petioles.Its fruit look like as an oval, one celled capsule, whitish in color, containing number of seeds.Its flowers are small 3-6 mm wide are situated singly in the axils of the upper leaves and consist of five white petals that are deeply lobed, giving the appearance of 10 petals. It flowers in between March and continue till late in the autumn.
Chickweed prefers a moist soil and a sunny areas or partial shade.When mature in a fertile soil,It can be very lush and vigorous .Chickweed have been used among indigenous people as a herbal medicine. It was mostly used by Native Americans for the treatment of respiratory problems as bronchitis, whooping cough , colds , sore throat , and flu .Traditionally in European , chickweed was used as a remedy to treat tuberculosis. In modern herbalists chickweed is used to treat joint ,eczema, rheumatism , gout , and blood diseases, eye inflammations , and hemorrhoids .
Uses and Benefits
Traditionally ,chickweed has been used for skin conditions, indigestion, and a variety of other conditions. eczema ,cough ,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 .
It is has great reputation among herbalists, used mostly in the form of an ointment ,demulcent, refrigerant .Chickweed is used internally for rheumatism as well as chest infections.It is used against joint inflammation as well as rheumatism in homeopathy.It is also used in salads & cooked as a vegetable. Chickweed have been applied as a medical bandage for inflammation and indolent ulcers .
Internally as a decoction this herb is used as a postpartum depurative, emmenagogue, galactogogue and circulatory tonic. The plant contains astringent, carminative, demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, laxative, refrigerant, vulnerary properties .Chickweed is efficacious for nappy rash.
Side Effects
Consumption of this herb in excess can lead to vomiting and diarrhea.Use of this herb is not recommended during pregnancy or breast-feeding.
Chickweed contain chemicals called nitrates, using chickweed in excess can cause nitrate poisoning .Some cases of nitrate poisoning have been reported in humans - particularly in infants who are less than six months old .
Dosage
- Tea:
Take 1 teaspoon of dried herb & add 1 cup boiling water steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Take three times in a day .
- Infusion:
Steep 1 tablespoon herb in 1/2 cup water. Take three times in a day .
- Decoction:
Boil 3 messing tablespoons of the plant in 1 quart water until a volume of liquid remains.Take three times in a day .
- Juice:
Take 1 tablespoon, three times a day.
Drug Interactions
No interactions have been established between chickweed and drugs,other herbal products, or foods.
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