Not only for the chickens, Chickweed Chickweed (Stellaria media) is the nutritious starry- flowering weed found around the world.
It is low growing with small oval opposite leaves and sparse hairs, but the hairs line up along the stem (this is a distinguishing feature), with white flowers with five deeply lobed petals.
This common weed is native to Eurasia but now naturalized world-wide and found in lawns, road sides and open fields. It quickly spreads, forming dense mats in disturbed areas.
Though maligned as a weed, Chickweed is edible and nutritious and enjoyed both by birds and humans!
Chickweed is used in salads raw or can be cooked and enjoyed like spinach. Although the leaves contain saponins and could have toxicity concerns in large quantities, the saponins are mostly lost on cooking and are also poorly absorbed in humans.
Chickweed also has a long history of use as an herbal medicine, and is considered a “cooling” herb.
Externally it is used for almost any kind of itchy skin condition. The plant is traditionally applied as a poultice or taken as an infusion and then applied to the skin (such as for boils, eczema, or ulcers, psoriasis) or also to aching joints.
Internally, Chickweed is mainly used for respiratory complaints, such as asthma and allergies, and sometimes also for aiding digestion and supporting weight loss.
Through scientific investigation, Chickweed has exhibited anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal antiviral, hypoglycemic and weight-loss promoting activities.
Preclinical studies have confirmed aspects of its skin healing activity, as it has demonstrated wound-healing by accelerating proliferation and reducing oxidative stress, as well as exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties in paw edema models.
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**This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.
Not Only for the Chickens!
