Chickweed; Stellaria Media is a medicinal herb virtually found throughout the world. Named after its miniature star-shaped flowers, chickweed is less known for its stellar nutritional content and healing benefits.
In most garden landscapes chickweed is treated as a weed. The tender, low-growing green is content to grow between cracks and rocks, yet can be found in lawns and flower beds, as well.
Chickweed provides the body with a multitude of vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and fatty acids. Other benefits may include, but are not limited to, skin complaints such as, rashes, burns, bruises, cuts and scrapes, blood purification, anti-itch, wound poultices, pain relief, infection prevention, anti- inflammatory, and detoxification.
Nutrients
Beta-carotene (Vitamin A pre-cursor)
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
Bio-flavonoids (including glycoside rutin)
Coumarins/coumarines
GLA/Gamma-linoleic Acid (omega-6 essential fatty acid)
(Nutrition-Info.com)
You can find chickweed at your local health food store in powder, tea, and capsule form. If you can stand a weed or two in your landscape, harvest your own. The plant can be eaten fresh or dried for an infusion.
For utmost safety, please reference a field guide before harvesting wild herbs and flowers.
Happy foraging!!
Photography by, Natryl1
