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By Gail Faith Edwards
The wheel of
life turns, and greens appear. Everywhere now there are edible
herbs, perfect for picking and eating. It is the fullness of summer
and Mother Earth, ever abundant, offers us nourishment and vitality
with every breath and beat of her heart. Nibble pigweed, graze on
dandelion, savor sumptuous sorrel, pop a red clover blossom, enjoy
the taste of rose petals melting in your mouth, devour chickweed,
and celebrate the glory of the wild earth!
Chickweed, a common sprawling plant with
small bright electric green leaves and pretty little white star
shaped flowers, is one of my all time favorites of the wild edible
herbs. It is also known as stitchwort or starweed and seems to grow
best in shady damp areas with rich soil. Chickweed is a storehouse
of vitamins and minerals including iron, calcium, magnesium,
manganese, silicon, zinc, phosphorus, potassium, protein sodium,
copper, carotenes, and vitamins B and C! The entire above ground
portion of the plant is delicious, and we enjoy it in salads all
summer long.
Frequent consumption of fresh chickweed
helps strengthen all systems and rebuild vitality. Some people
steam it, like spinach, but I much prefer it raw. Because it is so
highly nourishing, chickweed is an excellent nourisher for those
recovering from any illness or surgery, those dealing with AIDS or a
wasting disease, the anemic and the elderly.
Chickweed has great healing, cooling,
drawing, and dissolving abilities. Try it when you want to bring a
boil or a pimple to a head, dry up herpes blisters, clean up an
infected wound, or extract a splinter. Applied as a poultice,
chickweed stops infection by weakening bacteria cell walls. To use
fresh chickweed as a poultice, simply apply the bruised leaves
directly, covering the plant matter with a thin layer of gauze or a
cabbage leaf. When the plant material gets warm, remove and discard
it. Poultice again with fresh chickweed as necessary.
When stung by a bee one summer, my son’s
lower arm swelled to an alarming size and became very hot to the
touch. We poulticed with fresh chickweed and within 20 minutes the
swelling and heat were considerably diminished, and by morning,
completely gone.
Infused oil of chickweed helps heal minor
skin irritations, diaper rash, fever blisters, and bug bites.
Chickweed also has an excellent reputation
for aiding those dealing with eye problems including infections,
sties, conjunctivitis (pink eye), and tired, sore, inflamed,
irritated eyes.
Chickweed tincture (25-40 drops, 4 times
daily), dependably dissolves ovarian cysts and reduces swollen
glands. Many American Indians used it as a remedy against cancer
Chickweed’s ability to weaken bacteria,
combined with its cooling and expectorant actions, makes an awesome
ally for those dealing with bronchial problems, chest colds,
pneumonia, or asthma. I cook fresh chickweed in boiling water and
use a cup of this broth, or 20-40 drops of tincture, at least twice
a day.
Chickweed’s alkalinizing properties
benefit those with chronic infections of the bladder and urinary
tract, including chronic cystitis. But it may take 20-40 drops of
tincture daily for at least three months to correct such problems.
Chickweed has been called nature’s diet
herb. It contains soapy-like substances called saponins which break
down fat cells, sometimes with phenomenal results. Chickweed also
nourishes and regulates thyroid function and balances the
metabolism.
Chickweed is a joint-oiler and an
excellent choice for those dealing with arthritis, rheumatism, and
gout. I find consistent use of the tincture, 20-30 drops three
times daily, reduces pain and swelling, inflammation, and itching.
Chickweed in the daily diet, eaten fresh by the handful or in
salads, helps soothe and heal these conditions, as does the
infusion, the tincture, and frequent poultices on the affected
area.
You don’t have to be ill to benefit from
chickweed! Nutritive chickweed is a friend to the healthy that want
to stay that way. That is the beauty of herbs; their ability to
prevent disease by helping to maintain optimum health.
Chickweed is an abundant weed is some
gardens. You may even find it growing in the pot with your
houseplants! Chickweed leaves and stems can be gathered anytime it
is green and vibrant, before, during, or after the little, white,
star-like flowers show. In the winter you can dig it up from under
the snow! Chickweed is an annual, so it makes a lot of seeds:
enough to feed the songbirds and self-seed readily.
I gather fresh chickweed for salads and
use only fresh chickweed for poultices, tinctures, vinegars, or
infused oils. Dry chickweed has lost most of its medicinal virtue.
Bio:
Gail Edwards is the mother of four
children and an herbalist with thirty years experience serving her
rural Maine community. She is the author of Opening Our Wild
Hearts to the Healing Herbs and Traversing the Wild Terrain
of Menopause; Herbal Allies for Midlife Women and Men. Gail and
her family operate the Blessed Maine Herb Farm, where they cultivate
an acre of certified organic medicinal herbs used in the herbal
products they make. She offers herbal study programs and
apprenticeships at her farm in Athens, Maine and is available for
herbal consultations in person or by phone. Visit her on the web at
www.blessedmaineherbs.com
- Click on
the photo to find out more -
- See details of the herbal medicine
correspondence course here -
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