Chickweed - Stellaria media


Image listed at http://caliban.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/~stueber/lindman/index.html

Image listed at
Kurt Stüber's Online Library
Actual Images from
Project Runeberg

Chickweed Herb (International) Chickweed Herb Organic (US/Canada) from Kalyx US

Chickweed Extract 2floz (US) Chickweed Salve from Kalyx US

Latin Name: Stellaria media
Family: Caryophyllacae
Height: 10-30cm

Fast spreading creeping plant. Small, star-like white flowers, small oval leaves on a slender stem with hairs on just one side. The line of hairs moves to the opposite side of the stem after each pair of leaves.

Not a great favourite as a greenfood but can be safely fed in small amounts and is particularly valuable for dry, itchy skin conditions when used externally.

Chickweed is very high in calcium with a Ca:P of 3:1

Constituents: Saponins, coumarins, flavanoids, triterpenoids, carboxylic acids, vitamin C, calcium.

Actions: Anti-rheumatic, vulnerary, emollient, astringent and stops itching.

Chickweed  is included in the Galen's Garden's Hedgerow Herbs blend of 20 different herbs and wild plants.