AddThis Feed Button


Want herbs?
Just remember...
iWantHerbs.com

March 2008: Chickweed

publication date: Feb 28, 2008
 | 
author/source: John Gallagher
Download Print
Previous | Next
 

Chickweed (Stellaria media)
Family: Caryophyllaceae (Carnation)

"Class, take out your Healing Wise texts and turn to page 119."
If you own Healing Wise, by Susun Weed, she has a wonder section on chickweed. If you have never worked with Chickweed (Stellaria Media) before, then you are in for a treat. It is gentle, healing, forgiving and powerful. For those who HAVE worked with chickweed, well, you know there is ALWAYS more to experience.

Identifying Chickweed

This is perhaps the biggest challenge for beginners who are not showed the plant by someone. That is why it is SO awesome that we have these two videos to help you out!

Also, look at these photos...

What you to the above right is how you will see it growing. Like a groundcover. Above are close-ups of the flowers. They LOOK like they have 10 petals, but there are really 5 that appear split.

Look in garden beds, compost piles, or our in a field. It all depends where you live. In my ecosystem, I find it more in gardens and on farms. In other places, you'll find it growing in abundance out on lawns or fields.

BUT WATCH OUT! Only pick in places you know there is no spraying or foot or dog traffic. We often go to a local organic farm. The stuff is EVERYWHERE! And they LOVE when we pick their weeds. You will not find any poisonous look-a-likes.

Below is a range map for chickweed. The green parts are where you'll find it. 'Nuf said? :)

 

Has any of you started Kamana Two Plants? You journal chickweed in that course.

 

What should you know about chickweed?

Well, perhaps the the most important thing is that it's name in Maori is Kihukohu. Other than that, I have no idea. Ok, just kidding.

This is all for you to find out. However, I have some good leads for you....

All I will say is that chickweed is a COOL helper when the situation is HOT! :)

With that my friends, happy hunting and may the Chickweed Be With You....

 

Comments

Judy Behrens (Eau Claire)
I got some dried chickweed from MR and am looking for ways to use it. I'm going to make a salve today with it, but anything else? We still have about 2 feet snow on the ground so it may be awhile before I see the fresh. Ever since I started this, when I read Susan Weeds book, I've absolutely fallen in love with this little star. I'm so excited it's our herb of the month.
Judy Behrens (Eau Claire)
John, you mention that a look a like may have a hairy stem. Sharon says on the video that the stem has alternate hairs at each leaf? Does the look alike have hairs on the entire stem?
John Gallagher (Carnation)
Well, there are different types, and some have hairs. Just not REALLY hairy. So I will actually edit the above not to confuse. The true leaves are opposite in branching.
Judy Behrens (Eau Claire)
Thanks John and for sure I know exactly what you mean by REALLY hairy. In the photo it just looks a little fuzzy on alternating sides of the stems. Boy, I love this.
John Gallagher (Carnation)
I just checked a big bag of it we collected today. There are really tiny hairs on the ends, but they are hardly noticeable. Really...look at the videos, to get an idea of HOW it grows and how it looks as a patch. Then, search in some greenhouses, garden beds, compost piles, sides of shed...places where there is lush soil. Once you get it, you'll never mistaken it again. Look for the egg shaped leaves, opposite branching of the leaves, the 5 petals that look like 10... can't miss it...:)
Rebecca Henkins (Orlando)
For those in cold areas might I suggest you grow some in a pot! I live in Florida so it is almsot always around but I don't know what has been put on it or if it is in areas of runoff so I grow it in pots and I get a good supply I can grow indoors too during our occasional cold weather. Kitty nibbles too. Love it in salads and sauteed as well. Seemed to help our entire family recover from a lung congestion we all had and seem to clear it in a day when we had it for dinner the first time. Very tasty!
Mary Rynicki (Sterling)
Thank you for choosing chickweed - I am part of a wellness group and I teach the herb section of it and last fall there was a discussion of chickweed. This spring I will gather some and do a class on it. Thank you...
Judy Behrens (Eau Claire)
Thanks John and also thanks Rebecca. I know when it thaws here, I'm going to find it all over and pots next winter would be very cool. Thanks again
NavaYahchanan Gray (Rudy)
I made a poultice out of the chickweed and used it on my husband Yahchanan's (tennis) elbow (from working the farm...not tennis :))It really helped relieve his pain and aid in healing. My comfrey was dormant so gave it a try.We also love it in salads. It grows her with "henbit" (its in herbalpedia") and the 2 together make a tasty and beautiful addition to your other fresh greens...
NavaYah
Marisa Corless (Bothell)
Chickweed is one of my favorite herbs to add to green drinks.
Penny Bowser (Iron Mountain)
This was my first "Herb of the Month" to research officially. It was so fun, except I am in the same boat as Judy (Eau Claire)it will be a month or so till all the snow is gone. I am ready with lots of recipes I want to try though and I am really looking forward to identifying it. I also discovered I am a terrible artist :) My 7 yr old said my chickweed looked just like the picture-HA good kid:)

I think my favorite thing I learned was it keeps good in the refridgerator.
Sharon Kahkonen (McLean)
In Herbalpedia they have a recipe for salve in which you heat 2 parts chickweed:2 parts plantain: 1 part comfrey in olive oil to cover in a crockpot for 3 hours. Do you chop up or even grind up the fresh herbs first? Is this going to be as potent as infusing each of the herbs in oil separately over 6 weeks and then combining them when you make the salve?
Marie Howe (Monroe)
I am studying Chickweed right now. Hoping to add it to my garden soon. I have been reading conflicting information. One person tells me that it is easy to grow as seed and another tells me no it is difficult. So I am trying to find out if I need to get it by starts or can I just grow easily the seeds.
Sharon Simmonds (Grimsby)
Hello. I managed to identify some chickweed growing in the garden from John's description and comments. We ate some in the salad today and found it to be slightly peppery hot but delicious. The plants are still very small and when they grow will they get hotter?