Monograph: Chickweed

Botanical Name:

Stellaria media

Common Names:
Chickweed, Starweed, Winterweed, Satin Flower, Tongue Grass

Family:
Caryophyllaceae

Plant Description:
Low-growing annual with sprawling, delicate stems. Small, oval leaves grow in pairs. Star-shaped white flowers bloom throughout cooler months. A single line of fine hairs runs along one side of the stem. Tender and moist to the touch.

Habitat & Cultivation:
Native to Europe, now widespread across temperate regions worldwide. Thrives in cool, moist, disturbed soils—gardens, pathways, and shaded patches. Grows abundantly in spring and autumn. Often found as a volunteer plant in gardens.

Parts Used:
Aerial parts (fresh preferred, though may be dried)

Harvesting:

• Gather in early spring or fall before flowering
• Use fresh or dry gently at low temperatures
• Best picked in the morning while dew is drying
  

Traditional Uses:

• Employed as a cooling and soothing remedy for inflamed tissues
• Applied to itchy skin, rashes, boils, and minor wounds
• Taken internally for lung congestion, constipation, and kidney support
• Known as a gentle spring tonic and nutritious wild green
• Folk remedy for eye infections and breast inflammation

Modern Applications:

• Soothes dry, irritated, or inflamed skin conditions
• Supports digestion, acts as a mild laxative
• Clears heat in urinary and respiratory systems
• Beneficial for eczema, psoriasis, and insect bites when applied topically
• Rich in minerals and vitamins, used as a nourishing herb in teas and foods

Preparations:

• Infusion: Fresh or dried herb steeped as a mild tea
• Poultice or Compress: Fresh, crushed herb applied directly
• Salve or Infused Oil: For dry, inflamed skin
• Tincture: Made from fresh herb for internal use
• Fresh Juice: Taken as a cooling spring tonic

Dosage:

• Infusion: 1 cup of tea up to 3x daily
• Tincture: 2–4 mL up to 3x daily
• Topical: Apply poultice, oil, or salve as needed
• Juice: 1–2 tablespoons daily for short-term use

Constituents:
Saponins, mucilage, flavonoids, vitamin C, minerals (iron, magnesium, calcium), nitrates

Mechanism of Action:

• Demulcent and emollient properties soothe irritated tissues
• Mild expectorant and laxative effects support elimination
• Anti-inflammatory action calms skin and mucous membranes
• Nutritive tonic supports overall vitality and mineral balance

Safety & Contraindications:

• Generally regarded as safe
• May cause mild digestive upset in large quantities due to saponins
• Avoid harvesting from contaminated or heavily fertilized soils
• Use fresh for best results—constituents degrade quickly when dried

Historical Context or Folklore:
Chickweed has long been valued as a wild spring green, often eaten fresh in salads or cooked like spinach. In traditional herbalism, it was considered a plant of humility—growing low, gentle, and quietly restorative. Used by village herbalists and passed down in folk medicine as a go-to remedy for skin troubles and seasonal transitions.

References to Scripture (if applicable):
Its nourishing, gentle presence reflects Matthew 6:28–30 – “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin… yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”

German Common Name:
Vogelmiere

Other Notes:

• Pairs well with violet, calendula, and plantain for salves
• Excellent addition to spring cleanses or nutritive broths
• Useful as a wild food and early garden companion

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