Calming, Charming Chickweed

Calming, Charming Chickweed

Chickweed, (Stellaria media) the modest little plant that you are more likely to trample upon than notice, is in bloom right now. I am always excited to find some, because, in years gone by, I’ve had trouble locating it. This year, for some reason, I am seeing it in abundance. The reason I am so interested in the plant  (besides the fact that I simply find it quite charming) is that I’ve been wanting to make a chickweed oil to incorporate into a healing salve. You see, this humble little plant is rife with amazing medicinal - and nutritional - virtues.

It has a lovely little white flower with 5 deeply cleft petals (so they appear to be 10) and the hairy stem is long. It can grow up to 15 inches (though I usually find them lower to the ground) and it has slender leaves, which grow opposite on the stem.

The juice of the plant has long been used as a cooling, soothing treatment for the eyes, in fact, Dioscorides, of 1^st century Greece, extolled the virtues of the herb, for this purpose. In addition, it is brilliant when it comes to irritations of the skin, and it can soothe and calm itchiness when all other remedies have failed. Eczema, psoriosis, acne, bruises, boils, and hemorrhoids, all respond beautifully to this little plant, and it is not only soothing to the skin, but heals infections, as well.

The plant, itself, can be applied to the problem area as a poultice, or the juice of the plant can be infused into oil, and then made into a healing cream or salve. A poultice of the plant is also very healing and comforting for the aching joints of arthritis, and gout, as well. Also for this purpose, an infusion of the plant can be poured into the bath to help heal skin irritations, as well to help soothe aching joints. Taken internally, as a tincture, it is also well known as a cleanser of the kidneys, gall bladder and liver.

Nutritionally, it is a powerhouse: It contains vitamin C, Vitamin D, B6 and B12, and beta carotene, as well as magnesium, iron, calcium, phosphorous and more! It is easy to incorporate these little plants into your salad, and the stem and leaves are equally good.

To make a healing oil, simply gather up the plant, chop well, place in small jar with a tight-fitting lid. Fill the jar to capacity, but don’t overstuff it (for you want the oil to be able to touch every surface of the plant.) Cover with organic olive oil and leave in a sunny window for 6 weeks, stirring it on occasion. (Be sure to label the jar and write the date that it will be ready.)

When the infusion is done, strain the herbs out, squeezing them to get all the medicinal goodness, and then use the oil directly, or incorporate it into a healing salve by heating the oil gently in a double boiler, and then adding 1 ounce of grated beeswax per 8 ounces of herbal oil. Herbalist Sharol Tilgner recommends testing the consistency of the salve by pouring ½ tsp of salve into your container, Wait ½ a minute, then push on the salve, if it’s too soft, it needs more beeswax; if it’s too hard, simply add more oil. Pour into small containers to cool. The shelf life is about two years.

To make an infusion, gather one cup of the plant, chop well, and then place in a quart-size jar. Fill the jar with boiling water and then close the lid tightly. Let the plant infuse for a minimum of two hours. You can use this for a healing bath, or use it as a cooling wash for the eyes. Do not take during pregnancy.