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 1st
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.
