Chickweed

 The herb is often found growing under the shade of oak trees. For me, it is growing on the edges of my house and around my out buildings.

Chickweed is a persistent annual. It self-seeds and may produce as many as five generations within one season.It has the ability to cool fevers and infections
 Taken as an infusion, chickweed acts internally to cool inflammation of the digestive and respiratory system. It has been used to treat bronchitis, pleurisy , colitis, gastritis, asthma , and sore throat . The herb's diuretic action helps eliminate toxins from the system and reduce retention of fluids.

 The herb is rich in minerals, including copper and iron , and vitamins A, B, and C.

Gathered fresh, chickweed is beneficial in poultice form to ease rheumatic pain and to treat boils and abscesses. The herb can also be used to draw out splinters and the stingers of insects and to dissolve warts . Its vulnerary (wound-healing) action speeds the healing of cuts and wounds . Its emollient
qualities soothe itching and irritation of eczema or psoriasis

.An infusion may be added to bath water for soothing relief of inflamed skin.

Medicinal Uses: * Constipation * Diet/weight Loss * Insect/flea Bites * Psoriasis * Skin Care * Spring Tonics Properties: * Anti-inflammatory * AntiCancer * Appetite

Depressant * Demulcent * Laxative * Refrigerant
Parts Used: whole herb


 Chickweed tea is an old remedy for obesity. And wise women and herbalists still drink teas of fresh chickweed as one of the classic spring tonics to cleanse the blood. Chickweed poultices are useful for cooling and soothing minor burns, skin irritations, and rashes particularly when associated with dryness and itching.

Infusion: Place 2 oz of fresh chickweed leaves and stems in a warmed glass container. Bring 2.5 cups of fresh, nonchlorinated water to the boiling point, and add it to the herbs. Cover and nfuse the tea for about 10 minutes. Strain and drink warm. The prepared tea will store for about two days in a sealed
container in the refrigerator. Chickweed tea may be enjoyed by the cupful up to three times a day. A strong infusion may be used as a skin wash or bath additive to soothe itching and inflamed skin.

Poultice: Chop fresh chickweed leaves and stems in sufficient quantity to cover the area being treated. Sprinkle the herb with water and place over the area. Cover the herbal mass with a strip of wet cotton gauze to hold the poultice in place. When gathering the older, tougher plant, the herb may be simmered either in water alone or in a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar for about five minutes. Apply to the skin after the mixture has sufficiently cooled.

Tincture: Combine four ounces of finely-cut fresh or powdered dry herb with one pint of brandy, gin, or vodka, in a glass container. The alcohol should be enough to cover the plant parts. Place the mixture away from light for about two weeks, shaking several times each day. Strain and store in a tightly-capped, dark glass bottle. A standard dose is 1–4 ml of the tincture three times a day.

Learn to identify and make use of this common "weed" that is probably growing in your back yard to ensure a free lifetime supply of salves, spring salads and teas.

Fresh chickweed can be eaten fresh in summer salads and can be fed to companion animals to assist in the expulsion of hair balls, and sooth the digestive tract.

Chickweed is an effective and gentle laxative used in tea.

The seeds are food for finches and many other seed-eating birds. They say the best things in life are free, and chickweed is a great example.

For use in a lotion- heat dried chickweed Flowers, leaves and stems in coconut oil on low heat for 2 hours.

For use in a salve for cuts/ wounds see the salve recipe


Cooled chickweed tea has an anti-inflammatory action in rashes and and skin irritations, and can be used as a skin rinse for pets coats & skin.

Use  as an eyewash to quickly reduce redness and inflammation. Make an decoction (roots and bark)or infusion (leaves and flowers of your chosen herb.

Cautions: Strain well, making sure no herb particles that can cause irritation to the eye are left in the water.

pet remedy- This herb also make an astringent and antibacterial eyewash for your animal companion. For bacterial and ear mite infections, an oil infusion of the fresh or dried roots works best.
Apply 1-10 drops at a time until the infection clears.

Use an oil infusion for skin irritations on pets.