Chickweed (Stellaria Media) Cut & Sifted Herb

Description ShareTweetPinLinkedInPrintEmail Chickweed Cut & Sifted Herb HERB COMMON NAME :  Chickweed HERB SCIENTIFIC NAME :  Stellaria Media OTHER NAMES :  Common Chickweed, Star Chickweed, Mouse-Ear Chickweed, Starwort, Stitchwort, Chickenwort, Chick Wittles, Chickenmeat, Clucken Qort, Hashishat Al Qazzaz, Skirt Buttons, Craches, Maruns, Winterweed, Starweed, Adder’s Mouth, Satin Flower, Tongue Grass, White Bird’s Eye, Fliodh, Indian Chickweed, Passerina, Stellaire, Qoqobala FAMILY :  Caryophyllaceae ASSOCIATIONS & CORRESPONDENCES : Element: Water Planet: Moon Direction:  West Zodiac Sign:  Cancer Chakra:  2nd Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana) Energy:  Yin Gender: Feminine Rune:  Perthro Tarot:  Ace of Pentacles Animal:  Birds Sabbat or Holiday:  Litha / Midsummer, the Summer Solstice (btw. June 19 – 24) Deity or God / Goddess Association:  Arianrhod, Oshun   Parts Used:  Leaves Description:  Chickweed is a weedy, groundcover plant that is found just about everywhere on the planet. Its common name is a reference to the fact that wild game birds and domestic chickens eat the young leaves and seeds, although cows, rabbits and pigs also forage on it. Chickweed grows all over the world and has been used for thousands of years as an herbal remedy or home remedy. It is very high in vitamins, minerals and chemicals called flavanoids that are thought to be responsible for its ability to heal and support overall wellness.  For external use, chickweed is often taken in the form of a cream or ointment.  Internally, the tincture of chickweed can also be used to treat problems.  It can be added to salads or sandwiches and cooked as a pot herb, tasting somewhat like spinach. FOR SKIN : Chickweed provides relief and comfort and helps you to heal more quickly. Chickweed can be applied as a poultice on sore muscles, irritated skin, itching skin conditions like eczema, impetigo, skin ulcers, wounds, bug bites, and burns, and it relieves fragile, superficial veins. FOR EYES : Some people have also used chickweed to help treat problems with the eyes such as conjunctivitis and other eye infections. FOR CANCER : Some have used it to complement cancer treatment and restore health.  It has been used to aid in treating tumors. FOR COLDS & COUGH : You can take chickweed to help reduce a fever. It can also be used to loosen a tight chest infection. A healing soup was made of it for bronchitis. An infusion of the dried herb is used in coughs and hoarseness. Chickweed is packed with vitamin C, which helps to boost immunity. If you just want to have better overall health, chickweed can also be used as a tonic herb. That means it generally supports your body to have good immunity, energy, and stamina. FOR BLOOD : Chickweed has a concentration of coumarins and has been used as a circulatory tonic. Coumarins are chemicals that actually help to keep the blood thinned and prevent blood clots. FOR DIGESTION : People have used Chickweed for years to treat problems with the digestive tract.  Chickweed is also used to relieve constipation. It has also been used to treat hemorrhoids. FOR WEIGHT LOSS : As an herb, Chickweed is probably best known as an old wives herbal remedy for weight loss. A recent study in mice shows that there may be some possible validity to that claim. FOR ALLERGIES : New research indicates Chickweed’s likely use as an effective antihistamine. FOR THE LIVER & KIDNEYS : Chickweed is said to be beneficial in the treatment of kidney complaints. In North American botanical medicine, a tincture of the whole herb was ingested for gout and liver inflammation. FOR ARTHRITIS : In homeopathy, Chickweed was used for rheumatic pains. FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH : An infusion of the Chickweed plant is used internally as a postpartum depurative, a galactogogue, and as an emmenagogue. Historical Uses:  soothes irritated skin, relieves constipation, soothes muscle pain, relieves upset stomach, treats psoriasis, eczema, bug bites, burns, treats hemorrhoids, impetigo, skin ulcers, wounds, fragile veins, treat tumors, conjunctivitis, eye infections, blood thinning, prevents blood clots, boosts immunity, antioxidant, relieves congestion, treats infections, anti-inflammatory, reduce fever, relieves chest infection, treats bronchitis, relieves cough, helps blood circulation, helps digestion, helps weight loss, treats obesity, treats allergies, antihistamine, helps liver inflammation, helps the kidneys, treats gout, relieves rheumatic pain, depurative, galactogogue, emmenagogue Mystical Attributes:  As a Moon herb, Chickweed displays “the sleep of plants”.  At night, the lower leaves fold up and enclose the upper parts of the plant.  So consider this for protection spells for the young. It has been used in poppet magic to represent fertility, probably because of its immense production of seeds. In Scotland, people drank Chickweed tea for insomnia.  It is also used for dream divination in various cultures. There are some connections to bird magic, as this plant was traditionally fed to caged birds when they felt off. And in Tuscany, people feed this plant to their chickens to improve their egg-laying. Goldfinches, house finches, and various sorts of sparrows enjoy eating the tiny seeds, and various gamebirds eat the leaves themselves. Chickweed is used in love charms. Carry or use it in spells designed to attract a love or to maintain a relationship. To attract a new romance or maintain a relationship, mix chickweed, roses, and orange into your bath water. Chickweed can be beneficial in any Lunar based workings. Mystical Intentions: dreamwork, protection spells, protecting the young, fertility charms, bird magic, fidelity spells, love spells, love charms, new romance, attracting love, fertility spells, animal magic, healing spells, lunar magic, maintaining relationships, dream divination Other Uses:  People enjoy the fresh leaves in salads.  Use the dried herb to make teas and tinctures, and the powdered herb as a dietary supplement.  Chickweed can also be made into a salve to treat wounds and skin irritations. Taste & Smell:  When cooked, tastes somewhat like spinach. Botany, Cultivation & Harvesting:  Stellaria Media, or Chickweed, is native to Europe, but it is widespread through North America as well. Chickweed is a flowering annual with a very slender tap root and greatly branching leafy stems, which lie along the ground. The plant’s weak stems mostly trail along the ground (for up to about sixteen inches), but the growing ends may be upright (up to eight inches high). The stems branch very frequently and take root at the leaf junctions. If you look very closely at the stems, you’ll see a single line of hairs running up the side, and you’ll notice that the line changes sides at each leaf junction. The leaves are opposite, smooth, and oval (with a point at the tip), and the older, lower leaves are stalked and vary in size from 3 to 20 mm in length, they are oval in shape and have long stalks, while the upper new leaves lack stalks and tend to be larger (up to 25 mm in length). Chickweed is just about always flowering, except in the dead of winter. It has tiny white flowers, about a quarter inch in diameter, in the leaf axils or in terminal clusters, with five deeply notched petals that look like ten, and five green sepals that are longer than the petals. Many small, white flowers are produced; the stamens have reddish-violet anthers. The flowers close at night and open in the morning. The flowers develop into small capsule-like fruits which contain many tiny seeds. The seeds generally germinate within a few years, but can remain viable for much longer. A single plant may produce around 2,500 reddish-brown seeds, which can remain viable in the soil for 25-40 years. Chickweed grows well in full sun to part shade. This plants grows almost anywhere, it is a common garden weed and can adapt to many climates, but prefers cool, damp locations.  It grows best in a moist, fertile soil.  Sow seeds directly in garden soil after the last frost. Press the seeds into moist soil. Or just barely cover with moist soil outside, spacing 10 seeds per foot in the cool periods of fall or spring. They will germinate in 7-10 days. Space mature plants at 6-12” apart. Plants get 6-12″ tall. Chickweed leaves and stems can be harvested throughout the growing season. Gather above ground parts, before or as soon as flowers appear. It can be used fresh or dried for later herb use. Dry the stems and leaves well, cut into smaller pieces or grind into a powder, store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. The little flowers attract bees, and this plant is a favorite of caterpillars. Contraindications & Toxicity: Aside from occasional allergies, Chickweed is safe when used in moderation. Excessive amounts may cause digestive disturbance. This plant is edible fresh or sauteed in butter, but eating too much can bring out a laxative effect.     Sources: https://spiritartsandherbs.com/sources **IMPORTANT INFORMATON: Products are sold as curio items for entertainment purposes only and based upon historical and magical uses.  We do not imply or guarantee that any items provide specific abilities, powers, outcomes, remedies, or treatments. Any information provided on listings or through private conversation is intended for educational purposes only and are based on historical folklore and traditions, and should not replace the advice of a physician. 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