Chickweed can be used for inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, urticaria or psoriasis (3).  It is considered specific for the relief of itching (pruritus), so consequently is commonly used topically (as an external remedy) for these conditions and others that need cooling and soothing, such as bites, stings, splinters, heat rashes, boils and spots (1,3,4,5). Its vulnerary and drawing actions have also led to its use in the treatment of cuts, wounds, abscesses and ulcers (3,5,6). In addition, chickweed is considered to have a specific affinity for the eyes both as an external remedy for irritated, inflamed eye conditions or, when taken internally to support the eyesight. This is believed to be due to its high vitamin A content, which is seen to be essential to eye health (1,4,7).

Chickweed can also be used internally for hot inflammatory conditions affecting organs involved in the processes of absorption and elimination, such as the stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, urinary bladder and kidneys (1). With regard to digestive health, this includes acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis, colitis and constipation (4). In urinary conditions, such as cystitis or irritable bladder, it is a soothing diuretic herb which helps to ease symptoms (4). However, anyone with symptoms of an acute urinary tract infection (UTI) should seek urgent medical attention from their primary healthcare provider. Other actions on the urinary system include aiding the elimination of waste products and excess fluid through the kidneys, which is beneficial in rheumatic conditions and gout (3,4,5,6).

Chickweed is considered to be ruled by the moon and is consequently associated with the element of water. Energetically, it is indicated for thin, dry, brittle people who benefit from this herb’s softening and soothing virtues. In contrast, it is not seen as useful for people with more watery or phlegmatic temperaments (8). 

Described as “soother of fires”, chickweed is said to have the ability to resolve emotions that are associated with heat and dryness such as deep-seated anger and grudges (9). 

As a flower essence, it is considered an ally for those who are unable to move forward in life due to carrying too heavy a load of past experiences and emotions yet to be resolved (10).

As a homeopathic preparation, chickweed is also known as Alsine media. It is indicated in conditions such as rheumatism, psoriasis, inflamed joints, gout and other hot, inflammatory conditions where there is congestion of the internal organs, particularly when symptoms are worse in the morning or heat and better for cold air, movement and in the evening (11).

Culpeper describes the virtues of chickweed as:

“The juice, or distilled water, is of much good use for all heats and redness in the eyes, to drop some thereof into them; and it is of good effect to ease pains from the heat and sharpness of the blood in the piles…..it is used also in hot and virulent ulcers and sores in the privy parts of men and women, or on the legs, or elsewhere” (12).

The English herbalist John Gerard (1545–1612), who wrote the book The Herball, or Generall Historie of Plantes (also known as Gerard’s Herbal) in 1597, said of this herb:

“The leaves of Chickweed boyled in water very soft, adding thereto some hog’s grease, the powder of Fenugreeke and Linseed, and a few roots of Marsh Mallows, and stamped to the forme of Cataplasme or pultesse, taketh away the swelling of the legs or any other part… in a word it comforteth, digesteth, defendeth and suppurateth very notably”(13)

Combined with elecampane, chickweed has also been recommended as a specific for hydrophobia, and the juice, taken internally, for scurvy whilst the water was considered an old wives’ remedy for obesity (14).

Dioscorides, a first-century CE Greek physician and botanist often referred to as ‘the father of pharmacognosy’, wrote of crushing chickweed to a paste with cornmeal as a poultice for inflammation of the eye (1).

Skin

As an external application, chickweed is considered by many herbal practitioners to be a key herb for relieving the symptoms of inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, pruritus, heat rash, urticaria and boils or spots. Its cooling, soothing and anti-inflammatory actions are particularly beneficial when heat and itching are primary symptoms of the overall picture, whilst as a vulnerary, it promotes skin healing (3,5,6,15,17).

Digestive

Taken internally, the cooling and soothing actions of chickweed make it a beneficial herb in the treatment of many inflammatory conditions of the digestive tract, including irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis, colitis, indigestion and peptic ulcers. Its anti-inflammatory, astringent and demulcent actions promote the integrity of the gut mucous membranes, whilst its mild laxative and carminative actions ease constipation and abdominal bloating. It was traditionally used to clear heat in the liver and gallbladder as well as a remedy for obesity. Some modern practitioners continue to advocate its benefits in promoting weight loss through its mild suppressant effects on the appetite if consumed before food (4,15).

Respiratory

Although less frequently associated with the treatment of conditions affecting the respiratory tract, chickweed is considered to have an affinity with this system. It may be beneficial in situations where the symptoms are presenting as hot, dry and irritated, such as harsh coughs and asthma, sore throats and hoarseness (4,14).

Urinary

The soothing quality of chickweed combined with its mild diuretic actions make it an ideal herb to include in a herbal infusion for inflammatory conditions of the urinary system including cystitis or irritable bladder. This diuretic action may also relieve fluid retention and associated hypertension whilst supporting the kidneys in the elimination of substances, including excess uric acid, which is seen to be a contributory factor in musculoskeletal conditions such as gout, rheumatism and arthritis (4,5,6,14).

Characterisation in terms of phytochemical content and medicinal potential of the Stellaria media plant extract

A 2023 study explored the potential antimicrobial activity of chickweed on the gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacterium in comparison to commonly used antibiotics. It was found to have antimicrobial properties effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative, although a greater sensitivity was observed in the gram-positive S. aureus. It has also been shown to be effective against other pathogenic bacteria including Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens (16).

Stellaria media (L.) Vill. — A plant with immense therapeutic potentials: Phytochemistry and pharmacology

A review in 2020 examined the secondary metabolites found in chickweed, including the steroid saponin, flavonoid and phenolic compounds considered to be the primary constituents responsible for its pharmacological activities including antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antidiabetic, anti-obesity and anxiolytic actions. As demonstrated in this  study, extracts of the herb were seen to have significant inhibitory action against S. aureus, E. coli, S. typhi, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumonia and B. cereus bacteria (17).

Anti-hepatitis B virus activity of chickweed, Stellaria media (L.) Vill

This earlier research in 2012 into the potential of chickweed against the hepatitis B virus (HBV) was in response to the many disadvantages of current anti-HBV medications including the increasing drug-resistance rate. The study demonstrated that a freeze-dried chickweed preparation with a fresh juice solution had significant efficacy against HBV in vitro. Further data suggests this may be due to the action of polyphenol compounds of chickweed on the viral envelope of the virus such as HBV. Other polysaccharide constituents detected in the plant may also have a role to play in this effect through their immune modulating actions (18).

Chemical composition, antioxidative and enzyme inhibition activities of chickweed herb (Stellaria media L., Vill.) ethanolic and aqueous extracts

This 2016 study aimed to justify the traditional use of chickweed as an anti-inflammatory herb in the treatment of skin conditions. It surmised that the anti-inflammatory effects of the herb, when used topically, were as a result of its antioxidant action rather than any modulation of pro-inflammatory enzymes and that this correlated with the flavonoid content of the chickweed extracts used (19).

Many of the common names of this plant including chickweed, birdseed, chickeny weed and clucken wort originate from the fact that chickens seem to have a particular fondness for it as a foraged food and the seed was used as food for chickens and other domesticated birds. An older common name, less used today, was winterweed, in reference to it still being seen at this time of year (20,21).

Its Latin name Stellaria translates as star in reflection of the appearance of its flowers, which during the summer are said to open in the morning and close again in the evening as the more celestial stars appear in the nighttime sky (20).

It has also been said that chickweed can be used to predict if it will rain, and if the flowers are fully open, the weather will be dry for the next four hours (20).

Chickweed is very commonly found throughout the British Isles. It is native to Europe and Asia; however is now naturalised throughout most of the world. It may be found growing in gardens, fields, alongside streams and roads (1,32,32). It is said to have grown wild in the pathways amongst settlers, providing them with a rich source of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. It was used by sailors in the form of a vinegar as a preventative against scurvy at times when citrus fruits were scarce, both of which may have contributed to its naturalisation around the globe (29).

Chickweed is not currently considered to be at risk or included on any endangered lists (33,34,25,36).

However, it is often considered to be an unwanted and undesirable weed both by gardeners and larger scale growers such as the farming industry . They may actively seek to control chickweed by repeated tilling or herbicide use. Although this is unlikely to have significant consequences on the long term sustainability of the chickweed population, it does have implications on its suitability for consumption, as herbicide resistant chickweed populations have been identified throughout the UK since 2016. This creates uncertainty regarding the possible contaminants that chickweed found growing wild in these types of environments may have been exposed to (37). The only reported case of toxicity in which chickweed was alleged to be implicated may have been contaminated in this way with artificial fertiliser (5). Please see our Quality and Safety article for more information.

Habitat loss and over-harvesting from the wild are two of the biggest threats faced by medicinal plant species. There are an increasing number of well-known herbal medicines at risk of extinction. We must, therefore, ensure that we source our medicines with sustainability in mind.

The herb supplement industry is growing at a rapid rate and until recent years a vast majority of medicinal plant produce in global trade was of unknown origin. There are some very real and urgent issues surrounding sustainability in the herb industry. These include environmental factors that affect the medicinal viability of herbs, the safety of the habitats that they are taken from, as well as the welfare of workers in the trade.

The botanical supply chain efforts for improved visibility (transparency and traceability) into verifiably sustainable production sites around the world is now certificated through the emergence of credible international voluntary sustainability standards (VSS). 

Read our article on Sustainable sourcing of herbs to learn more about what to look for and questions to ask suppliers about sustainability.

Herbal medicines are often very safe to take; however, their safety and efficacy can be jeopardised by quality issues. So, it is important to buy herbal medicines from a reputable supplier, from sources known to test their herbs to ensure there is no contamination, adulteration or substitution with incorrect plant matter, as well as ensuring that recognised marker compounds are at appropriate levels in the herbs.

Some important quality assurances to look for are certified organic labelling, the correct scientific/botanical name, and the availability of information from the supplier about ingredient origins. A supplier should be able to tell you where the herbs have come from, what contaminants are not in the herb, and what the primary compounds are.

Although chickweed is frequently seen to appear uninvited in cultivated ground, it can be deliberately introduced into an environment by gathering ripe seeds and sowing in situ. It is an annual herb that will readily self-seed and spread rapidly once established in a location with full sun to partial shade (39). It prefers nitrogen rich, free-draining, fertile soil without excessive acidity and preferably well-watered but not water-logged soils (37).

When harvesting, cut the stem carefully with scissors at root level before gently laying in a basket or collection tray to minimise bruising the plant or excessive contamination of soil (24,38).

Beyond its benefit  as both a medicinal and culinary plant, chickweed is a valuable addition to any garden’s biodiversity. Whilst its flowers provide nectar for bees at times of year where other sources may be scarce, the subsequent seeds are a food source for many species of small bird (21).

Chickweed soup

Chickweed can be gathered throughout the majority of the year. It often becomes dry and straggly at midsummer; however it rebounds in Autumn and remains in abundance until the first heavy frosts. It is often one of the first plants to re-emerge in early spring, along with cleavers and young nettles. It is said to have been enjoyed by the Greeks and is evidenced to have been used as a culinary plant since the Middle Ages. It may be eaten either cooked or raw as a nutritional inclusion in winter salads when other sources of wild greens may be low (20,22,23).

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 1 ½ litres stock 
• 6 spring onions, thinly sliced
• 1 large potato
• 2 bunches chickweed
• Salt and pepper
• 250 ml cream

Method

• Bring stock to the boil in large, heavy saucepan and then lower the heat
• Add onions, potato and chickweed
• Cover and simmer for 10–15 minutes (do not overcook or the soup will lose its flavour)
• Season with salt and pepper before blending
• Add cream 
• Heat through, but do not boil.

* Taken from Roger Phillips’ Wild food (24)

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