Herb of the Month: Chickweed Stellaria media

Chickweed, also called Starweed, has pretty little white flowers which resemble stars, hence the name (stella = star). It provides food for birds all over the world, and is especially favoured by chickens. It is a highly nutritious plant, providing useful amounts of Vitamins A and C, iron and copper. It’s an annual plant, flowering early. In my Gloucestershire neighbourhood, it is already in flower in early February. According to Mrs Leyel, it opens at 9am and flowers for 12 hours.

In the kitchen
Once washed, chickweed makes a delicious and nutritious addition to salads, and can also be lightly boiled or steamed. 

In herbal medicine
Stellaria is foremost a cooling herb. It was used in the past in poultices for hot, inflamed joints and also for drawing out infection, as in ulcers, piles and abscesses. Nowadays it is used both externally (mostly as an ointment, see recipe below) and internally (as a tincture) for hot conditions. Externally these include eczema, heat rash, urticaria, sunburn, boils and spots. 

Internally, stellaria is helpful for inflammatory conditions such as gastritis, colitis, acid indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome. It is used also in the respiratory system for sore throat, laryngitis, bronchitis, asthma, harsh dry cough and pleurisy. 

Chickweed is mildly diuretic, and can also relieve inflammation in rheumatism and arthritis.

Christopher Hedley's recipe: Ointment for dry hot itchy skin, itchy bites, rashes and cold sores

You need a double boiler for this, or a water bath: a large pan for the boiling water with a smaller, covered vessel on a trivet or pad inside it, to heat gently. 
Pick six handfuls of fresh Chickweed (Stellaria media). Put half of it in the top of the double boiler or smaller vessel, cover with olive oil and press down. Heat gently for 2 hours. Strain off the oil, put it back in the pan, and press out the herb with your hands or a sieve, and discard it. Put in the second batch of Chickweed, and heat again for 2 hours, press out and discard. Measure the oil and for each half pint add 1oz grated beeswax, melt it into the oil over a gentle heat and pour into jars.

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