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Stellaria Media aka Chickweed

A key identifier:
* The inner stem of chickweed is elastic, so if you gently pull the stem apart, the outer sheath will separate while the inner part will stretch. It looks like a thin light green string!

Quick Overview:
Chickweed is a highly nutritious mineral rich food source. The saponins increase permeability of mucous membranes increasing the absorption of nutrients. Chickweed soothes the whole digestive tract and nourishes the glandular and lymphatic systems for thyroid problems, swollen glands and cysts. Chickweed is used externally as a poultice, salve or oil for itches, wounds, ulcers, abscesses, pimples, boils and other skin eruptions or injury. May be used as an eyewash or poultice for conjunctivitis. Use hot chickweed baths or soaks for arthritis, rheumatism, stiff neck, sore back or itching

Human Consumption

Stellaria media is edible and nutritious and is used as a leaf vegetable, often raw in salads. Chickweed is excellent raw–use it like sprouts; eat it in sandwiches, wraps, etc. And of course it’s a great base for salad.
Chickweed is a not only a super plant in terms of its nutritional acclaim, but it’s also delicious. Nutritionally speaking it’s high in iron and fiber. Constituents: Saponins, coumarins, flavonoids, carboxyl acids and triterpenoids. Rich in vitamins, B complex (including B12), C (150-350 mg per 100gms), D and minerals including iron, copper, calcium, sodium, manganese, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium and silica.
The flavor is often compared with corn silk. It’s pleasant and mild.
It’s also great cooked and makes a good substitute for spinach. Given chickweed’s purported nutritive value, it’s actually strange to me to call it a “substitute” for anything. It would be more appropriate to call spinach a substitute for chickweed.

Folk Remedies

The plant has medicinal properties and is used in folk medicine. It has been used as a remedy to treat itchy skin conditions and pulmonary disease. A 17th century herbalist, John Gerard, recommended it as a remedy for mange.

Modern day herbalists prescribe it for iron-deficiency anemia (high in iron), as well as for skin disease, bronchitis, rheumatic pains, arthritis and menstrual pains. The plant was also used by the Ainu people for treating bruises and aching bones. Stems were steeped in hot water before being applied externally to affected areas.

We do know that chickweed was used traditionally as a restorative tonic for patients recuperating from serious illness. It’s presumably the plant’s nutrient content that provides healing support.
Chickweed actually has several traditional uses both internally and externally:
* Anti-inflammatory and pain reliever: It’s a traditional remedy for rheumatism, arthritis, menstrual cramps and other issues associated with inflammation.
* Digestive and intestinal support: Chickweed’s high fiber content and its reputation for improving the absorption of nutrients makes it an old stand-by tonic for gut health.
* Skin treatment: Chickweed is cooling and drying so it has a long history of use in treating skin afflictions like acne, eczema, psoriasis, rashes, minor burns, boils, cuts, and insect bites. It’s also good as a compress for soothing hemorrhoids and varicose veins.
* Kidney support: As a mild diuretic, chickweed tea is traditionally administered to flush and clean the kidneys.
* Astringent: A compress, tincture, or fresh juice of chickweed is used to draw out splinters.
* Aids in digestion and weight management — Chickweed functions as both a mild laxative and a diuretic, helping rid the body of toxic substances. In traditional Indian medicine, it is used as a preventive measure for obesity. Studies show that the intake of chickweed had positive effects on food consumption behavior, adiposity index and body weight in mice.
* Functions as an expectorant — Chickweed may soothe the bronchial tubes and the lungs to help expel mucus or phlegm. This is due to its saponin content, which is noted to facilitate the breakup of the secretions from the membranes.
* May help minimize inflammation — People affected by RA (rheumatoid arthritis) can use this herb to help ease inflammation in their joints and relieve the pain caused by this condition. Chickweed poultices can also be used in relieving eye inflammation and conjunctivitis
* Aids in wound healing — This herb has been used to promote wound healing and ease infections through its antiseptic and antifungal properties.
* As a poultice — Chickweeds can be crushed and directly applied to bruises and aching body parts to help ease tension or lessen inflammation.
* As a compress — You can apply it to aching joints and muscles to relieve pain.
* As an infused oil — Infused chickweed oil can be added to bathwater to help alleviate the symptoms of eczema. It can also be used as a topical medication for insect bites and other skin conditions to help minimize itchiness
* As a decoction — Chickweed decoction can be used to help with constipation. To make a decoction, boil 3 heaping tablespoons of chickweed leaves in 1 quart of water. Take this decoction every three hours or until your constipation disappears

Rabbit Uses

Other than being a nice change up that contains quite a bit of water in this high fiber weed it helps with molt as well as being an anti inflammatory and helps heal cuts and other wounds. It works as a diuretic to help flush the kidneys too. Because of the high fiber content as well as the saponins it works well for the GI system too! Overall one of my favorites for myself and the buns!

If you read thru the above notice all the uses. All them apply to the bunny as well.

A little long winded but I hope the info I gathered is useful to others too

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