Stellaria, Chickweed

Dodoens, A Niewe Herball (1578)

English botany, or coloured figures of British plants,, J.E. Sowerby (1864)

Uses:

1. Clears Liver Heat, Resists Poison:

-Liver heat with red eyes, headache, bitter taste, yellow urine, and hard stool or constipation
-Abscesses, Eczema, Psoriasis, Itch
-Liver Heat swellings including Scrofula and Tumors
-Hydrophobia (Rabies); several authors recommended it as very effective
-sores and ulcers of the genital region; Leukorrhea
-Spasms, Tics, Cramps and Convulsions
-internally and topically for Liver heat eye problems; said to improve Eyesight.
-Also used for gall bladder complaints.
-“wonderfully tempers the Heat of the Liver”. (The Compleat Herbal, Tournefort, 1719)
-“all Manner of Heat both internal and external, to cool and temper the Blood inflamed in Agues”. (The Compleat Herbal, Tournefort, 1719)
-“preserves Children from convulsive Fits”. (The Compleat Herbal, Tournefort, 1719)

2. Benefits Yin, Clears Deficient Heat:

-good when the Yin and fluids have been damaged from heat as in febrile disease, chronic infections, and chronic wasting diseases, marked by Thirst, dry mouth and Night-sweats
-dry Cough, Hemoptysis, and low grade fever as seen in Consumption, chronic Bronchitis etc.
-deficient heat affecting the Heart, marked by Palpitations, dry Mouth and Anxiety or Fear.
-Fresh herb or juice is best for this function
-“It is a healthful Food taken with other Specifics, and reduced to a Gruel or Pottage, for such as labour under an Atrophy”. (Hoffman).

3. Clears Heat, Promotes Stool:

-decoction has been used for Constipation from dryness of the Bowels, or heat.
-Colitis, Gastro-duodenal ulcers.
-Obesity.

4. Externally:

-applied to Cuts and Wounds.
-Itching, Irritation, or Eruptions of the skin, including such conditions as Psoriasis and Eczema
-hot Swellings, Abscesses and Carbuncles, Cysts and Tumors. (Washes, baths, poultice)
-“Applied to the Breasts, it dissolves the coagulated Milk”. (The Compleat Herbal, Tournefort, 1719)
-bruised herb, or the juice made into a plaster is a good application over hot Livers, or to any hot inflammation
-demulcent with very good drawing properties; it can draw impurities from the skin when applied. (Poultice or fomentation)
-Tension or Cramping of the Muscles and Tendons; also Convulsions and Palsy
-Swollen Testicles. (fresh herb as a poultice)
-virulent Ulcers and Sores (juice or ointment)
-genital Sores and Ulcers (distilled water)
-distilled water or juice is dropped into the Eyes for Sore, Red, Swollen and inflamed Eyes

Main Combinations:

1. Shortness of breath from Heat, Chickweed with Vervain (expressed juices of the herbs). (Wirtzung)
2. Chronic catarrhs of the respiratory and urinary organs, Chickweed with Horsetail, Lance-leaf Plantain, Nettle (Fischer)
3. Catarrh of the Lungs, Chickweed with Horsetail and Ivy leaf (equal parts) (Becker)
4. Hydrophobia (Rabies), Chickweed with Elecampane (Wonders in Weeds)
5. Epilepsy: “A Dram of its Powder is given for the Falling Sickness”. (The Compleat Herbal, Tournefort, 1719)
6. Heat-type diseases of the Kidneys and Bladder, Chickweed with Horsetail and Lance-leaf Plantain (Flämig)

Externally:

7. Cramps and tightness of the Sinews, decoct Chickweed with Rose in wine and apply.
8. Hot Swellings and Abscesses, decoct Chickweed and Marshmallow root, beat to a pulp and with Linseed and Fenugreek, form a poultice. This was applied to swellings of he legs, abscesses, swellings, cramps, wounds and virulent Ulcers.
9. Eczema, Nappy rash, Psoriasis, dry and cracked skin, form an ointment with 10% fresh Chickweed (traditionally in Hog fat).
10. Hemorrhoids: “stops the immoderate Flux of the Hemorrhoids, and eases their Pain; taking the Decoction of it, and applying it outwardly”. (The Compleat Herbal, Tournefort, 1719)