Scientific name : Stella Ria Media

Common name : Chickweed, Mouse-ear, Satinflower, Starweed, Starwort, Tongue Grass, White Bird's - Eye, terweed

Botany

Chickweed is a common plant, particularly ghout Europe and North America. This low-growing annual has a thin hairy stem with pointed oval leaves. It Iuces small white star-shaped flowers throughout of the year.

History

The whole dried plant has been used in the 'Iaration of infusions. Chickweed extract has been internally as a demulcent, but is more typically used Jrnally for the treatment of rashes and sores. The :ng shoots are edible and have been used as salad nS, In homeopathy, the plant is used to relieve rheumatic pains and psoriasis.

Chemistry

Nitrate salts, a saponin and vitamin C 5 mg/1 00 g) have been identified in the plant.

Pharmacology

Although there is an extensive base tientific literature describing chickweed, this literature

es: Chickweed infusions and extrac Shes and sores. Young shoots are focuses largely on its control as an unwanted weed. There is no indication that any of the plant's constituents possess significant therapeutic activity and its vitamin content is too low to be of therapeutic value.

Toxicology

Grazing animals have experienced nitrate poisoning secondary to chickweed? Although poorly documented, human cases of paralysis have been reported from large amounts of the infusion. However, there is no overwhelming evidence to suggest that chickweed possesses a significant toxic potential.

Summary

Although chickweed is ubiquitous and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, there is no evidence that it offers any significant therapeutic activity. It is generally well tolerated, although the ingestions of large amounts of the plant may be associated with nitrate toxicity.