Herb Weavers Journal #103 - Chickweed - 1st April 2025

Chickweed

Latin name of Stellaria media, but commonly also known as Witches Grass, Stitchwort and Starweed

This lovely little delicate plant can be found all over and all year round too, making it an ideal plant for the witches healing first aid kit.

This plant is usually compared to lettuce in taste and can be added raw to salads, or cooked like kale or spinach, preferrable steamed. Nearly all parts of the common chickweed plant are edible, including the stems, leaves, flowers and seed pods.

It’ is a nutrient-rich plant that is a good source of antioxidants, vitamins A and C, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and more, so makes it good for many health issues.

This plant was used by Old Crones for treating skin and lung conditions and curing mange. It is now thought to be beneficial towards rheumatic and arthritic pain as it treats inflammation and decreases pain and swelling. It is also be found in skin creams to treat eczema. It also supports the gut and digestive health and is a natural diuretic.

Common Chickweed does contains saponins which are toxic to the human body, but you do need to eat your own body weight of it to cause any real harm. Start with smaller quantities and build up to a full portion just to check how you fair.

It is used in chicken feed which is how it got its name, so if it grows in the garden and you have chickens, they will be very happy.