Description
Balance, Harmony, Attraction, Relationships
Folk Name: “Tongue Grass, Starweed”
Magical Folk Uses: Keeps a happy marriage; attracts or maintains a relationship; fidelity.
Medicinal Folk Uses: Historically used to alleviate rashes from poison oak and poison ivy.
- Properties: Anti-inflammatory, Appetite Depressant, Breath, Demulcent, Laxative, Refrigerant
Chickweed is best known for it’s ability to cool inflammation and speed healing for internal or external flare-ups. Chickweed tea is an old remedy for obesity, according to Culpepper, and wise women and herbalists still drink teas of fresh chickweed as one of the classic spring tonics to cleanse the blood. Chickweed poultices are useful for cooling and soothing minor burns, skin irritations, and rashes particularly when associated with dryness and itching.
Chickweed Side Effects: Generally considered a safe medicinal food plant- large amounts of chickweed can have a laxative effect. When wildcrafting be careful of herbicide contamination, as chickweed is often found living among hated weeds.