Chickweed

Chickweed
Stellaria media
Caryophyllaceae



Chickweed is a cooling yin plant.

It is a common annual. The stems are weakly branched, with leaves 1-3 cm. Chickweed flowers white from early spring to fall. Chickweed grows in moist wet places in sun or shade. It is introduced from Europe. In Minnesota, Chickweed grows in shade, sun, and wet places. Chickweed seems to like to cover bare soil and acts like a protector while irritating some gardeners. I got over my frustration when I put some in my mouth; it is a refreshing snack!

Gather chickweed when it is actively growing in the spring and summer. The whole plant is used fresh. Tincture the fresh plant or use the fresh juice. It is tasty in a salad, and makes a nice tea. This herb is not as effective dried. Herbal oil can be made by incorporating macerated fresh chickweed in olive oil for a few days. This makes soothing oil for eczema and itching which is safer than cortisone cream.

Chickweed is used for many conditions. It has a range of actions that affects both sides of the spectrum. Chickweed is useful in stagnant conditions by clearing the lymphatics and balancing the waters and oils in the body. It helps the body break down fats, and also helps nourish the tissues in cases of atrophy. It would be called for in cases when the liver needs help emulsifying fats, and is sometimes thought of as a weight loss herb because of this. It is known to be the most soothing and cooling external remedy to any irritated tissue, especially eczema or other itchy rashes. Chickweed is also known to work on cases of hypothyroidism and depression, and when the endocrine system needs support, like during menopause. It is considered an alterative herb, and useful for fatty tumors. It is also a lung soother when they are dry and irritated or any other internal inflammation. In Ayurvedic medicine Chickweed is considered bitter, sweet, and cooling. It is an herb ruled by the moon and therefore cooling and soothing. It is used much like in the West as a laxative, alterative, demulcent, and vulnerary. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is used as an expectorant, demulcent, emollient, antitussive, antipyretic, vulnerary, and alterative. It is used to aid expectoration of phlegm, and to cool and soothe all areas of the body.


Expected Outcomes
Chickweed will soothe and calm, cool, and comfort. It is useful for depression, and balancing the both the oils and waters in the body. It will build up those that need it, and help those that need to lose weight. It is a great alterative.

Sources
A Modern Herbal by Maude Grieve. Erica Fargione’s Materia Medica class, Planetary Herbology by Michael Tierra, The Yoga of Herbs by Dr. David Frawley and Dr. Vasant Lad, Back to Eden, by Jethro Kloss. The Earthwise Herbal, by Matthew Wood.

Dandelion

Dandelion
Taraxucum officinale
Compositae

Dandelion is a non-native perennial that grows in many places. Considered a troublesome weed in some areas, Dandelion grows in a rosette from a tap root. The leaves are deep green, long and narrow with coarsely toothed edges. The flower stems are hollow and hold a milky sap. The flowers are unmistakably bright yellow disks that attract honeybees in the spring. It is an important food source for bees. The Dandelion blooms in early spring, it seems to like cooler weather. The flower heads are complete as soon as they emerge from the base of the plant displaying an energetic preparedness. The Dandelion flowers are light sensitive and will open early on sunny days, and even close early if it is cloudy. If plucked, Dandelion quickly goes to seed.

Dandelion root has a bitter taste; earthen and salty. It is moist and oily. The leaf is bitter, earthen, salty, moist, and cool.


Dandelion has been used medicinally for centuries. It is a powerful diuretic with a valuable supply of potassium. This makes it safe to use for water retention issues. (Heart problems to PMS and bloating). It is used as a chologague for inflammation of the liver and gall bladder, and congestive jaundice. The bitterness helps get bile moving. Dandelion is helpful for women’s reproductive health by helping the liver break down hormones, for cases of PMS. It is also helpful for rheumatism and as an oil for massaging sore muscles, and assists in clearing the lymphatic system. It has been used traditionally as a spring tonic to clean out stagnation from a winter diet high in rich, fatty foods. Useful in stagnation, it can be called for when there is sleepiness or lethargy. One of the best indications for the use of dandelion is when the tongue has a "mapped" appearance; patches of white coating over red tongue, or when there is a yellow coating present. Dandelion is a valuable food for bees and other insects, and humans as well. It provides great nutrients Like A, C, iron, calcium and potassium.

Common Therapeutic Actions
Diuretic, alterative, laxative, bitter tonic

The flower essence of Dandelion can be used for muscle tension and for (generally) males who are hard-driving and over-striving. Dandelion can help one to listen more closely to emotional messages and bodily needs.

Collection
Collect Dandelion leaves in the Spring for the least bitter taste. Dandelion flower tops collect, dry and use quickly, as they don’t last long. Dandelion leaves grown in the shade can be used later in the summer, and the roots are collected between June and August for their bitter properties.

References
The Earthwise Herbal by Matthew Wood, The New Holistic Herbal by David Hoffmann, The Yoga of herbs by Dr. David Frawley and Dr. Vasant Lad, Herbal Healing for Women by Rosemary Gladstar, The Flower Essence Repertory by Patricia Kaminski and Richard Katz,