The aerial protions of chickweed, or starweed, are sweet and mildly bitter and affect the lungs and stomach. Chickweed is considered to be demulcent, emollient, expectorant, antitussive, antipyretic, alterative, and vulnerary.
* Please Note: This information is based partly on Traditional Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
Description
The aerial protions of chickweed, or starweed, are sweet and mildly bitter and affect the lungs and stomach. Chickweed is considered to be demulcent, emollient, expectorant, antitussive, antipyretic, alterative, and vulnerary.
In terms of the biochemical makeup of chickweed, it contains saponins, which exert an anti-inflammatory action similar to cortisone but much milder and without the harmful side effects. This action has made a direct application of chickweed oil on skin rashes widely used and appreciated by herbalists.
Chickweed is used externally for skin irritations, itch, and rashes; internally, it is used for weight loss, as a potherb, and demulcent for sore throat and lungs.
Chickweed is a common wayside weed with great value in treating blood toxicity, fevers, inflammation and other hot diseases. It is mild enough to be eaten safely as a potherb.
Its most common use is as an oil or salve applied directly to skin rashes, eczema and psoriasis. For this the whole fresh or dried herb is macerated in olive oil for four days. It is then squeezed out through a cloth and is ready to use.
Another traditional use for chickweed is for weight reduction. Whether this is due to any direct elimination of fat, its filling demulcent properties, its mild diuretic and laxative properties or a combination of all three would be difficult to prove.
Externally, a poultice of the steamed herb is applied to resolve boils and abscesses.
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Mo - April 19, 2006, 16:09
#10000045
I heard Chickweed tea is good for balancing testosterone in women. And in doing that will eliminate male type facial hair in women. Is this accurate?
Hot tea brewing method: Bring freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 tea bag for each cup into the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea).
Iced tea brewing method (to make 1 liter/quart): Place 6 tea bags into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the bags. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. [A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water].
Additional Information
ZooScape is proud to be the exclusive distributor of TerraVita teas, herbs and supplements in the United States, Canada and around the world. Please direct all wholesale and bulk inquiries to Simona Heather at 905-494-1785.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor. The essence of the current American rule on Traditional Uses is, as stated by FTC, "Claims based on historical or traditional use should be substantiated by confirming scientific evidence, or should be presented in such a way that consumers understand that the sole basis for the claim is a history of use of the product for a particular purpose."
