Super Star, Chickweed

Chickweed

 Common Names: Starweed

Botanical Name: Stellaria Media

Plant Family: Caryophyllaceae, Carnation Family

Parts Used: Whole plant (aerial parts)

Identification and Harvesting:

Photos by Rachael Witt

 ·      Chickweed is a low-growing plant with a delicate root system. In more temperate climates it grows during the winter to early spring and can be a perennial or an annual.

·      Its leaves have an oval shape and they grow in an opposite pattern.

·      The flowers have five petals that are deeply divided, sometimes appearing to be 10…

·      I like to I.D. chickweed by looking closely at the stem of the plant. It will have little hairs growing up vertically along one side of the stem. Then, at a leaf junction, those little hairs will grow on another side of the stem.

·      Chickweed is best in the spring, although some climates produce a bountiful fall crop as well. To harvest chickweed I bring my scissors and simply snip the whole plant a couple inches from the soil.

·      Chickweed quickly loses its oomph after harvesting so this plant is best used fresh. If you don’t have access to fresh chickweed, try the following recipe with parsley instead.

There’s no known toxicity for Chickweed. But be careful harvesting, make sure no dogs have been doing their business near your collection site and be sure its in a clean environment.

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Chickweed is easier to harvest than going to the store and buying sprouts and it’s at least twice as tasty and assuredly way more nutritious! Chickweed is high in calcium, minerals, potassium, and magnesium.

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Chickweed Medicine:

·      Chickweed is an excellent source of vitamins A, D, B complex, C and rutin (a flavonoid). It also contains iron, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, sodium, copper and silica.

·      Internally, it is a nutritional supplement, hunger suppressor, diuretic that soothes the urinary tract system and kidneys without depleting minerals from the body

·      Besides being a nutrient-dense and delicious plant, chickweed can be used as a cooling poultice on hot conditions like sunburns, irritated eyes, or insect bites (or even chickenpox).

·      The infused oil is often used to soothe the irritation of diaper rash and insect bites. Chickweed can also get things moving in the body.

·      You can use it internally and externally for relieving signs of stagnation such as benign cysts and swollen lymph glands.

How I like to use Chickweed

·      As a spring green, I eat it in salads, as “sprout-like” fillings in sandwiches, or my favorite…pesto.

·      If I have an itchy bite (or a student of mine does when we are wandering in the woods), I like to make a spit poultice.

·      Drying/wilting chickweed is hard to master when making an oil infusion, but once done right, I like to use an oil infusion in a soothing skin salve (along with calendula, plantain and chamomile).

·      A tincture can be made to help with kidney/liver issues and weight-reducing formulas (say, a little chickweed with your bitters?)

I recommend to use this plant once harvested. It does not dry well!

Sir Herb Robert

Common Name: Stinky Bob, Bloodwort

Botanical Name: Geranium Robertianum
Plant Family: Geraniaceae, the Geranium Family
Parts used:  Spring Leaves, stems and flowers

Herb Robert is a supreme, therapeutic herb and also an oxygenator extraordinaire! Herb Robert is a source of germanium, which makes oxygen available to cells (reducing cancer) and also serves as an enhancer of the immune system.

Herb Robert as Medicine

·      Herb Robert is a wonderful source of vitamins A, B, and C. It also contains calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, and germanium.

·      It acts as an astringent, antibiotic, adaptogen, antiviral, styptic, tonic, diuretic, digestive, sedative, and an antioxidant. And has volatile oil, bitters, tannin and gereiine constituents.

·      Herb Robert is an enigmatic herb with a miraculous action in tumor diseases, managing to halt or even cure some cancers. It’s helpful in the treatment of certain forms of cancer and also in boosting the immune system.

·      In folk herbalism, Herb Robert was used as a remedy for toothache and nosebleeds and as a vulnerary (used for or useful in healing wounds.)

·      Freshly picked leaves have an odor resembling burning tires when crushed, and if they are rubbed on the body the smell is said to repel mosquitoes. Or if the leaves are chewed, it helps treat a sore mouth and throat.

·      The active ingredients are tannins, a bitter compound called geraniin, and essential oils. It was carried to attract good luck, and due to its analogical association with storks, to enhance fertility.

·      Internally, it is a digestive aid for stomach problems, as well as a blood cleanser and body detoxifier; largely for diarrhea.

·      Herb Robert is known to help improve liver and gallbladder function, reduce swelling of the kidney, bladder, and gallbladder, while preventing formation of stones in the kidney, bladder, or gallbladder.

Identification & Harvesting

·      Her Robert is a fairly low growing annual (14") with stems that branch in many directions and often turn red.

·      Green leaves form opposite, at knotted joints in the stem; leaves are palmate in shape, deeply cut, and often tinged with colors of pink, red or bronze.

·      Stems and leaves are covered with very fine hairs. 

·      Very dainty, bright-pink, 'joy giving' flowers have five, rounded petals. Each petal has 3 paler streaks, starting at the centre and phasing out along the petal. Flowers develop, in groups of 2 or 4, at leaf axils. 

·      Following the flowers, the base of the blossom quickly fills out and develops into the oval seed receptacle, when mature, looks like a bird's beak, thus the common names: "storkbill" and "cranesbill". 

·      Herb Robert is best in spring and commonly the first herb ready to be harvested after a long winter. To harvest Herb Robert I bring my scissors and simply snip the whole plant a couple inches from the soil.

IT"S NOT JUST AN OBNOXIOUS WEED?!

So many people are surprised to hear that this plant they've been repetitively weeding out of their gardens can actually be beneficial... Like many weeds, they are our green allies. 

If you're not quite sure what to do with this plant, I like to make a vinegar infusion. It's a sweet, sour taste and I think it gives some "OOOMPH" to your vinegar or it also combines well with other herbal vinegar infusions... a Geranium Vinegar Blend, anyone?

Oxeye Daisy

Oxeye Daisy

Common Names: Great Ox-eye, Moon Daisy, Field Daisy (I sometimes refer to the leaves as "Frog Feet")

Botanical Name: Chrysanthemum leucanthemum
Plant Family: Asteraceae (daisy family)
Parts used: Whole herb, flowers, leaves, root
Taste: Aromatic, bitter
Energetics: Bitter, tingling

Actions: Anti-bacterial, Anti-fungal, Anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, diuretic, hemostatic, tonic

Food uses:

The leaves and flowers are wonderful in salads or for a snack while hiking.

Medicinal uses:

·       Decreases secretions internally, and dries up and disinfects when applied externally.

·       Use it for bronchitis or asthma (that is moist, hypersecreting mucosa, and red inflamed membranes)

·       “The flowers are balsamic and make a medicinal infusion for relieving chronic coughs and for bronchial problems. The herb is used in the treatment of whooping cough, asthma and nervous excitability.”-Nature’s Herbal

·       Safe and effective for excess sweating, excess secretions, vaginal discharges, runny eyes, and overconcentrated acidic urine.

·       A prepared douche can help clean and disinfect skin, scalp or even hair.

·       Flowers contain pyrethrin that makes a useful insecticide, thus mixed with D.E. to repel fleas.

So, I personally love to eat the leaves of this yummy plant as it begins to grow in the Spring. However, the flowers make such a strong tea to help dry out any mucus if you have more symptoms pertaining to a moist, unproductive cough. One of my dear friends and mentor, Lindsay Huettman, introduced me to this trio combination to aid in fighting off a wet cold. You can alter the ratios depending on your symptoms. (For example, if you have more feverish symptoms, then use more Yarrow.)

Wham-Bam-No-Thank-You-Mam Tea:

1 part Oxeye Daisy flowers

1 part Pearly Everlasting flowers

1 part Yarrow flowers and leaves

Harvest plants in summer, dry harvested material, mix together and use as tea when sick or at the onset of a cold/flu.