Chickweed: A Year-Round Medicinal Weed

Last spring I attended a medicinal herb workshop deep in Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. The seminar was held at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View and the presenter was Marge Powell. This annual one and one-half day event covers herbs being used for medicinal purposes. It also includes a two mile guided hike through a wooded area for the purpose of recognizing native herbs growing in the wild. Marge Powell gave an excellent presentation on the medicinal benefits of chickweed.

Chickweed is an invasive, annual winter weed that grows throughout the world and most people will have it growing in their backyards. It gets its name from the fact that chickens and birds love to eat the plant and seeds. One will know chickweed by its smooth, green, teardrop-shaped leaves which grow in pairs. Its stems grow just above the ground and its blooms are white, star-shaped flowers which close at night or just before a rain. It has also been known to be referred to as starwort or starweed and little star lady.

Chickweed, which is full of minerals and vitamins, can be used as a medicinal or as an edible in salads, soups, stews, and other dishes. Some of the components in chickweed are calcium, magnesium, niacin, riboflavin, potassium, thiamin, and zinc. It is an excellent source of vitamin C and also contains vitamins A and B.