Tongue grass
Scientific Name: Chickweed
Other Names: Mouse-ear, Satinflower, Starweed, Starwort, Stellaria media, White Bird's Eye, Winterweed
Should I take it?
One of the first plants to appear in the spring, chickweed is a very common weed that invades lawns throughout North America, Europe, and most other mild climate zones. A chickweed plant consists of stringy stems that can make new roots if the ends touch the ground. Eventually, low clumps of interconnected plants can extend over large areas, choking out grass and other vegetation. The low-lying stems directly produce small, oval leaves covered with fine hairs. Large quantities of small, white, five-petaled flowers bloom from early spring until the first hard frost. Although chickweed is an annual plant (it dies at the end of its growing season), each plant makes a profusion of seeds that resist cold weather and grow aggressively as soon as the temperature becomes warm enough in the spring.
In the past, chickweed was used as a vegetable--either cooked or raw. Its name comes from its use as chicken feed among early farmers. The leaves and, sometimes, the stems and flowers of chickweed have also been used in medicine. For oral use, these "above ground" or "aerial" parts of chickweed typically are dried and made into tea or packaged commercially as capsules, extracts, or tinctures. Extracts are concentrated liquid preparations usually made by soaking chopped or mashed plant parts in a liquid such as alcohol, and then straining out the solid parts. Tinctures are less concentrated than extracts, but they are prepared in similar ways. None of these oral dosage forms are proven to have medical value. Either fresh or dried chickweed may be used topically.
Dosage and Administration
Dosage recommendations for chickweed vary considerably according to the type of product used. Keeping in mind that no medical benefits have been proved for any oral chickweed preparation, the directions on the package should be followed if chickweed is used orally for medical purposes.
For use as a topical solution, any amount of fresh chickweed leaves and stems may be washed to remove possible pollutants and then placed into a heatproof, non-metallic container. Cover the chickweed completely with boiling water, let it stand until the liquid has cooled, and strain out the solid particles. The resulting solution may be added to bathwater or it may be used undiluted as a soak for irritated feet or hands.
Summary
No scientific study results support the oral use of chickweed for any medical condition. It may relieve skin conditions when applied topically, however.
Risks
Because chickweed contains uncertain amounts of nitrates, which may be responsible for miscarriage or birth defects, chickweed should not be taken by pregnant women. Due to a very small risk of nitrate poisoning, chickweed is also not advised for breast-feeding women or small children.
Side Effects
Although no side effects have been associated with taking chickweed, the nitrates it contains may result in nitrate poisoning--especially among infants younger than 6 months of age.
Interactions
No interactions have been identified between chickweed and drugs, other herbal products, or foods.
Last Revised October 10, 2007
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Should I take it? 
