Allergy Season, Irritated Eyes....Chickweed Relief

 

Plants that many consider weeds make their appearance with the first spring like days for reasons other than to annoy those who view these plants as nothing more than to aggravate the need for control over that perfect lawn. Before grocery stores offered off season fresh foods any time of the year, people spent long winters surviving on canned, pickled, dried or fermented vegetables. Those first signs of green were very appreciated and supplied much needed nutrition and system detox. 

Dandelions, violets, plantain, nettles, chickweed, deadnettle...all eagerly foraged and used for not only food but for medicine. 

Chickweed is one of those creeper plants hardly noticed unless one is looking for it or as a gardener, cursing its prolific ability to self-sow. Forming a low growing mat over any bare soil available, it is difficult to eradicate. While it is easy to pull out, its weak stems easily break off and leave spilled seed and roots behind. 

Chickweed is Stellaria  media which in Latin means little star. The little white flowers appear to be made up of five petals but look closer and you'll see each petal has a cleft to become ten little slivers. It is a little fun to get poetic and compare the little star to the cool evening sky. Considered a cooling herb, conditions associated with heat such as fevers, infections and inflammation, can be eased with the use of chickweed.

Seasonal allergy sufferers can get some relief from this little plant. Itchy, irritated, red eyes can be soothed by using a chickweed infusion or as an eye poultice.

To avoid the mess of dirt getting mixed in with your greens, use a scissors and give the chickweed patch a haircut. Cut a handful and chop into small pieces to increase the surface area. Add about 1/2 cup to a sauce pan along with 1 cup water. Bring to almost the boiling point and then turn down the heat to a simmer for about ten minutes. This makes a strong herbal tea or infusion. Strain out the plant material and cool. Soak a cloth in the infusion and lay over your eyes for about 10 minutes. An alternative to straining is to leave the chickweed folded in the cloth and use over your eyes like a poultice.

Do this a few times a day if necessary for soothing relief from inflammation, redness, burning and itch. You can cut extra chickweed and store in the freezer for future use. Chickweed dies back once the heat of summer kicks in so take advantage of it while it is abundant in the spring.

Chickweed in April