Chickweed - Stellaria media

This is one of my favorite little medicinal plants. Once I  realized what it had to offer, I thought back to all those times I used to pull this "weed" out of my flower beds wondering, what in the world is this and how can I keep it from growing back! Since that time, chickweed has become my go to plant for just about any skin issue.  

Plant description and where to find it 

The light green leaves are small, oval shaped with pointed tips. The
leaves are smooth but yet at times can be slightly hairy.
Slender stems stretch along the ground forming a dense mat 
anywhere from 1 to 10 inches tall. It has tiny white flowers. Each flower has 5 petals that are lobed. Lobed is like having a cut in the individual petal which gives it the appearance of having 2 petals and not just one. Hence, with chickweed, 5 petals looking like it has 10. 


Chickweed grows in a wide variety of habitats and soil textures. It's one of the most common plants found in yards. (No wonder it was always growing in my veggie and flower beds.) You can also find it in fields, pastures and along the roadside. This plant loves cooler weather so start looking for it as early as April and into the early summer months, then to reappear again in the late fall and in some areas throughout the winter months.  

Parts used: leaves, stems and flowers

Medicinal properties: diuretic, lymphatic, nutritive, anti-viral, anti-bacterial 

High in nutrients. Delicious when mixed with other greens in a salad or made into an herbal infusion
High in saponins; regulates blood sugar, reduces internal inflammation.

 As a lymphatic cleanse, chickweed tea or an herbal infusion is commonly taken in the spring to aide in stimulating and clearing toxins from the body. 

As a diuretic, the medicinal properties release excess water from your body through an increased urine flow. (Makes you pee more) This process flushes out bacteria from the kidneys and urinary tract system, helping to relieve painful urination and inflammation associated with urinary tract infections. Although not commonly used to "treat" UTI's, but rather, to soothe the symptoms.

Chickweed has a cooling effect on red, itchy, inflamed skin associated with poison ivy, poison oak, bee stings, bug bites, minor burns, eczema, psoriasis, diaper rash, minor cuts, scratches, boils, rashes and just about anything else that has to do with issues with the skin.            

chickweed loves cool weather

Regarding the eczema and psoriasis; any preparation whether it be herbal or pharmaceutical is really not going to address these types of skin issues head on and will only offer temporary relief. These particular skin issues need to be dealt with from the inside out as well as outside in. 

There is a root cause to the symptoms. It could be from food allergies, a chemical allergy from laundry detergents, soaps, shampoos and lotions. Emotional and or mental stress can also be the cause. 

Another area to look into would be diet. On a daily basis, the body needs a good amount of water to stay hydrated; healthy fats, vitamins and nutrients from fruits, vegetables, nuts and or seeds in order to "feed" the skin from the inside out. So be sure to address the root cause/s in conjunction with any treatment you are using. 👌

Chickweed can also help in drawing out splinters. You can try this by simmering some fresh chickweed in water for 1- 2 hours. Stain the liquid, be sure to keep the plant as well. Soak a cloth in the liquid then squeeze out gently. Be sure to leave a good amount of the liquid left in your cloth. You can wrap the cloth around the area of the splinter just as is or you can take some of the plant you saved and lay that across the area first and then wrap your soaked cloth around the area. Replace this every 1-2 hours until you can see that the splinter has come to the surface enough to where you can safely pull it out. 

* In acute ophthalmia, the bruised leaves will likewise be found a valuable application.            ~King’s American Dispensatory

* An ointment, made by bruising the recent leaves in fresh lard, may be used as a cooling application to erysipelatous and other forms of ulceration, as well as in many forms of cutaneous disease (J King). ~ King’s American Dispensatory

* A tincture of Stellaria media has been extolled in some quarters as a remedy for rheumatic pains of a fugitive and shifting character.
 ~ King’s American Dispensatory

A couple summers ago, I was using a loofah sponge. If you're familiar with one you know how the edges can be somewhat scratchy. I managed to scratch my arm with the edge of the sponge. A couple days later I noticed that the scratch was becoming infected. I used other forms of ointments, however, it kept getting worse and worse. I finally went out and gathered some fresh chickweed and simmered it in water for about 2 hours. I then took some of the plant out of the water and laid it across the infected area on my arm. Then I took an ace bandage and soaked that in the chickweed liquid then wrapped that around the chickweed I had placed on my arm. I replaced the plant and re-soaked the bandage every 2 hours throughout the day. I did this for just one day. 2 days later, I could hardly tell where that infected scratch was on my arm. 😀


My granddaughter, when she gets into poison ivy or gets a bug bite, her skin swells up and is very painful to the touch and itches like crazy. I'll apply chickweed infused oil on her skin every couple of hours. For her, it's usually the next day and the bug bites or the poison ivy is pretty much all cleared up. Now, I'm not saying that it will work this fast for everyone. But I do know from experience how it works for me and my family.

**  For additional information check out Dr. John R. Christopher's research on chickweed.

Cinnamon

photo credit - Simon A. Eugster

Cinnamon, to some considered the number one spice, is made from the inner bark of the Cinnamomum tree. There are several different speices of cinnamomum trees, two of the most popular ones being Cinnamomun cassia and Cinnamomum verum.

Cinnamomum cassia, aka; Chinese cassia or Chinese cinnamon, originates in southern China and is cultivated in southern and eastern Asia - India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Cinnamomum cassia is more widely available and is commonly used as a spice. In the United States, the cinnamon you purchase from the store is more than likely the Cinnamomum Cassia.

Cinnamomum verum, aka; Ceylon cinnamon, Cinnamomum zeylanicum or true cinnamon is native to Sri Lanka. 
  
Both varieties offer medicinal properties, however, Cassia cinnamon contains higher levels of a compound called, coumarin. Taken regularly and in high doses, coumarin has been known to damage the liver. If you are wanting to use this herb medicinally, please check with your doctor first.

 photo credit - Visimex

Medicinal Properties:
antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-microbial, carminative, anti-fungal

Health Benefits: 
heart health, stabilizes blood sugar, toothaches, oral hygiene, colds, flu, respiratory, pain reliever
  
As an anti-inflammatory, cinnamon works by reducing chronic inflammation in the body. If left unchecked chronic inflammation can lead to diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, cancers, stroke, autoimmune disease, arthritis, fibromyalgia.

With heart health, studies have shown that cinnamon reduces high cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels and high blood pressure. Reference

" Cinnamon is well-known for its anti-diabetic effects, which is why it’s considered one of the best foods for diabetics. It can lower blood sugar levels and improve sensitivity to the hormone insulin, which helps transport sugar from the bloodstream to the tissues to keep blood sugar levels balanced." Dr. Axe. 

Antibacterial properties have been shown to aide against the bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis, found in those who have gingivitis. Also aides against bacteria that cause bad breath and mouth infections. Reference 

"In a study published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine, cinnamon essential oil was found to be highly effective in slowing the growth of a number of bacteria and fungi. The study showed that cinnamon oil inhibits the growth of E. coli, candida and staph aureus — all microorganisms that can cause a number of diseases, including the common cold. Dr. Axe.

As a pain reliever, cinnamon aides in relief from toothaches. I find it works by mixing a small amount of cinnamon powder, or a few drops of the essential oil, in a carrier oil, such as grapeseed or olive oil, then rub that around the sore tooth.

Aides with the pain associated with digestive issues; gas and indigestion. Also cramping associated with the menstrual cycle. 

"Cinnamon has a long history of use for menstrual cramps in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). From the TCM perspective, menstrual cramps are caused by cold and stagnation, and cinnamon is both a warming and moving herb. Western herbalists have traditionally used this herb to alleviate cramps and slow heavy menstrual bleeding." Reference

That coumarin compound in cinnamon also acts as a blood-thinning agent. If you are taking blood thinning medicine be sure to talk to your doctor before using.

Black Pepper ~ Piper nigrum

Did you know that this popular spice is also used for medicine? 

Black pepper contains the bioactive compound piperine, which is an alkaloid like capsaicin, the active component found in chili powder and cayenne pepper. - Health Line

Medicinal properties: anti-inflammatory, 
analgesic, expectorant, stimulant, carminative, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial 

As an anti-inflammatory, black pepper reduces chronic inflammation within the body.
  
Some causes of chronic inflammation include; food allergies, consuming foods with white sugar, unhealthy fats, processed foods, smoking and stress all contribute to creating chronic inflammation in the body. If left untreated chronic inflammation can lead to  - diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, cancers, stroke, autoimmune disease, arthritis, fibromyalgia
  
Analgesic/Anti-inflammatory, have you ever used a black pepper herbal salve or oil for sore muscles? Works wonders. You can make a massage oil by infusing fresh ground black pepper, ground ginger and ground cayenne. It really works on relieving sore muscles and arthritic joints.     

As an expectorant, black pepper loosens the mucus in the lungs, making coughs more productive. 

1/8 teaspoon of fresh ground black pepper mixed with 2 teaspoons of honey can be taken for coughs. A tea can be made by adding 1 teaspoon of freshly ground pepper to a cup of hot boiling water. Let steep for 10-15 minutes, strain, add 1-2 tablespoons of honey, stir and sip. Again, this is for coughs with mucus in the lungs. Not a dry hacking cough.

Antioxidant properties work by protecting and repairing our cells 
from cellular damage. What causes this type of damage? Diets that lack fruits and vegetables, consuming too many unhealthy fats, processed foods, white sugar, the artificial colors and flavorings in our food, chemicals in our bath and beauty products. All these factors are what contribute to the weakening of, and damage to, our inner cellular structure. Over time this leads to an imbalance in our bodies, which can then lead to the manifestation of illnesses and diseases, like heart disease, cancers, diabetes, high blood pressure, auto-immune disease and skin issues.  


Bioavailability - the proportion of the nutrient that is digested, absorbed and metabolized through normal pathways. - The Journal of Nutrition

Science has shown that the vitamins and nutrients in our foods are not always easily absorbed by the body. Remember piperine, that bioactive compound in black pepper, it is known to enhance absorption and improve bioavailability of those necessary vitamins and nutrients. If you have ever heard of adding black pepper to your turmeric preparations before taking, this is why. 

It's easy to incorporate black pepper in your daily diet. Just reach for that pepper grinder before you enjoy your meal. 👌

This is just a small introduction to the healing benefits of black pepper. Be sure to keep learning more about what this amazing spice has to offer! 
 

Black Pepper Fruits - photo credit: Wikipedia