Background
- Common chickweed (Stellaria media) is a wild plant that has traditionally been collected for human consumption in southeast Spain. There is also evidence of use of Stellaria holostea in Italy, Canada, and Scotland.
- Herbal textbooks recommend chickweed (poultice, ointment, or oil) as a topical remedy for skin conditions including cuts, wounds, itching, irritation, psoriasis, and eczema. Currently, there is a lack of high quality scientific evidence supporting the use of chickweed for any medical condition.
References
Natural Standard developed the above evidence-based information based on a thorough systematic review of the available scientific articles. For comprehensive information about alternative and complementary therapies on the professional level, go to . Selected references are listed below.
- [Antiallergic agents from the chickweed]. Schweiz.Rundsch.Med.Prax. 11-10-2004;93(46):1936.
View Abstract - Guarrera PM, Forti G, Marignoli S. Ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal uses of plants in the district of Acquapendente (Latium, Central Italy). J Ethnopharmacol. 1-15-2005;96(3):429-444.
View Abstract - Guil JL, Rodriguez-Garcia I, Torija E. Nutritional and toxic factors in selected wild edible plants. Plant Foods Hum.Nutr. 1997;51(2):99-107.
View Abstract - Jovanovic M, Mimica-Dukic N, Poljacki M, et al. Erythema multiforme due to contact with weeds: a recurrence after patch testing. Contact Dermatitis 2003;48(1):17-25.
View Abstract - Jovanovic M, Poljacki M, Mimica-Dukic N, et al. Sesquiterpene lactone mix patch testing supplemented with dandelion extract in patients with allergic contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis and non-allergic chronic inflammatory skin diseases. Contact Dermatitis 2004;51(3):101-110.
View Abstract - Kumarasamy Y, Cox PJ, Jaspars M, et al. Screening seeds of Scottish plants for antibacterial activity. J Ethnopharmacol 2002;83(1-2):73-77.
View Abstract - Lin LT, Liu LT, Chiang LC, et al. In vitro anti-hepatoma activity of fifteen natural medicines from Canada. Phytother.Res 2002;16(5):440-444.
View Abstract - Morita H, Iizuka T, Choo CY, et al. Dichotomins J and K, vasodilator cyclic peptides from Stellaria dichotoma. J Nat.Prod. 2005;68(11):1686-1688.
View Abstract - Poljacki M, Jovanovic M, Boza P, et al. [Is Vojvodina a risk area for contact weed allergies?]. Med Pregl. 2005;58(3-4):123-126.
View Abstract