Chickweed Note, Holmes

Like many seemingly inert botanicals abandoned during the onslaught of experimental pharmacology, Chickweed herb is re-emerging once again as a significant nutritive demulcent remedy. Its neglect predates the second half of the nineteenth century by far. Chickweed's Yin, structive and substantial therapeutic effects were obscured from the Renaissance onwards when Yang, active and directional remedies won the day--when active routing of disease with minerals such as mercury was standard procedure, regardless of the nature of the condition or the vitality of the patient. Let us speak plainly: the lovely, lowly Chickweed with its cool blue jewels is a feminine herb that could not survive this masculine phase of decadent Galenic medicine.

Significantly, today when we are increasingly seeking a balance between the masculine and the feminine, supposedly "inactive" herbs like Chickweed are once again speaking to us. We can imagine the "little star lady" being used by past lineages of wise women and hear the echoes of the many similar remedies still used in Asia today. In energetic medicine Chickweed is classed as a Yin tonic, appropriately enough.Its moist, sweet and salty qualities signal therapeutic actions that nourish the Yin, moisten dryness and clear deficiency heat.

Like Borage leaf and Lilyturf root (Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong), Chickweed's tropism is the Upper Warmer. Here it treats lung and heart Yin deficiencysyndromes, where it supports cardiac functions. Dry unproductive cough is moistened and coughing up of blood is stopped. In the bronchi Chickweed's mucogenic effect also results in a mucolytic action that softens hard sputum. Because it generates fluids and clears heat, Chickweed is also used for treating dryness and heat in the stomach and intestines. Gastric ulcers and overacid conditions are helped in this respect.

Like other demulcents covered under the category "Nourish the Yin and Moistens Dryness" Chickweed herb also has a significant nutritivecomponent. This addresses not only Yin-deficient but also blood-deficient conditions such as anemia and general demineralization, as well as malabsorption syndromes. With its high levels of mineral, acids and vitamins, Chickweed is a deep nourisher for states of chronic poor nurition with exhaustion--whatever the cause. Given time, this remedy is as effective as Kelp or Oat berry and straw for states of metabolic, nutritional and glandular depletion.

Chickweed also has the reputation for reducing swelling. Lymphatic congestion with swollen glands, swollen hot boils and cysts are the main types that the remedy treats. The salty taste is Chickweed's signal for these detoxicant, resolvent and lymphatic decongestant actions. As part of its catabolic phase of actions, Chickweed also reduces fat cells and promotes weight loss -- another traditional indication that has found modern approval.