• Borneol, Caryophyllaceae (family), common chickweed, linalool, menthol, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria longipes, Stellaria media, Stellaria media Cyrill., Stellaria media Villars, terpenes.

• 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.

• Allergic reactions, antibacterial, cancer, cuts, eczema, food uses, hepatitis B, itching, psoriasis, skin irritation, wounds.

Adults (over 18 years old)

• There is no proven safe or effective dose of chickweed in adults.

Children (under 18 years old)

• There is no proven safe or effective dose of chickweed in children.

Allergies

• Avoid in individuals with a known allergy or hypersensitivity to chickweed, its constituents, or members of the Caryophyllaceae family.

Side Effects and Warnings

• Chickweed is possibly safe in non-allergic people when ingested in food amounts, based on its use as a wild edible plant in Spain.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not list chickweed on its Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) list.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

• Chickweed is not recommended in pregnant or breastfeeding women due to a lack of available scientific evidence.

Interactions with Drugs

• Use cautiously with antibiotics, due to possible additive effects.
• Use cautiously with anticancer and antiviral agents, due to possible additive effects.
• Use cautiously with blood pressure medications, due to possible additive effects.

Interactions with Herbs and Dietary Supplements

• Use cautiously with antibacterial herbs and supplements, due to possible additive effects.
• Use cautiously with anticancer and antiviral herbs and supplements, due to possible additive effects.
• Use cautiously in herbs and supplements that alter blood pressure, due to possible additive effects.

• This information is based on a systematic review of scientific literature edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com).

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