Chickweed - A Naturally Growing Plant With Some Very Helpful Medical Benefits - By: Gregg Podsakoff

Chickweed? What is Chickweed? And why should I know about it? These are probably the 2 questions that come up regarding this herb. Although it isn't as recognized as other more popular herbs, it is starting to catch on with more people because of its great medicinal and culinary benefits. It can make a great addition to a soup or a salad, because it is a green veggie that tastes a bit like spinach. And it is full of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, some of which are:

Vitamin C, Beta-carotene, Calcium, Gamma-linolenic-acid, Flavonoids, Magnesium, Riboflavin, Niacin, Oleic Acid, Potassium, Zinc, and Selenium...and this isn't even the entire list!

It is also known as a medicinal herb. Besides the large nutritional value and fiber, it has some abilities to help a person heal both topically and internally. Some people use chickweed based creams, salves, and compresses as a topical pain reliever and healing agent. Also, some people use chickweed to stop intestinal bleeding like ulcers, etc.

Part of the reason it can reduce pain is because it can reduce inflammation. In fact, research has demonstrated it acts as an active antihistamine, reducing the inflammation and pressure in the body caused by allergies and infections. This is great news for people suffering from chronic allergies, and it may even be a replacement for drugs like Claritin and Benadryl.

Chickweed can be mixed with pure aloe vera drippings, because aloe vera is a similar healing agent. Also, the aloe can work with chickweed to get into the skin and reduce inflammation, and therefore pain. Since aloe vera has a similar effect on the skin, these two can make a powerful mix for topical healing and reducing inflammation.

Because chickweed reduces inflammation, it can also be used to treat rashes and itching. Again, a chickweed salve or compress can be used on any area that is itchy or broken out in a rash.

Chickweed can also be used to treat acne, particularly cystic acne where the skin around the lesion has become inflamed. Mixing chickweed and tea tree oil to use as a diluted warm compress can have an almost magical effect in treating acne. Both are clinically proven to have compounds that will attack acne bacteria and the relating inflammation. Add a little fresh aloe vera to promote fast healing and reduce acne scarring, and you have an all natural acne triple threat!

Chickweed may also have some limited ability to help people lose weight. It has diuretic properties, so it will increase the amount of liquid the body will expel. It also has some mild thermogenic properties...which just means it will assist the body to use calories. However, the thermogenic aspect is very minor, so chickweed alone would not be enough to lose weight. It is most effective when used along with a proper diet and plenty of exercise.

So there are more than a few reasons to include chickweed as part of a weekly diet, and to apply its medicinal abilities. Many people are now becoming familiar with this herb and vegetable, and are starting to use it more than ever before. As natural treatments for medical problems become more commonplace, chickweed is a good bet to become a top choice for many herbalists and medical specialists.

Chickweed isn't the most popular herb in the world, but it is gaining popularity due to its great nutritional value and its healing and weight loss properties. Learn about both the dietary and medicinal benefits of chickweed.

Greg Podsakoff is the author of "HerbalRemediesThatWork.Com", a website that researches the science behind herbal remedies, including herbs for skin disorders like eczema and natural remedies for psoriasis.