Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUses of ChickweedSide EffectsPrecautionsDosageToxicityInteractionsHow to StoreSimilar SupplementsSources & What to Look For
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Uses of Chickweed
Side Effects
Precautions
Dosage
Toxicity
Interactions
How to Store
Similar Supplements
Sources & What to Look For
Chickweedis a perennial flowering plant used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat skin diseases and viruses. It may also used for conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiac issues.Scientific research supporting its effectiveness, however, is limited.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak
Chickweed has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-viral activity in the laboratory setting.However, there’s no clinical evidence of benefit to humans.
Juice or extracts made from chickweed have been studied in test tubes or mice models for the following conditions:
It’s important to note that these studies are all preliminary. There are no human clinical trials showing benefits from chickweed for these or other uses. Studies performed in test tubes or using animal models do not necessarily translate into benefits for humans.
Therefore robust clinical trials in humans are certainly needed before chickweed can be recommended for these or other conditions.
Chickweed Supplement FactsActive ingredients:Saponins, phenols, tannins, andflavonoidsAlternate names:Stellaria mediaLegal status:Over-the-counter supplement (United States).Suggested dose:UnknownSafety considerations:No data for children or during pregnancy or lactation.
Chickweed Supplement Facts
Active ingredients:Saponins, phenols, tannins, andflavonoidsAlternate names:Stellaria mediaLegal status:Over-the-counter supplement (United States).Suggested dose:UnknownSafety considerations:No data for children or during pregnancy or lactation.
What Are the Side Effects of Chickweed?
Very little is known about the safety profile of chickweed. If you decide to take it, be alert for possible side effects. These side effects may be common or severe.
Common Side Effects
Chickweed may cause the following common side effects:
Severe Side Effects
Severe side effects of chickweed may include:
Seek immediate medical care if you experience any of these severe side effects.
Due to a lack of safety data, chickweed is not recommended for the following:
Nitrates in chickweed are thought to be responsible for side effects like:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following populations are at the highest risk of harm from nitrate exposure:
Dosage: How Much Chickweed Should I Take?
Because human research is so sparse, there is no recommended chickweed dose.
If you decide to try chickweed, follow the manufacturer’s recommended dose.
Always speak with a healthcare provider before taking a supplement to ensure that the supplement and dosage are appropriate for your needs.
What Happens If I Take Too Much Chickweed?
Components of chickweed have been associated with severe side effects like:
If you experience these, call Poison Control at 888-222-1222 or go to your nearest emergency room.
There’s not enough information about possible interactions between chickweed and other herbal supplements, over-the-counter (OTC) remedies, or prescription medications.
Based on its actions in animals, chickweed may interact with the following classes of medicines:
Discuss chickweed with your healthcare provider before taking it if you are taking any medications.
It is essential to carefully read the ingredient list and nutrition facts panel of a supplement to know which ingredients and how much of each ingredient is included. Please review this supplement label with your healthcare provider to discuss potential interactions with foods, other supplements, and medications.
How to Store Chickweed
Store chickweed supplements in a cool, dry place, away from children and animals.
Other supplements that may have a benefit in diabetes management include:
Other supplements that may help with anxiety include:
Sources of Chickweed & What to Look For
Chickweed may be ingested directly from the plant or taken as a supplement.
Here are some ways it can be incorporated into your diet.
Food Sources of Chickweed
Chickweed may be consumed as a raw herb in saladsor made into a tea.
Chickweed Supplements
Chickweed supplements are available in pharmacies, health food stores, and online in capsule, extract, powder, salve, and ointment form.
Summary
Although chickweed has historically been used to treat skin and respiratory conditions, it lacks evidence that it’s effective in humans. Therapeutic doses have not been determined, and we don’t know how chickweed may interact with prescription or over-the-counter medicines or other herbal supplements. For these reasons, it is not currently recommended as a treatment option for any conditions, and caution is advised.
As with all supplements, it’s important to discuss using chickweed with your healthcare provider before adding it to your medicine cabinet.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThere isn’t any strong data in humans, but test tube studies have shown that chickweed is active against bacteria likeStaphylococcus aureus,which causes skin infection,Escherichia coli, which causes gastrointestinal illness, andKlebsiella pneumonia,which can causepneumonia.The plant is dispersed worldwide. It can be found throughout Asia, North America, Europe, and Africa, where it typically blooms from May to October.Yes. One study showed that over 2% of people in a particular area were allergic to the plant.The chickweed plant has been associated withcontact dermatitisanderythema multiforme, both common skin reactions that typically heal on their own.Avoid chickweed if you’re allergic or hypersensitive to it or its components (parts).
Frequently Asked Questions
There isn’t any strong data in humans, but test tube studies have shown that chickweed is active against bacteria likeStaphylococcus aureus,which causes skin infection,Escherichia coli, which causes gastrointestinal illness, andKlebsiella pneumonia,which can causepneumonia.
The plant is dispersed worldwide. It can be found throughout Asia, North America, Europe, and Africa, where it typically blooms from May to October.
Yes. One study showed that over 2% of people in a particular area were allergic to the plant.The chickweed plant has been associated withcontact dermatitisanderythema multiforme, both common skin reactions that typically heal on their own.Avoid chickweed if you’re allergic or hypersensitive to it or its components (parts).
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yaseen B, Gangwar C, Nayak R, Sarkar J, Naik RM.Phytochemical synthesis of PdNPs utilizing Stellaria media/Chick weed: A Chinese medicinal herb for its antioxidant and catalytic application.Inorganic Chemistry Communications. 2023;155:111058. doi:10.1016/j.inoche.2023.111058Rani N, Vasudeva N, Sharma SK.Quality assessment and anti-obesity activity of Stellaria media (Linn.) Vill.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012;12:145. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-145Oladeji OS, Oyebamiji AK.Stellaria media(L.) Vill.- A plant with immense therapeutic potentials: phytochemistry and pharmacology.Heliyon. 2020;6(6):e04150. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04150Demján V, Sója A, Kiss T, et al.Stellaria mediatea protects against diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction in rats without affecting glucose tolerance.J Tradit Complement Med. 2021;12(3):250-259. doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2021.08.003Rani N, Vasudeva N, Sharma SK.Quality assessment and anti-obesity activity of Stellaria media (Linn.) Vill.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012;12:145. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-145Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Nitrates/Nitrites poisoning.Yilmaz Z, Piracha F, Anderson L, Mazzola N.Supplements for diabetes mellitus: a review of the literature.J Pharm Pract. 2017;30(6):631-638. doi:10.1177/0897190016663070Sarris J, Ravindran A, Yatham LN, et al.Clinician guidelines for the treatment of psychiatric disorders with nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals: The World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) and Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) Taskforce.World J Biol Psychiatry. 2022;23(6):424-455. doi:10.1080/15622975.2021.2013041Poljacki M, Jovanović M, Boza P, Mimica-Dukić N, Petrović A, Novović Z.Is Vojvodina a risk area for contact weed allergies?Med Pregl. 2005;58(3-4):123-126. doi:10.2298/mpns0504123pAdditional ReadingChidrawar VR, Patel KN, Sheth NR, et al.Antiobesity effect ofStellaria mediaagainst drug-induced obesity in Swiss albino mice.Ayu. 2011;32(4):576-584. doi:10.4103/0974-8520.96137Rani N, Vasudeva N, Sharma SK.Quality assessment and anti-obesity activity ofStellaria media(Linn.) Vill.BMC Complement Altern Med.2012;12:145. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-145
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yaseen B, Gangwar C, Nayak R, Sarkar J, Naik RM.Phytochemical synthesis of PdNPs utilizing Stellaria media/Chick weed: A Chinese medicinal herb for its antioxidant and catalytic application.Inorganic Chemistry Communications. 2023;155:111058. doi:10.1016/j.inoche.2023.111058Rani N, Vasudeva N, Sharma SK.Quality assessment and anti-obesity activity of Stellaria media (Linn.) Vill.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012;12:145. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-145Oladeji OS, Oyebamiji AK.Stellaria media(L.) Vill.- A plant with immense therapeutic potentials: phytochemistry and pharmacology.Heliyon. 2020;6(6):e04150. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04150Demján V, Sója A, Kiss T, et al.Stellaria mediatea protects against diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction in rats without affecting glucose tolerance.J Tradit Complement Med. 2021;12(3):250-259. doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2021.08.003Rani N, Vasudeva N, Sharma SK.Quality assessment and anti-obesity activity of Stellaria media (Linn.) Vill.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012;12:145. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-145Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Nitrates/Nitrites poisoning.Yilmaz Z, Piracha F, Anderson L, Mazzola N.Supplements for diabetes mellitus: a review of the literature.J Pharm Pract. 2017;30(6):631-638. doi:10.1177/0897190016663070Sarris J, Ravindran A, Yatham LN, et al.Clinician guidelines for the treatment of psychiatric disorders with nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals: The World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) and Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) Taskforce.World J Biol Psychiatry. 2022;23(6):424-455. doi:10.1080/15622975.2021.2013041Poljacki M, Jovanović M, Boza P, Mimica-Dukić N, Petrović A, Novović Z.Is Vojvodina a risk area for contact weed allergies?Med Pregl. 2005;58(3-4):123-126. doi:10.2298/mpns0504123pAdditional ReadingChidrawar VR, Patel KN, Sheth NR, et al.Antiobesity effect ofStellaria mediaagainst drug-induced obesity in Swiss albino mice.Ayu. 2011;32(4):576-584. doi:10.4103/0974-8520.96137Rani N, Vasudeva N, Sharma SK.Quality assessment and anti-obesity activity ofStellaria media(Linn.) Vill.BMC Complement Altern Med.2012;12:145. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-145
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Yaseen B, Gangwar C, Nayak R, Sarkar J, Naik RM.Phytochemical synthesis of PdNPs utilizing Stellaria media/Chick weed: A Chinese medicinal herb for its antioxidant and catalytic application.Inorganic Chemistry Communications. 2023;155:111058. doi:10.1016/j.inoche.2023.111058Rani N, Vasudeva N, Sharma SK.Quality assessment and anti-obesity activity of Stellaria media (Linn.) Vill.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012;12:145. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-145Oladeji OS, Oyebamiji AK.Stellaria media(L.) Vill.- A plant with immense therapeutic potentials: phytochemistry and pharmacology.Heliyon. 2020;6(6):e04150. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04150Demján V, Sója A, Kiss T, et al.Stellaria mediatea protects against diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction in rats without affecting glucose tolerance.J Tradit Complement Med. 2021;12(3):250-259. doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2021.08.003Rani N, Vasudeva N, Sharma SK.Quality assessment and anti-obesity activity of Stellaria media (Linn.) Vill.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012;12:145. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-145Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Nitrates/Nitrites poisoning.Yilmaz Z, Piracha F, Anderson L, Mazzola N.Supplements for diabetes mellitus: a review of the literature.J Pharm Pract. 2017;30(6):631-638. doi:10.1177/0897190016663070Sarris J, Ravindran A, Yatham LN, et al.Clinician guidelines for the treatment of psychiatric disorders with nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals: The World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) and Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) Taskforce.World J Biol Psychiatry. 2022;23(6):424-455. doi:10.1080/15622975.2021.2013041Poljacki M, Jovanović M, Boza P, Mimica-Dukić N, Petrović A, Novović Z.Is Vojvodina a risk area for contact weed allergies?Med Pregl. 2005;58(3-4):123-126. doi:10.2298/mpns0504123p
Yaseen B, Gangwar C, Nayak R, Sarkar J, Naik RM.Phytochemical synthesis of PdNPs utilizing Stellaria media/Chick weed: A Chinese medicinal herb for its antioxidant and catalytic application.Inorganic Chemistry Communications. 2023;155:111058. doi:10.1016/j.inoche.2023.111058
Rani N, Vasudeva N, Sharma SK.Quality assessment and anti-obesity activity of Stellaria media (Linn.) Vill.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012;12:145. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-145
Oladeji OS, Oyebamiji AK.Stellaria media(L.) Vill.- A plant with immense therapeutic potentials: phytochemistry and pharmacology.Heliyon. 2020;6(6):e04150. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04150
Demján V, Sója A, Kiss T, et al.Stellaria mediatea protects against diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction in rats without affecting glucose tolerance.J Tradit Complement Med. 2021;12(3):250-259. doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2021.08.003
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Nitrates/Nitrites poisoning.
Yilmaz Z, Piracha F, Anderson L, Mazzola N.Supplements for diabetes mellitus: a review of the literature.J Pharm Pract. 2017;30(6):631-638. doi:10.1177/0897190016663070
Sarris J, Ravindran A, Yatham LN, et al.Clinician guidelines for the treatment of psychiatric disorders with nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals: The World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) and Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) Taskforce.World J Biol Psychiatry. 2022;23(6):424-455. doi:10.1080/15622975.2021.2013041
Poljacki M, Jovanović M, Boza P, Mimica-Dukić N, Petrović A, Novović Z.Is Vojvodina a risk area for contact weed allergies?Med Pregl. 2005;58(3-4):123-126. doi:10.2298/mpns0504123p
Chidrawar VR, Patel KN, Sheth NR, et al.Antiobesity effect ofStellaria mediaagainst drug-induced obesity in Swiss albino mice.Ayu. 2011;32(4):576-584. doi:10.4103/0974-8520.96137Rani N, Vasudeva N, Sharma SK.Quality assessment and anti-obesity activity ofStellaria media(Linn.) Vill.BMC Complement Altern Med.2012;12:145. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-145
Chidrawar VR, Patel KN, Sheth NR, et al.Antiobesity effect ofStellaria mediaagainst drug-induced obesity in Swiss albino mice.Ayu. 2011;32(4):576-584. doi:10.4103/0974-8520.96137
Rani N, Vasudeva N, Sharma SK.Quality assessment and anti-obesity activity ofStellaria media(Linn.) Vill.BMC Complement Altern Med.2012;12:145. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-145
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