Supplements Herbal Supplements The Health Benefits of Chickweed This flowering weed is thought to treat skin conditions By Megan Nunn, PharmD Updated on August 21, 2023 Medically reviewed by Suzanne Fisher, RD Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Uses of Chickweed Side Effects Precautions Dosage Toxicity Interactions How to Store Similar Supplements Sources & What to Look For Frequently Asked Questions Chickweed, or Stellaria media (S. media), is a perennial flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It's been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat skin diseases and viruses. Today, herbalists use it for conditions as diverse as the following: Arthritis Bronchitis Painful menstrual cycles Here's what you need to know about chickweed's purported uses and benefits, as well as side effects and precautions to be aware of. Chickweed Supplement Facts Active ingredients: Saponins, phenols, tannins, and flavonoids Alternate names: Stellaria media Legal status: Over-the-counter supplement (United States). Suggested dose: Unknown Safety considerations: No data for children or during pregnancy or lactation. Uses of Chickweed 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: Hepatitis B. Chickweed was shown to have anti-hepatitis B virus activity in a test tube study. Obesity. Chickweed extract given to overweight mice decreased the amount of food they consumed and their absorption of fats. Diabetes. Chickweed leaf extract demonstrated antidiabetic effects, such as lowering blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c, in mouse models. Heart problems in people with diabetes. Chickweed tea given to diabetic rats did not improve their blood sugar levels but did seem to protect against cardiomyopathy. Anxiety. Chickweed given to mice showed similar activity as diazepam, a classic anxiety medication in the benzodiazepine family. 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. Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak 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: Vertigo Weakness Headache Contact dermatitis (an itchy rash caused by contact with a substance or an allergic reaction to it) Erythema multiforme (a skin reaction triggered by an infection or certain medications) Diarrhea Nausea Severe Side Effects Severe side effects of chickweed may include: Difficulty breathing Cyanosis (poor circulation or inadequate oxygenation of the blood) Gestational pain Seek immediate medical care if you experience any of these severe side effects. Precautions Due to a lack of safety data, chickweed is not recommended for the following: ChildrenDuring pregnancyNursing Nitrates in chickweed are thought to be responsible for side effects like: DizzinessWeaknessDifficulty breathing According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following populations are at the highest risk of harm from nitrate exposure: Infants under four monthsPregnant people at or near the 30th week of pregnancy 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 individual needs. What Happens If I Take Too Much Chickweed? Never take chickweed at doses higher than recommended by the supplement manufacturers. Components of chickweed have been associated with severe side effects like: VomitingStomach painBluish lips or nails If you experience these, call Poison Control at 888-222-1222 or go to your nearest emergency room. Interactions There's not enough information about possible interactions between chickweed and other herbal supplements, over-the-counter remedies, or prescription medications. Based on its actions in animals, chickweed may interact with the following classes of medicines: Benzodiazepines like diazepam- increased likelihood of side effects like sedation could occur due to chickweed's anti-anxiety properties seen in mice Diabetes medications- hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) could occur since chickweed may also decrease blood sugar 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 any 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. Discard after one year or as directed by the manufacturer. Similar Supplements Other supplements that may have a benefit in diabetes management include: Nicotinamide Ginseng Fenugreek Vitamin D Chromium Cinnamon Other supplements that may help with anxiety include: AshwagandhaGalphimiaLavender 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 salads or 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. Because the Food and Drug Administration doesn't regulate supplements, quality, and potency can vary considerably between products. Purchasing supplements assessed by an independent third party, such as ConsumerLab, NSF.org, or U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) may be advisable. These organizations verify that the product contains the ingredients listed on the label and is free of high levels of contaminants. Importantly, safety or efficacy is not guaranteed even with these quality assurances in place. 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 Questions What infections might chickweed help treat? There isn't any strong data in humans, but test tube studies have shown that chickweed is active against bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, which causes skin infection, Escherichia coli, which causes gastrointestinal illness, and Klebsiella pneumonia, which can cause pneumonia. Where does the chickweed plant grow? The plant is dispersed worldwide. It can be found throughout Asia, North America, Europe, and Africa, where it typically blooms from May to October. Can I be allergic to chickweed? Yes. One study showed that over 2% of people in a particular area were allergic to the plant. The chickweed plant has been associated with contact dermatitis and erythema 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). 10 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Ma L, Song J, Shi Y, et al. Anti-hepatitis B virus activity of chickweed [Stellaria media (L.) Vill.] extracts in HepG2.2.15 cells. Molecules. 2012;17(7):8633-8646. doi:10.3390/molecules17078633 Rani N, Vasudeva N, Sharma SK. Quality assessment and anti-obesity activity of Stellaria media (Linn.) Vill. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012;12:145. Published 2012 Sep 3. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-12-145 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 media tea 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 Office of Dietary Supplements. Botanical dietary supplements - Background information. 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 Additional Reading Chidrawar VR, Patel KN, Sheth NR, et al. Antiobesity effect of Stellaria media against drug-induced obesity in Swiss albino mice. Ayu. 2011 Oct-Dec;32(4):576-84. doi:10.4103/0974-8520.96137 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 By Megan Nunn, PharmD Nunn is a community pharmacist in Tennessee with 12 years of experience in medication counseling and immunization. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit