Chickweed Herbal Tea Or Tisane Loose Leaf Healthy Weight Loss Anti-inflammatory

Stellaria media or Chickweed or Starweed, is an annual flowering plant, native to Eurasia and naturalised throughout the world. It is a weed of waste ground, farmland, road and hedge edges and gardens. Occasionally grown as a salad crop or obviously for poultry consumption. As a tea it is often drunk for weight management, by supressing appetite. Chickweed is high in saponins which have anti-inflammatory effects and reduces swellings. The saponin content also helps with digestion, soothing the digestive tract and improving nutrient absorption. Chickweed also has antimicrobial properties, helping to fight bacterial infections. It has also been used as a topical wound dressing, reducing irritation and itchiness. A 2012 study in mice fed a high fat diet for six weeks found that consuming freeze-dried chickweed juice prevented weight gain and prevented increases in body fat and LDL (bad) Cholesterol, compared to a control group of mice. Old herbal folklore suggests enjoying a cup of this tea every 2-3 hours, though there’s no research to suggest how often you should drink it to reap its potential benefits.

It goes without saying that if you're pregnant (or are under the doctor for anything) caution should be exercised with herbal decoctions.