You probably already know this if you have attended one of my herbal classes, but I love weeds! Yes, I have a great fondness for the plants that everyone tries to get rid of and “keep under control” especially the tenacious ones that keep on growing where nothing else could…. the crack of a sidewalk, compacted and poor soil, the top of a bridge, along railroad tracks, etc.… 

I love weeds because they are spunky and resourceful, and in some cases they are beneficial to the local ecosystem. These plants will hold down eroding soil, remove heavy metals, and/or provide greater soil fertility and organic matter.  They grow in niches where more delicate plants cannot.

Additionally, many of these so-called weeds make for good foods and remedies for humans. So, before you decide to remove a weedy creature from your garden or lawn, please consider all of the above qualities and appreciate the vitality that is found in wild plants!

Now, onto Chickweed, one of our delightfully weedy plants that can be seen around town.
​
First and foremost, chickweed is an abundant wild edible. It makes for a refreshing salad green and is a traditional spring tonic. It is very nutritious, being high in chlorophyll, vitamins A & C, and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. Chickweed is a wonderful herb to help support the liver and the whole lymphatic system. Traditionally it is used to remove metabolic wastes and excess fats from the body.

If you make a tea of chickweed you might notice an interesting property that it has: when you pour hot water over the dried leaves you’ll see a foamy substance that rises to the top. This is because chickweed contains saponins, which are soap-like substances that increase the permeability of cells. This quality helps our human bodies to absorb more nutrients while also helping us to break down waste products, including excess mucous, toxins and fat cells. This makes it a perfect spring herb to turn to when our bodies need to wake up — and lighten up — after a long winter.

On the herbal spectrum of actions chickweed is considered to be a cooling and demulcent herb. It is soothing and moisturizing for the body’s tissues, both internally and externally. Chickweed can be used for any sort of hot, inflammatory condition such as colitis, sore throat, itchy or inflamed skin, or even stings, burns and sunburn. I think it is especially wonderful for irritated and red eyes. A simple poultice of fresh chickweed placed over the eyes will bring cooling relief.
​
Now in early spring is the time to scope out wild chickweed; before too long it will start to fade in the hot summer sun. Watch out for its dainty white, star-shaped flowers, and brilliant green leaves.  It may be an over-looked plant but once you learn how to identify chickweed you will be surprised to see it growing abundantly, spreading like tiny stars across the city.

Passionflower has a long history of traditional use. It is perhaps most well known for its calming influence on the nervous system. Herbalists use the plant for anxiety, tension and nervousness. It is a wonderful remedy for people who get over-stimulated and are tightly wound. (I like to think of its tightly coiled tendrils as a metaphor of this feeling.) How it works its calming magic is not exactly known, but it is believed to increase levels of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain which creates a relaxing feeling in humans.

The upper parts of passionflower — the leaves, stems and flowers — are also a common remedy for insomnia and sleep issues, acting as a mild sedative. Many herbalists like to recommend it for people who cannot let go of their endless thoughts at night, preventing them from getting sound sleep. Passionflower helps the body and mind to wind down a notch, letting go of nervous energy in order to more fully relax. Likewise, because of its calming and anti-spasmodic properties it is often used for tension and pain. It can be particularly useful for menstrual cramping and PMS crankiness. (Again, think of a grasping tendril relaxing its coil just a bit.)

On a personal note, much of my experience of passionflower comes from being around the living plant. Many years ago I worked in a greenhouse that was full of hundreds of different species of plants from all over the world. I remember one particular week when I was feeling stressed and restless because I was wanting to do and be more than what I was currently doing and being! I felt drawn to the potted passionflower vine that we had growing in the greenhouse.  At the time I did not know of its herbal uses but I felt compelled to be near its beauty — perhaps because I was reminded of my childhood experiences with the plant — and I even spent some time drawing it. I discovered that to me this beautiful creature represents a balance between seeking/longing/reaching (represented by its outstretched, grasping vines) and exquisite poise and grace (represented by its otherworldly flowers). For me, simply being around the passionflower and spending quiet, still moments with it helped to calm my own longing, anxiety and restlessness, making me feel more at ease with the present moment.