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Chickweed oil (Greenlady)GreenladyEvergreen Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 549 Location: Scotland! Posted: 22 Feb 2006 10:15 am Post subject: Chickweed oil -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This thread is a carry on from the weeds in the garden section, and as promised, here is a recipe which will enable you to use the beautiful (but rather pesky) chickweed plant- also known as Stellaria media. Its an excellent plant to use in external preperations, for anyone who suffers from chronic skin conditions or any pesky cracked gardening hands. Amongst other things its anti-pruritic, which means it soothes itching, vulnerary which means essentially wound-healing and refrigerant which funnily enough means its cooling. You can use this plant in several ways but the easiest is a cold infused oil preperation: Fill a bottle (any size, depending on how much you use it) with the whole of the plant Cover completely with oil of your choice (I use olive oil) Leave for 2 weeks on your windowsill Strain and keep in a cool place Apply as required If you want a hand cream recipe let me know Obviously its not the season for chickweed yet, but it wont be long till its everywhere Just a little intersesting aside on the plant "The Chickweed is also an instance of what is termed the 'Sleep of Plants,' for every night the leaves approach each other, so that their upper surfaces fold over the tender buds of the new shoots, and the uppermost pair but one of the leaves at the end of the stalk are furnished with longer leafstalks than the others, so that they can close upon the terminating pair and protect the tip of the shoot " Mrs Grieve A modern herbal _________________ Don't eat fruit and nuts. You are what you eat... Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 22 Feb 2006 10:43 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think I could grow to like my chickweed. A handcream recipe would be good as that's something I use a lot of. I've got a bottle of grapeseed oil so might make some chickweed oil using that...once the chick weed starts to grow again. Thanks Back to top Greenlady Evergreen Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 549 Location: Scotland! Posted: 22 Feb 2006 11:43 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- That'd be no problem jesse, i'll need to wait till I get home tonight (i'm at work at the moment...)till I can post the recipe _________________ Don't eat fruit and nuts. You are what you eat... Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 22 Feb 2006 11:56 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- sure thing, there's no rush. ...talking of work....aagggrrrrrr, better go do some! Back to top Kathy Moderator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 1008 Posted: 22 Feb 2006 01:24 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well we have plenty of chickweed in the "wet bit" so I'll make sure I make a plentiful supply for my hands (get very sore and cracked) in winter time. That last bit is lovely, makes you look at chickweed in a different light. _________________ Take care Kathy Back to top Greenlady Evergreen Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 549 Location: Scotland! Posted: 22 Feb 2006 02:05 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I know, it made me smile when I read it, so i thought i'd share it with you all _________________ Don't eat fruit and nuts. You are what you eat... Back to top Lottie Evergreen Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 740 Posted: 22 Feb 2006 02:27 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yes please - hand cream recipe. I have chickweed growing again up my lottie in the raised bed Since finding out that chickens love it - you should see the scramble for it! I now look at it with pleasure - and not only understand the real meaning, but actually feel it now - that a weed is a flower in the wrong place. I really looked at it closely and at the miniscule flowers. When I had some visitors who keep chickens, a week ago - they were thrilled to go home with half a carrier bag full - like a treasure! Any more cream recipes you have would be wonderful. I have shea butter and cocoa butter - but can not for the life of me get coco oil as we do not have any asian shops unfortunately. And I only have virgin olive oil, sunflower oil, and rapeseed oil, if that would be any good. - A bit of a drive into town! Thanks Greenlady - but if you are tired tonight after work, then leave it to another day. _________________ I am at that purple age! Back to top Kathy Moderator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 1008 Posted: 22 Feb 2006 04:36 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This looks like a good site for soap/cream making supplies, I've haven't tried it so can't vouch for reliability etc. https://www.soapkitchenonline.co....talog/Solid_Oils_and_Butters.html _________________ Take care Kathy Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 22 Feb 2006 05:08 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I buy all my soap making stuff from them, they are good and I've never had a problem with their service. Back to top Lottie Evergreen Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 740 Posted: 22 Feb 2006 06:43 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks Kathy and Jesse - off for a peek _________________ I am at that purple age! Back to top Greenlady Evergreen Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 549 Location: Scotland! Posted: 22 Feb 2006 08:58 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lottie wrote: I now look at it with pleasure - and not only understand the real meaning, but actually feel it now - that a weed is a flower in the wrong place. I have to wholeheartedly agree with you, in fact I have rather a soft spot for those wildflowers growing in the wrong place, and I cant help laughing when I hear people complain about them (dont shout at me gardeners), I like my herbs with a big personality! _________________ Don't eat fruit and nuts. You are what you eat... Back to top |