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Chickweed Benefits (According to Ayurveda)
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Table of Contents

How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Cooling, lymphatic decongestant, alterative, anti-inflammatory diuretic, astringent, bitter. Mild demulcent. like Cleavers but stronger decongestant.

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Is Chickweed Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Chickweed' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

Take the Quiz

AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

Metabolic Nature of Chickweed

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

Find Out More

CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR

COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD

DRY

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY

LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT

LIQUEFIED

ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUEFIED

MOBILE

ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MOBILE

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

Find Out More

BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes and is laxative, and drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER

SALTY

ABOUT SALTY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Salty refers to anything with salt, or high mineral content.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SALTY

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Pitta pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Vata aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot & moist. Full-blooded, vigorous. Vivacious, social, and epicurean. Bullish.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

AGGRAVATES
MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry metabolic nature. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

Other

Subtaste:
Bland

BLAND

Bland means doesn't have much taste. In Chinese medicine, bland taste refers to afood without little macronutrients, such as cabbage, radish or bok choy.

SEE ALL 'BLAND' FOODS / HERBS

Tissue (dhatu):
Blood Plasma Lymph

BLOOD-PLASMA-LYMPH

Plasma (Rasa Dhatu) includes plasma, white blood cells, and lymph.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-PLASMA-LYMPH' FOODS / HERBS

Affinity:
Kidney Bladder Urinary
Family:
Caryophyllaceae

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Chickweed
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Digestion:
Appetite Suppressant

APPETITE-SUPPRESSANT

Suppresses hunger without causing weight gain.

SEE ALL 'APPETITE-SUPPRESSANT' FOODS / HERBS

Cleanse & Detox:
Internal Detoxicant

INTERNAL-DETOXICANT

Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system.

SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS

Energy Vitality:
Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Skin Care & Beauty:
Demulcent

DEMULCENT

Herbs that coat or form a soothing film over a mucous membrane, relieving minor pain and inflammation of the membrane.

SEE ALL 'DEMULCENT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Vulnerary

MILD VULNERARY

An herb used for the treatment of wounds (antiulcer, connective tissue tonic).

SEE ALL 'VULNERARY' FOODS / HERBS

Respiratory-Health:
Mucolytic

MUCOLYTIC

An herb that breaks apart mucus, liquefying the mucus.

SEE ALL 'MUCOLYTIC' FOODS / HERBS

Immune System:
Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

Heart & Circulation:
Alterative

STRONG ALTERATIVE

Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.

SEE ALL 'ALTERATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Refrigerant

STRONG REFRIGERANT

An herb or substance that strongly cools the body. Can be helpful in cases of heat conditions.

SEE ALL 'REFRIGERANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Blood Thinner

BLOOD-THINNER

Herbs that thin the blood. Helpful for people with heart disease or clogged circulation.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-THINNER' FOODS / HERBS

,
Blood Tonic

BLOOD-TONIC

An herb that produces more blood cells in the body, or otherwise improves blood cell quality or hemoglobin content. Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Rebuilds Fluids

REBUILDS-FLUIDS

Herbs or substances that create moisture in the body and increase fluids.

SEE ALL 'REBUILDS-FLUIDS' FOODS / HERBS

Kidney & Urinary:
Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Liver & Gallbladder:
Hepatoprotective

HEPATOPROTECTIVE

An herb that is capable of preventing liver damage. Many hepatoprotectives work via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

SEE ALL 'HEPATOPROTECTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Weight Loss:
Hypolipidemic

HYPOLIPIDEMIC

Scrapes fats / cleanses blood vessels by 1) purging bile, 2) strengthening the liver's ability to metabolize fats, 3) by increasing uptake of cholesterol in the liver, and 4) by inhibiting fat cells.

SEE ALL 'HYPOLIPIDEMIC' FOODS / HERBS

Reproductive Health:
Anti Prolactin

ANTI-PROLACTIN

Reduces prolactin, a female hormone that suppresses the uterus, fertility, menstruation.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-PROLACTIN' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:
Inositol

INOSITOL

Inositol is an alcohol sugar made naturally in the human body from glucose. It is lipotropic (aiding fat metabilism in the liver). It affects a variety of hormones, neurotransmitters, steroid, growth factors and water.

SEE ALL 'INOSITOL' FOODS / HERBS

,
Iron

IRON

Iron is necessary for the transport of oxygen in red blood cells.

SEE ALL 'IRON' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Chickweed

  • Aloe Vera Juice / Gel

    Aloe Vera Juice / Gel has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Blood-thinner, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-inflammatory, Demulcent, Vulnerary, Appetite-suppressant, Hypolipidemic

    LEARN MORE

  • Dandelion Leaves

    Dandelion Leaves has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Blood-thinner, Hypolipidemic, Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Appetite-suppressant, Hepatoprotective

    LEARN MORE

  • Stinging Nettles

    Stinging Nettles has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Blood-tonic, Nutritive, Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Vulnerary, Appetite-suppressant, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Turmeric

    Turmeric has these Actions in Common

    Blood-thinner, Hypolipidemic, Alterative, Blood-tonic, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-inflammatory, Hepatoprotective, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE

  • Burdock Root (Gobo)

    Burdock Root (Gobo) has these Actions in Common

    Anti-inflammatory, Internal-detoxicant, Diuretic, Nutritive, Alterative, Hypolipidemic, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE

  • Cassava Root / Yuca

    Cassava Root / Yuca has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Refrigerant, Anti-inflammatory, Nutritive, Vulnerary, Appetite-suppressant, Rebuilds-fluids

    LEARN MORE

  • Cilantro

    Cilantro has these Actions in Common

    Anti-inflammatory, Hypolipidemic, Blood-thinner, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Diuretic, Refrigerant

    LEARN MORE

  • Beets

    Beets has these Actions in Common

    Blood-thinner, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Blood-tonic, Nutritive, Anti-inflammatory, Hepatoprotective

    LEARN MORE

  • Fenugreek

    Fenugreek has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Internal-detoxicant, Diuretic, Nutritive, Anti-inflammatory, Hypolipidemic, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE

  • Turmeric Root (Fresh)

    Turmeric Root (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

    Anti-inflammatory, Hypolipidemic, Blood-tonic, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Hepatoprotective, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Chickweed

  • Licorice Ghee (9oz)

    Licorice Ghee (9oz) has these Actions in Common

    Hepatoprotective, Mucolytic, Nutritive, Rebuilds-fluids, Alterative, Refrigerant, Anti-inflammatory, Vulnerary, Anti-prolactin, Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Licorice Root (Yastimadhu)

    Licorice Root (Yastimadhu) has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive, Rebuilds-fluids, Alterative, Refrigerant, Anti-inflammatory, Vulnerary, Anti-prolactin, Demulcent, Hepatoprotective, Mucolytic

    LEARN MORE

  • Cornsilk

    Cornsilk has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Diuretic, Hepatoprotective, Internal-detoxicant, Nutritive, Refrigerant, Alterative, Vulnerary, Anti-inflammatory

    LEARN MORE

  • Cleavers

    Cleavers has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Refrigerant, Vulnerary, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-thinner

    LEARN MORE

  • Red Clover

    Red Clover has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Nutritive, Rebuilds-fluids, Vulnerary, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Manjistha

    Manjistha has these Actions in Common

    Vulnerary, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-thinner, Blood-tonic, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Neem Leaf

    Neem Leaf has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-thinner, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant, Refrigerant, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE

  • Arjuna

    Arjuna has these Actions in Common

    Hepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic, Refrigerant, Vulnerary, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Appetite-suppressant, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Amalaki

    Amalaki has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive, Rebuilds-fluids, Refrigerant, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-tonic, Hepatoprotective, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Dandelion Root

    Dandelion Root has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Hepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant, Refrigerant

    LEARN MORE

  • Echinacea

    Echinacea has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Mucolytic, Refrigerant, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Chickweed may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any food for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Chickweed may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Chickweed. Please see your health care provider for more information.
  • Alterative: Anything that strengthens or cleanses the liver can clear drugs mroe quickly, requiring a higher dose.
  • Blood-thinner: Patients on warfarin (coumadin) and other anticoagulants, or who have clotting difficulties, should take special caution to only use blood thinners under the supervision of a medical doctor.
  • Diuretic: Diuretics may clear pharmaceutical drugs more quickly, lowering the effect.
  • Hepatoprotective: Anything that strengthens or cleanses the liver can clear drugs mroe quickly, requiring a higher dose.
  • Hypolipidemic: May magnify the effect of cholesterol lowering drugs.

View other ingredients
for Spring

Chickweed is recommended for Spring. Check out these other Spring foods here.
VIEW ALL SPRING FOODS MORE FOODS FOR PITTA / KAPHA MAIN INGREDIENT PAGE

HOW DOES EATING AYURVEDICALLY MAKE YOU FEEL?

Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. Food digests with ease when right for your body type (dosha). Healthy digestion is seen as the cornerstone of well-being in Ayurveda. Healthy digestion generally prevents illness. If you do get sick, a strong digestive fire reduces the severity of illness and increases your resilience. It also improves your mood. Once you begin eating Ayurvedically, you will feel refreshed, vital and strong.
CONTINUE READING

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About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda. His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.

John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders, medieval Catholic philosophy, & botany. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. His wife and family of 7 kids live in Asheville, NC.

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