Practical
Plants

Chenopodium album

Fat Hen

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
0.9 m
Spread
0.2 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

The leaves and seeds of all members of this genus are more or less edible. However, many of the species in this genus contain saponins, though usually in quantities too small to do any harm. Although toxic, saponins are poorly absorbed by the body and most pass straight through without any problem. They are also broken down to a large extent in the cooking process. Saponins are found in many foods, such as some beans. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[K]. The plants also contain some oxalic acid, which in large quantities can lock up some of the nutrients in the food, but these plants are very nutritious vegetables in reasonable quantities. Cooking the plant will reduce its content of oxalic acid. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition[16]. There is also a report that very large quantities of the leaves have caused photosensitivity in some people[26]. Only the raw leaves can cause problems, and then only if large quantities are consumed[8]. A further report says that if the plant is grown in soils that contain too much nitrates then the plant can concentrate these substances in the leaves. Nitrates have been shown to cause many health problems including stomach cancers and blue-baby syndrome. In nitrogen-rich soils, the plants can also concentrate hydrogen cyanide[14]. In small quantities, hydrogen cyanide has been shown to stimulate respiration and improve digestion, it is also claimed to be of benefit in the treatment of cancer. In excess, however, it can cause respiratory failure and even death.

Edible uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[11][21][23][27][5][12][24][25][2]. A very acceptable spinach substitute[10], the taste is a little bland but this can be improved by adding a few stronger-flavoured leaves[27]. One report says that, when eaten with beans, the leaves will act as a carminative to prevent wind and bloating[18]. The leaves are best not eaten raw, see the notes above on toxicity[26]. The leaves are generally very nutritious but very large quantities can disturb the nervous system and cause gastric pain[26]. The leaves contain about 3.9% protein, 0.76% fat, 8.93% carbohydrate, 3% ash[9]. A zero moisture basis analysis is also available[14]. Edible seed - dried and ground into a meal and eaten raw or baked into a bread[[11][21][5][6][24][2][10]. The seed can also be sprouted and added to salads[10]. The seed is very fiddly to harvest and use due to its small size[27]. Although it is rather small, we have found the seed very easy to harvest and simple enough to utilize[K]. The seed should be soaked in water overnight and thoroughly rinsed before being used in order to remove any saponins. The seed contains about 49% carbohydrate, 16% protein, 7% ash, 5.88% ash[4][9]. Young inflorescences - cooked[10]. A tasty broccoli substitute[K].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

Fat hen is not employed in herbal medicine, though it does have some gentle medicinal properties and is a very nutritious and healthy addition to the diet[19]. The leaves are anthelmintic, antiphlogistic, antirheumatic, mildly laxative, odontalgic[8][15][17][19]. An infusion is taken in the treatment of rheumatism[18]. The leaves are applied as a wash or poultice to bug bites, sunstroke, rheumatic joints and swollen feet, whilst a decoction is used for carious teeth[14]. The seeds are chewed in the treatment of urinary problems and are considered useful for relieving the discharge of semen through the urine[20]. The juice of the stems is applied to freckles and sunburn[14]. The juice of the root is used in the treatment of bloody dysentery[20]. Food that comprises 25.5% of the powdered herb may suppress the oestrus cycle[14].

Product or use
Anthelmintic
Product or use
Antiphlogistic
Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Contraceptive
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Odontalgic

Material uses

A green dye is obtained from the young shoots[28]. The crushed fresh roots are a mild soap substitute[3].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Soap

Environment

Range
Most of Europe, including Britain, north to 71° N,. N. and S. Africa, Asia, Australia and N. America
Habitat
A common weed of cultivated ground, especially on rich soils and old manure heaps[21][7]. It is often one of the first weeds to appear on newly cultivated soils[19].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ. Most of the seed usually germinates within a few days of sowing. It is usually unnecessary to sow the seed since the plant is a common garden weed and usually self-sows freely in most soils.

Cultivation

An easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils but disliking shade[1][13]. It prefers a moderately fertile soil[13]. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.5 to 8.3. In moderate amounts this plant is a good companion for potatoes, corn and cucurbits[12][24]. The plant responds directly to the magnesium content of the soil so it can be used to indicate the presence of that element[4]. Fat hen is occasionally cultivated as a food crop[22], there is at least one named variety[10]. Called 'Magenta' in reference to the colour of its leaves, it is considered by some people to be the best tasting of all potherbs[10].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-394-72811-4

    ↩1↩2

  3. Coon. N. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-090-x

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  4. Chakravarty. H. L. The Plant Wealth of Iraq.

    ↩1↩2

  5. Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2

    ↩1↩2

  6. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

    ↩

  7. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  8. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩1↩2

  9. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  10. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  11. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2

  12. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩1↩2

  13. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  14. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  15. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

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  16. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

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  17. Medicinal Plants of Nepal Dept. of Medicinal Plants. Nepal. 1993-00-00

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  18. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2

  19. Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-85613-067-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  20. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩1↩2

  21. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  22. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  23. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

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  24. Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-584-10141-4

    ↩1↩2↩3

  25. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩

  26. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  27. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  28. Turner. N. J. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-7718-8117-7

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