Description
Botanical: Galium aparine
Other common names: Goose Grass, Grip Grass, Sticky Willy, Catch Weed, Bedstraw,
Lady's Bedstraw
Cleavers is considered one of the best herbal cleansing tonics known that helps to purify the blood, the lymphatic system and kidneys, as well as remove toxins from the body. Cleavers has also been used to alleviate inflammatory urinary diseases, relieve swollen and enlarged lymph glands, expel kidney stones and gravel, and generally help cleanse the system when the body is failing to rid itself of pollutants.
Country of Origin: Bulgaria
Beneficial Uses:
Cleavers acts as a cleansing and purifying tonic that rids the body of toxins in several ways. It is said to act extensively on the lymphatic system and be effective in removing and draining poisons and trapped bacteria from the lymph glands and help relieve glandular fever, swollen or enlarged lymph glands (lymphadenitis), adenoids and tonsillitis.
Further supporting its role in purifying the system, Cleavers acts as a diuretic, and as such, the herb promotes an increased urine flow, which helps to rid the kidneys and bladder of gravel and stones, clear the urinary tract of various infections (such as cystitis), alleviate prostate disorders, and treat other acute and inflammatory urinary diseases.
Cleavers is considered a diaphoretic that helps to stimulate perspiration and sweating, which not only cools the body and lowers fevers, but also helps to expel toxic wastes through the skin. All the above combined actions also work to purify the blood and are said to be effective when the body is failing to rid itself of toxins and contaminents. These qualities may be responsible for the herb's use to clear skin conditions when it is used internally; and when used externally as a topical anti-inflammatory, it is said to benefit eczema, psoriasis, ulcers, minor injuries and other skin inflammations.
The coumarin content in Cleavers is considered to have blood-thinning properties, which may have a beneficial effect in reducing blood pressure and platelet aggregation (blood clotting). This quality might be very beneficial in the prevention of arteriosclerosis, strokes and heart attacks.
Cleavers' high vitamin C content was once used to treat scurvy and is thought to be helpful in cases where there is a vitamin C deficiency.
Cleavers has an historic application for treating cysts, tumors and benign breast lumps, perhaps because of its ability to drain the lymphatic system and detoxify tissue.
Contraindications:
Currently, there are no known warnings or contraindications with the use of Cleavers.
