Plant Profile: Cleavers

on
Cleavers
(Galium aparine)

Family: RUBIACEAE

Parts Used: Aerial parts

Energetics: Cooling

 Taste: Bitter. Sweet.

Indications: Stagnation. Warmth (as opposed to heat)

Chemical Components: Alkaloids. Coumarins. Flavonoids. Iridioid Monoterpenes (asperuloside which is a laxative).  

Preparations & dosage: Tincture: Best tinctured fresh in brandy as it enhances the sweetness. 1-3 drops 3x per day. Infusion: Overnight cold infusion?  

Body Systems Affected: Kidneys. Liver. Lymphatic. Nervous.  

Actions:

 Foundational: Stimulant. Astringent (mild)
Primary: Alterative. Anti-lithic. Blood thinner. Diuretic. 
Secondary: Mild analgesic. 

Uses:

  • UTI
  • Venereal Disease
  • Skin Disease
  • Hepatitis
  • External use: Burns, sunburn & Rashes
  • Seeds can be roasted & made into a coffee.
  • Very young Plants can be used as salad greens. Mature plants have hooks that are not pleasant to eat.
  • Roots can be used to make a red dye.
  • Lymphatic congestion; As a lymphatic for joint issues where there is heat.
  • Supports elimination of waste & cleansing of blood
  • Reproductive inflammation
  • Coumarins help penetration & break up of calcifications & fibrous tissue.
  • Kidney & bladder stones. 
  • Urine suppression. 
  • Fibrous breast tissue
  • Mild warmth & inflammation
  • Fevers
  • Dupuytren's contracture & Morton's neuroma (Tightening of tendons under middle fingers or toes. 
  • Swollen glands anywhere in the body but especially tonsilitis & adenoid issues. 
  • Stagnation from heavy foods and sedentary lifestyle of winter. 
  • In vitro studies show promise in use for certain cancers, particularly head, neck & breast 


Blends well with: 
For lymphatic system: Pokeweed Root, Echinacea. Marigold (calendula?). 
Skin conditions: Yellow Dock, Burdock. 
UTI: Uva Ursi

Identifying: 

Growing: Sow directly in fall or in spring after last frost. Grows best in moist, neutral soil in full to partial shade. Growing zone 3-9. 

Harvesting: Collect in spring/early summer. Pick when they still have a vanilla-like flavor and before it begins to show seeds. Best tinctured fresh in brandy as it enhances the sweetness. If drying, must be dried immediately to prevent it going to seed and to preserve the taste & properties. Decoct in cold water overnight? (Overnight cold infusion?  

Contraindications: 
Some say diabetics should not take due to diuretic properties. 


Sources:

The Earthwise Herbal: Volume 1: Matthew Wood. Pg 267-271
The Way of Herbs: Miachael Tierra. Pg 119-120
The Herbal Apothecary: JJ Pursell. Pg 91-92
The Complete Herbs Sourcebook: David Hoffman. Pg 240-241
https://herbmentor.learningherbs.com/herb/cleavers/ (Requires subscription to access)

Comments

Post a Comment