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Cleavers
Galium aparine
Other Names: Goosegrass, Amor De
Hortelano, Barweed, Catchweed, Cleavers, Cleavers Goosegrass, Cleever, Clivers,
Eriffe, Everlasting Friendship, Gia Mara, Goosebill, Goosegrass, Grateron, Grip
Grass, Hashishat Al Af'A, Hayriffe, Hayruff, Hedge Clivers, Hedgeheriff, Kaz
Yogurtotu, Loveman, Mutton Chops, Robin-run-in-the-Grass, Scratweed, Sticky-willy,
Stickywilly, Zhu Yang Yang, |
Habitat
World-wide native annual, original origin is debatable, common in Australia,
Britain, China, Europe, France, Iraq, Mexico, Spain, Turkey, US. Found growing in
hedgerows, woods, fields, among cultivated crops and in waste places. Cultivation:
Cleavers is very easy to cultivate it prefers a loose moist leafy soil in partial
shade, this plant does not really need any help to reproduce itself and can be
invasive. It provides food for the larvae of many butterfly species. The stems and
leaves are covered with little hooked bristles, which attach to passing objects, in
this way it fastens itself to adjacent shrubs, to climb its way upwards through
dense undergrowth into daylight, often forming matted masses. Leaves are narrow,
lance-shaped and are rough along the margins and surface, the prickles pointing
backwards, they occur in whorls of 6 to 8 leaves, around and along the square,
delicate, branching stem which may grow to 6 or more feet in length. The flowers are
white, tiny, 1/16 to 1/8 inch in diameter and star-like, growing in a stemmed bud
rising from the leaf axils and arranged in clusters or whorls, six or eight
together, blooming separately, 2 or 3 at a time, so flowers and seeds are present in
each cluster. The seeds are little round vessels, covered with hooked bristles and
readily clinging, to whatever they touch, ensuring dispersal of the seeds. Note:
Some species produce only 2 or 3 flowers and seeds to a cluster. Flowers bloom April
thru Sept. Gather the above ground plant, being careful not to gather whatever it
touches. Dry for later herb use, should be picked through before drying to ensure
herb is contaminant free. Properties
Cleavers is edible and medicinal, it has been used for centuries as an
alternative medicine by indigenous peoples on many continents. It is edible raw
though said to be unpalatable, mainly used as a pot-herb or as an addition to soups.
Using the plant as a vegetable has a slimming effect on the body. Cleavers seed is
one of the best coffee substitutes, it merely needs to be dried and lightly roasted
and has much the same flavor as coffee. Cleavers has a long history of use as an
alternative medicine and is still used widely by modern herbalists. It is used both
internally and externally in the treatment of a wide range of ailments. The dried or
fresh herb is alterative, anti-inflammatory, antiphlogistic, aperient, astringent,
depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, tonic and vulnerary. A valuable
diuretic, it is often taken to treat skin problems such as seborrhoea, eczema and
psoriasis, and as a general detoxifying agent in serious illnesses such as cancer.
The plant contains organic acids, flavonoids, tannins, fatty acids, glycoside
asperuloside, gallotannic acid and citric acid. It has a mild laxative effect and
stimulates the lymphatic system and has shown benefit in skin related problems. The
fresh plant or juice is used as a medicinal poultice for wounds, ulcers and many
other skin problems. An infusion of the herb has shown of benefit in the treatment
of glandular fever, tonsilitis, hepatitis and cystitis. The infusion is also used to
treat liver, bladder and urinary problems. The plant contains the valuable
constituent asperuloside, a substance that is converted into prostaglandins by the
body. Prostaglandins are hormone-like compounds that stimulate the uterus and affect
blood vessels. Much more scientific research is being done on the plant it is of
great interest to the pharmaceutical industry.
Folklore
Used as a love medicine by one tribe, the infusion of plant was used as a
bath by women to be successful in love. Also used as a hair tonic, said to be good
for the hair, making it grow long. Several Native American Tribes used an infusion
of the plant for gonorrhea. A red dye is obtained from a decoction of the root, it
is said to dye bones red. It was also believed to remove freckels. Gerard writes of
Clivers as a marvelous remedy for the bites of snakes, spiders and all venomous
creatures. A thick matt of the stems, when used as a sieve for filtering milk, was
said to give healing properties to the milk and is still used in Sweden for that
purpose.
Recipe
Medicinal Tea: To 1 pint of
boiling water add 3 heaping tbls. of dried or fresh herb, steep 10 min. Take in
mouthful doses throughout the day.
Article by Deb Jackson & Karen
Bergeron
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