More on cleavers

Jon from organichomesteading yahoo group just posted this info or shall I say reposted it. Good info; think about joining that group! so much great info!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/organichomesteadinggardening/

From OHG An a to z Herb File

Cleavers, (Galium aparine)

Edible-best used in cooking, and in medicine making.

Cleavers is a cooling, de-congesting herb

The whole leaf has been used as a flavoring in soups
and stews. Roasted seeds are used as a coffee substitute.
The leaves and flowers are used medicinally. Cleavers is
primarily used for urinary problems and fluid retention, on
the basis of its apparent diuretic (urine-stimulating) effects.
It has also been recommended for enlarged lymph nodes,
tonsillitis, hepatitis, and snake bites.

What is Cleavers Used for Today?
Cleavers is often included in herbal mixtures offered for
the treatment of kidney and bladder problems, including
bladder infections, kidney stones, and prostatitis. It is also
said to help "cleanse" the lymph system. However, there has not
been any meaningful scientific evaluation of the herb.

The leaves of the cleavers plant (Galium aparine)
have small hooked hairs that cause it to "cleave" to the
fingers when touched, hence the name. The whole leaf has been
used as a flavoring in soups and stews. Roasted seeds are
used as a coffee substitute. The leaves and flowers are used
medicinally.

It is also said to help "cleanse" the lymph system.

Principal Proposed Uses
Bladder Infections, Fluid Retention, Swollen Glands

Dosage
A typical recommended dose of cleavers is one cup of tea three times daily, made by steeping 10–15 grams of the herb in a cup of hot water.

Safety Issues
Cleavers has not undergone any meaningful safety testing. Safety in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or people with severe liver or kidney disease has not been established. In case cleavers does in fact have diuretic effects as claimed, people taking the medication lithium should use cleavers only under the supervision of a physician, as dehydration can be dangerous with this medication.

Interactions You Should Know About
If you are taking lithium, do not use cleavers except under the supervision of a physician.

Family Rubiaceae, Galium aparine
Other names"
Cleavers, Clivers, Goosegrass, Barweed, Hedgeheriff, Hayriffe, Eriffe, Grip Grass, Hayruff, Catchweed, Scratweed, Mutton Chops, Robin-run-in-the-Grass, Love-man, Goosebill, Everlasting Friendship, Bedstraw, Coachweed, Cleaverwort, Goose Grass, Gosling Weed, Hedge-burs, Stick-a-back, Sweethearts)

Galium odorata (Woodruff, Sweet Woodruff, Master of the Wood, Woodwrad, Waldmeister)

Galium verum (Lady's Bedstraw, Yellow Galium, Cheese Rennet, Curdwort, Maid's Hair, Yellow Cleavers, Petty Mugget, Cheese Renning).

Excessive doses can cause internal bleeding and should not be taken if on conventional medication for circulatory problems or during pregnancy. As the plant dries, coumarin is released, containing as much as 1% in the freshly dried product. Therefore, it should not be taken with other anticoagulant medications. Do not use if there are existing kidney problems.

Description
Cleavers is a straggling annual, growing to about four feet in height. The plant is common throughout Europe and North America and found in many other temperate zones, including Australia. It grows prolifically in gardens and along roadsides, intertwining through hedges and producing long, sticky stems with Velcro-like, green fruits, sometimes called burrs. Each plant has the ability to produce some 3,500 seeds that often withstand the winter and get a jump-start on other plants in the spring. Livestock and birds relish its bitter flavor. For medicinal use, it is gathered when just about to flower in late spring.

Key Actions
anti-inflammatory
antispasmodic
diuretic
induces sleep
lymphatic cleanser
mild astringent

Key Components
(a) Cleavers
anthraquinones (only in the root)
alkanes
flavonoids
iridoids (including asperuloside)
polyphenolic acids
tannins
(b) Woodruff
anthraquinones
coumarins
flavonoids
iridoids
tannins
(c) Lady's Bedstraw
anthraquinones
alkanes
flavonoids
iridoids (including asperuloside)
rennin

Medicinal Parts
Aerial parts
According to French research in 1947, an extract of cleavers
appeared to lower blood pressure.

Remedies
Infusions are taken for kidney stones and other urinary problems, as well as serving as a cooling drink for fevers.

Can be juiced and frozen or stored for later uses. It can also be
bottled or canned. I preserved mine in vinegar for it's the cheapest
way I know to keep it active. I also dry it to add in soups and
stews. Dry it has an added value, medicinally speaking.

Juice is obtained from the fresh plant and used in such serious illnesses, as cancer, and as a strong diuretic to rid the body of toxins. It is also used to melt kidney stones inside the kidney: outside the kidney in the tube or bladder, including prostate disorders, and other kidney problems, and makes an effective
lymphatic cleanser for a range of conditions.

Tinctures are used for the same conditions as infusions and can be combined with such other lymphatic detoxifying herbs as dried pokeroot.

Compresses made from the infusion can be applied to burns, grazes, ulcers, or other skin inflammations. Or added to tinctures, salves,
lotions, rubs, ointments and lip balm.

Creams are regularly used to relieve psoriasis.

Hair rinses from the infusions are used to treat dandruff or scaling scalp problems.

Young shoots have long been a popular cleansing tonic in the spring since it appears very early, cook them with young poke leaves and
lambs quarter sprouts. It is often used as a vegetable where it is gently sweated in a pan like spinach and can be continually harvested until fall.

Cleavers is often taken as a diuretic, but it is also effective to soothe such skin disorders as seborrhea, eczema, and psoriasis, as well as for sunburn and blisters. It is also good for swollen lymph glands and as a general detoxifying agent in such serious illnesses
as cancer.

Cleavers is used internally and externally to reduce the discomfort
of ulcers, festering glands, and fibrocystic breasts. It may also
help induce sleep.

Herbalists value all parts of the plant, from its roots to its seeds, which are dried and roasted to make a coffee substitute. The plant can also be cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

PROPAGATION By FRESH RIPE SEED in summer; by DIVISION in early
spring or in autumn.

HARVEST The plant is cut just before flowering (usually in spring and early summer, then dried. Seeds as available. Roots in autumn.

PART USED Above ground plant and seeds. Best used fresh. The root has also been known to be used.

MEDICINAL:
The red dye principle may stain urine pink.
Bitter, cooling, salty, blood cleanser, laxative, diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, astringent, mild antibiotic, alterative, tonic; affects kidneys, gall bladder,
and the lymphatic and urinary systems; lowers blood pressure; assists healing.

Has been used as a blood cleanser in cases of eczema, scrofula, psoriasis, and cancer.

Has been used for edema, urinary tract infections, cystitis, urinary stones, insomnia, high blood pressure, enlarged lymph nodes (due to any condition), glandular fevers, scarlet fever, measles, upper respiratory infections, asthma, mumps, myalgic encephalomyelitis, hepatitis, jaundice, tonsillitis, adenoid problems, obesity, scurvy, spasms, eczema, psoriasis, cystitis, breast cysts and tumors (benign).

Has been combined with Marshmallow for cystitis; combined with Echinacea or Goldenseal for throat infection; with Red Clover,
Nettles and Figwort for psoriasis; for scarlet fever, small pox, and eruptive diseases it has been mixed in equal part with elderflowers; has been combined with thyme for cystitis and urinary tract infections (taken hourly as a tea). A cream is also used for psoriasis and other skin irritations. A salve has also been used for burns and scalds. A compress has been used for burns, abrasions, ulcers, and skin inflammations.

The infusion has been used for urinary problems (cystitis and gravel), for bedwetting (taken 3 times daily), and as a cooling drink for fevers. Has often been combined with Broom, Bearberry, Buchu, and Marshmallow for urinary obstruction.

Has been used externally for breast lumps, swollen glands, ulcerations, abscesses, wounds, skin irritations and minor injuries, psoriasis and all skin conditions in general. Has been used to reduce lymphatic congestion in the skin and breasts. An infusion for external use = 1/2 oz macerated fresh plant to 1 pint of warm water, steeped 2 hours. Also, the juice has been applied to sore nipples and sores.

Has been combined with red clover, figwort and stinging nettle for psoriasis.
For cancer it has been combined with Sweet violet leaves (a large quantity of Violet leaves has been used throughout the regimen). A poultice made by combining the juice with oatmeal has been used 3 times daily for indolent tumors; a teaspoon of the juice has also been taken each morning. Another method of reducing growths has been to measure out 1/4 cup fresh or dried herb to 1 cup of boiling water, the resultant infusion being separated into 3 parts and taken 3 times over the course of the day. An ointment of the fresh plant has been used for tumors.

The juice has been used for prostate problems.

The crushed freshed leaves have been used as a poultice to stop bleeding. Also for bleeding of the nose and the infusion and/or juice internally for bleeding from the stomach.

The juice of both the seeds and the plant were once used for poisonous spider or snake bites. The juice or the infused oil has been used for earache.
The dried powdered root has been used on wounds and open ulcers to speed healing.

Has been eaten in China as a vegetable to help with weight loss. In Chinese medicine it is regarded as tonic and as a blood cleanser and has been used for skin and breast cancer, hepatoma (cancer of the liver), , leukemia, dropsy, epilepsy, ganglionic tumors, gravel, high blood pressure, hysteria, pleurisy, sores, carbuncles, skin infections, spasms, urethritis, urogenital problems, blood in the urine, bloating, and ulcers. In a study using dogs as subjects, arterial pressure was lowered up to 50% without slowing the pulse.
Has been widely used as a Folk Medicine in central Europe and the Balkans for various cancers (breast, throat and tongue) and for indurations and wens.
In the East Indies has been used to treat gonorrhea (1/2 to 1 fluid oz of the fresh juice every 4 to 6 hours).

The Penobscots of North America used it in combination with other herbs for gonorrhea, kidney problems, and the spitting of blood. The Meskwaki boiled the plant to use as an emetic.

DOSE: TRADITIONAL DOSAGES FOR PROFESSIONAL NOTE ONLY
!All others buy commercial preparations and follow directions carefully!
GRAINS = 30 to 60
INFUSION = 2 tsp (3 to 8 grams) dried herb to 1 cup water just off the boil; steep 15 minutes and taken cool, a mouthful at a time, sweetened with honey or brown sugar. OR, 1 oz (28 grams) of dried herb to 1 pint of hot water (not boiling), steep 2 hours; taken 2 to 8 tbsp 3 or 4 times daily (roughly a mouthful at a time).
TINCTURE = 1 tsp (4 mls) in water 3 times daily, OR, 30 to 40 drops.
FLUID EXTRACT = Same as tincture.
GLYCERITE = Juice fresh plant in a juicing machine; measure amount of juice and add an equal volume of vegetable glycerin to preserve; taken 1 to 3 times daily.
JUICE = To preserve mix with 25% of its weight in alcohol.
SALVE = The fresh juice combined with butter and applied every 3 hours.

VETERINARY:
'Grease' in horses has been treated by using a poultice of Cleavers (macerate the plant into a paste and add 1 tsp of cayenne pepper to each cup of pounded herb).
Mammary tumors in dogs has been treated with a poultice of Cleavers. For kidney problems the fresh plant has been infused in milk.
For internal use in livestock 2 handfuls of the fresh plant, finely cut, has been mixed with bran and molasses and given 2 times daily.

CULINARY:
In China the seeds are dried, then roasted and used as a coffee substitute.
Has been cooked like spinach.

COSMETIC:
The infusion has been used for dandruff and scaly scalp.
A wash of the infusion has been used to remove freckles.

DYE:
The root is used to produce a red to pink dye.

OTHER:
The ancient Greeks matted it together to make a sieve. Likewise, it has also been done in Sweden where it was used to strain milk.

Also See SWEET WOODRUFF and LADY'S BEDSTRAW.
http://earthnotes.tripod.com/cleavers.htm

http://www.familyherbalremedies.com/medicinal_plant_list.html#TOP

Heal All
Prunella Vulgaris - "Heal All"
Part Used: Herb. A valuable but largely forgotten heat-clearing herb. Internally and externally for many types of infection (bacterial and viral). Very good rinse or gargle for mouth sores, pyorrhea, sore and strep throat. Ear and eye inflammation. Discharges and bleeding in general. Fresh wounds and sores. Studies show it to be valuable for high blood pressure, neurocardiac symptoms. Dizziness and ringing in the ears.

Added: April 28th. 2009
Jon
Don't forget to harvest the cleavers

Here in Kentucky they are nearing their peak. I gathered a peck of them two days ago and have already processed them for medicine in case of. Mostly for kidney infections, and bladder inflamation, but clearvers have far more uses than that. (See OHG An A to Z herb file)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/organichomesteadinggardening/files

(Galium aparine)

I eat them in my spring salads. Mom told me that long ago when folks had nothing or less, folks would gather the cleaver fruit and toast them then grind and use them like coffee. I've tasted them like that and do NOT like them. I don't like coffee either.

They are vitamin packed and make a hefty spring tonic tea. I've also bathed wounds with that tea, and used it to cleanse a puss filled wound when I had nothing else.

I use it in some salves, and tincture it for use with sistitus and such infections of the urinary tract.

Most folks only know about cleavers when they pick the pesky round seed balls off their socks or britches legs, and scold the kids for doing it.

Jon
Disclaimer: If you suspect you have a disease or health related
condition of any kind, please learn and research what is causing it
and how to cure it. If you are unable to learn, you should contact
health care professional practicing natural and traditional forms of
healing. This information is for people who are ready to take
FULL RESPONSIBILITY for their health. The results reported MAY
NOT occur in all individuals.