Scientific Name
Galium Aparine
Common Name
Cleavers, Cleaverwort, Stickyweed, Grip Grass, Catchweed, Velcro Plant,
Goosegrass
Family
Rubiaceae
Parts Used
Aerial parts
Native To
Europe & Asia
Geographic Distribution
Widespread. Naturalized in N. America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Botanical Description
Cleavers are an annual plant that typically grows to 2-3 feet in height with
linear or lance-shaped leaves that grow in whorls around a squarish stalk.
Perhaps the most well-known feature of cleavers are the tiny, sticky,
hooked hairs that cover the plant.
Cleavers flower in May-September, producing tiny, white, four-petaled
flowers that mature into green or purple-black fruit that is also covered in
sticky hairs.
Cleavers likes to grow in disturbed soils, ditches, fields, and cultivated
garden spaces.
Key Constituents
Vitamins & Minerals (nourishing)
Tannins (astringent/tightening, wound healing)
Phenolic Acids (anti-inflammatory and antioxidant)
Volatile Oils (soothing, antimicronial)
Anthraquinones (antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, emetic)
Coumarins (antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic)
Harvesting Guidelines
Collect aerial parts of the plant and use fresh or dry on screens.
Has been prepared as a juice, poultice, tea, tincture, oil, and salve.
Actions
Alterative
Inflammation-modulating
Styptic
Vulnerary
Nervine
Antibacterial
Antiviral
Astringent
Lymphagogue
Demulcent
Taste & Energetics
Fresh and Tart (like an apple)
Predominantly cooling and drying but balanced with some soothing/
moistening demulcent qualities when used fresh.
Uses
One of the first documented ancient uses for cleavers is one that we really
don’t see modern herbalists using this plant for anymore, which was
venomous bites. There are several texts going back as far as the 1st
century that describe the use of cleavers for snakebites or spiderbites.
This use persists into the 17th century. Cleavers is considered in modern
times to be an alterative herb. An alterative is a substance that gradually
brings the body into balance and optimal wellness through gentle
detoxifying actions. Ancient healers may have understood the detoxifying
actions and considered it a "blood purifier,” although I wouldn’t think that
it’d be powerful enough or fast acting enough to be used for a venomous
bite, so even though this is an interesting history, please always get
emergency medical attention if you believe you may have been bitten by a
venemous snake or spider! Cleavers could, however, be considered for
minor bites or stings and poulticed fresh for use much like Plantain
(Plantago Major or Plantago Lanceolata).
One of cleavers herbal actions is as a lymphagogue. Meaning that it
moves and helps to circulate lymphatic fluids. This is one of the primary
ways that it has an alterative effect, by moving those white blood cells and
antibodies, and helping the body to detoxify and come into balance.
Cleavers is also a diuretic that flushes excess fluids and toxins from the
body, and it contains antioxidant (protects your cells from damage!) and
inflammation-modulating compounds. It is also a diuretic, flushing excess fluids and toxins from the body through urinary tract. It is also soothing to the urinary tract and bladder. These alternative actions are the primary way that many modern herbalist think about cleavers.
Herbalist Matthew Wood uses cleavers to treat an over-excited nervous system, he notes that cleavers falls into the category of deer medicine in Native American herbalism which has to do with treating the nerves. Deer often bed down in patches of cleavers. Many people do find cleavers to have a soothing affect on the nervous system.
Finally there are some properties that make cleavers potentially useful as
a vulnerary, or wound healer. Cleavers is astringent (tightens, tones),
demulcent (moistens, soothes), and has some antimicrobial action. Some
ancient as well as modern herbalists have used cleavers as a styptic (stops
bleeding) and to soothe irritated skin conditions.
Fun Facts!
The ancient Greek name for Cleavers meant “loving-mankind,” a name
which the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder described as being a witty
name that referred to the plants love of clinging to peoples’ clothing.
Cleavers scientific name, Galium, may derive from the Greek word for milk
as the plant was often used to curdle milk for cheesemaking. Or it may be
from the Greek word for rooster since chickens love to eat cleavers, as do
other livestock.
Safety
Cleavers are generally considered mild and non-toxic. Do be careful with
the hooked hairs which can possibly cause some irritation to the skin and
mucous membranes. People with cold, dry constitutions and/or diabetics
may want to be careful because of the diuretic and cooling nature of
cleavers.
**The content of this monograph is for educational purposes only. The author disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. Ingesting wild plants is inherently risky. Plants can easily be mistaken and every individual will vary in their physiological response to a plant that is touched or consumed. Please do not attempt self-treatment of a medical problem without consulting a qualified health practitioner.