Everything You Need to Know About

Cleavers (Galium aparine)

Botanical family: Rubiaceae
Parts used: Stems, Leaves, Aerial parts
Cleavers (Galium aparine)

Overview and Health Benefits

Cleavers (Galium aparine), also known as "goosegrass" or "stickyweed," is particularly valued in herbal medicine for its benefits in supporting the lymphatic system, promoting detoxification, and aiding urinary health. Traditionally used as a spring tonic, cleavers is revered for its ability to cleanse and stimulate the body’s lymphatic system, making it particularly useful in conditions related to lymphatic congestion, such as swollen glands and tonsillitis. Additionally, it is known for its diuretic properties, making it beneficial in treating urinary tract infections and reducing fluid retention. Cleavers also plays a role in skin health, and is often reccomended for conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

Key Benefits:

  • Lymphatic Support, Detoxification and Anti-Cancer Potential: Cleavers is renowned for its ability to enhance lymphatic circulation and drainage, which can help alleviate lymphatic congestion and associated symptoms such as swollen glands, tonsillitis, and lymphedema (McIntyre, 2019). Its diuretic properties further contribute to its detoxifying effects, supporting the removal of waste and toxins from the body through increased urine output (Hoffmann, 2003; Winston, 2003). It may also have anti-tumour activity. Emerging research has highlighted the anti-cancer properties of cleavers, particularly its potential to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. A study by Atmaca et al. (2016) demonstrated that extracts of cleavers showed cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cell lines, inducing cell death while sparing normal breast epithelial cells. 
  • Antimicrobial Activity: Cleavers has also been shown to possess antimicrobial properties, particularly against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A study by Sharifi-Rad et al. (2016) found that the herb's extracts exhibited significant antibacterial activity against MRSA strains, highlighting its potential as an alternative treatment for resistant bacterial infections.
  • Urinary Health: Cleavers acts as a mild diuretic, promoting the flow of urine and assisting in the treatment of urinary tract infections, cystitis, and other bladder-related issues. Its cooling and soothing effects on the urinary tract make it particularly effective in addressing inflammation and irritation (Barker, 2001; Grieve, 1971). It is traditionally used as a tea or juice for a cleansing “spring tonic”, cooling heat and clearing toxins (McIntyre, 2019).
  • Skin Health: Traditionally used both internally and externally, cleavers is beneficial for a variety of skin conditions, including eczema, psoriasis, and other inflammatory skin disorders. Its alterative (blood-purifying) action helps cleanse the skin by supporting the elimination of toxins that may contribute to these conditions (Wood, 2008; Grieve, 1971; McIntyre, 2019).
  • Anti-inflammatory and Immune Support: Cleavers has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, which may be beneficial in managing conditions such as arthritis and other inflammatory disorders. It also supports the immune system by promoting the circulation of lymph, which is rich in immune cells, thereby enhancing the body’s natural defences (Ilina et al., 2020; Hoffmann, 2003; McIntyre, 2019).

 

Safety

Cleavers (Galium aparine) is generally regarded as a mild and non-toxic herb. However, the herb's cooling nature may not be suitable for those with conditions characterised by low vitality or chronic fatigue, as it may not be adapted to help uplift energy levels in such cases (Tobyn et al., 2016). As with any herbal remedy, it is advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before incorporating cleavers into your regimen, especially if you have a pre-existing medical condition or are taking prescription medications.

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Key Body Systems Cleavers (Galium aparine) relates to

Cleavers (Galium aparine)
Skin
Cleavers (Galium aparine)
Urinary system
Cleavers (Galium aparine)
Immune System
Cleavers (Galium aparine)
Lymphatic System

Energetics

Cleavers (Galium aparine)
Cooling
Cleavers (Galium aparine)
Moistening

Key actions

  • Lymphatic
  • Diuretic
  • Alterative
  • Astringent
  • Anti-inflammatory
Cleavers (Galium aparine)

Key uses

Lymphatic drainage support; Low-grade chronic infection; Swollen lymph glands; Tonsillitis; Mastitis; Oedema; Eczema and psoriasis

Where to Find Cleavers (Galium aparine)

Cleavers (Galium aparine)

Cleavers is a relative of the coffee family and may already be familiar to those who enjoy walks through nature, or to anyone who has found its clingy seeds attached to their clothing or tangled in their pet's fur. This delicate yet persistent plant has slender, square stems that can extend up to three feet in length, sometimes longer in favourable conditions. The stems are adorned with tiny, backward-facing hooked hairs that enable cleavers to grasp at everything it touches, from neighbouring plants to unsuspecting hikers. The leaves, arranged in whorls of six to eight, are narrow, lance-shaped, and covered in the same bristly hairs that give the plant its signature clinging ability. In spring and early summer, cleavers quietly blooms with small, white or greenish star-shaped flowers, which eventually give way to round, spiky seed pods that continue the plant's habit of hitching a ride on anything that brushes past.

Cleavers thrives in the quiet, damp corners of hedgerows, woodlands, and gardens, favouring moist, nitrogen-rich soils, though it has a remarkable ability to adapt to various environments, including fields and roadsides. It is native to Europe and Asia but has made itself at home in many other parts of the world, such as North America, Australia, and New Zealand. The plant is particularly fond of temperate climates, flourishing in the cool, damp conditions that allow it to spread its sticky embrace.

For those interested in foraging cleavers in spring to make your own spring tonics, it’s essential to be mindful of the environment from which you collect it. Avoid areas that may have been contaminated with pesticides or herbicides, and ensure accurate identification, as cleavers can sometimes be confused with other members of the Rubiaceae family. As you gather this tenacious plant, remember to tread lightly—taking only what you need and leaving enough behind to allow the cleavers to continue thriving in the wild.

References

Atmaca, H., Bozkurt, E., Cittan, M., & Tepe, H.D. (2016). Effects of Galium aparine extract on the cell viability, cell cycle and cell death in breast cancer cell lines. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 186, 305-310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2016.04.007

Barker, J. (2001). The medicinal flora of Britain and Northwestern Europe: A field guide, including plants commonly cultivated in the region. Winter Press.

Grieve, M. (1971). A modern herbal. New York, NY: Dover Publications. (Original work published 1931)

Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical herbalism. Healing Arts Press.

Ilina, T., Skowrońska, W., Kashpur, N., Granica, S., Bazylko, A., Kovalyova, A., Goryacha, O., & Koshovyi, O. (2020). Immunomodulatory activity and phytochemical profile of infusions from cleavers herb. Molecules, 25(16), 3721. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25163721

McIntyre, A. (2019). The complete herbal tutor. Aeon. 

Sharifi-Rad, M., Iriti, M., Sharifi-Rad, M., Gibbons, S., & Sharifi-Rad, J. (2016). Anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) activity of Rubiaceae, Fabaceae and Poaceae plants: A search for new sources of useful alternative antibacterials against MRSA infections. Cellular and Molecular Biology, 62(9), 39-45.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27585260/ 

Tobyn, G., Denham, A., & Whitelegg, M. (2016). The Western herbal tradition: 2000 years of medicinal plant knowledge. Singing Dragon.

Wood, M. (2008). The earthwise herbal: A complete guide to old world medicinal plants. North Atlantic Books.

Winston, D. (2003). Herbal therapeutics: Specific indications for herbs & herbal formulas (8th ed). Herbal Therapeutics Research Library.