Cleavers - Gallium aparine

Cleavers, Galium aparine, is a common herbaceous plant that grows worldwide. It thrives on the edges of gardens and pathways with moist soil and part sun. I harvest most of mine from the edges and pathways of a large organic garden, where it is encouraged to flourish. Cleavers got its name from its tendency to stick to hair and clothing. It is also called sticky willy, catchweed, and bedstraw. There are tiny, hooked hairs on the stems and leaves, much like hook and loop tape. It is edible when cooked. In traditional medicine it has been used as a poultice for burns, eczema, psoriasis, bites, and stings. As a tea it has been used for throat complaints, as a diuretic, and for cystitis. Studies have shown that Galium aparine has good antioxidant potential. Its secondary metabolites are coumarins, iridoids, and flavonoids. It shows antimicrobial activity against microorganisms and especially high antifungal activity. It exhibits significant anticancer effects against lung cancer.¹ Studies attest to the antifungal activities of cleavers against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and C. albicans, which are highly sensitive, and B. subtilis which is moderately sensitive. ²

Here is an important quote from another study: “All ethanolic extracts from G. aparine herb significantly stimulated the transformational activity of immunocompetent blood cells, with 96% ethanolic extract being most active. The percentage of lymphocytes proliferating in RLBT under the influence of 96% ethanolic extract increased by 4.34 - 5.32 times compared with the spontaneous transformation. The results justify the traditional use of extracts from G. aparine as immunomodulatory agents.”³ This may explain why it has been used traditionally as a gargle for throat infections.

Suggested dosing: Tincture 3-5 ml 3x day. 1 ml is about 25 drops.

Possible side effects: Cleavers used topically can cause a skin rash in sensitive individuals.

Contraindications: Do not take with diuretics or lithium unless under a doctor’s supervision.

¹ Korkmaz, Nuh, Alpaslan Dayangaç, and Mustafa Sevindik. “ANTIOXIDANT, ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIPROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITIES OF GALIUM APARINE”. Journal of Faculty of Pharmacy of Ankara University 45, no. 3 (September 2021): 554-64. https://doi.org/10.33483/jfpau.977776

²THE PHARMA INNOVATION - JOURNAL Vol. 3 No. 1. 2014, www.thepharmajournal.com Page | 7 Phytochemical research of Galium aparine L. Lipophilic complex and study of its antibacterial activity Olga V. Goryacha1 , Tetyana V. Ilyina1 , Alla M. Kovalyova1 , Nataliya V. Kashpur2 1. The National University of Pharmacy, Kharkov, Ukraine 2. I.I. Mechnikov Institute of Microbiology and Immunology of Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Kharkov, Ukraine.

³ Ilina, Tetiana, Natalia Kashpur, Sebastian Granica, Agnieszka Bazylko, Igor Shinkovenko, Alla Kovalyova, Olga Goryacha, and Oleh Koshovyi. 2019. "Phytochemical Profiles and In Vitro Immunomodulatory Activity of Ethanolic Extracts from Galium aparine L." Plants 8, no. 12: 541. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8120541

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose or treat any illness. I am not a medical professional and cannot diagnose or treat any illness.