Herb Of The Week - Cleavers - Medicinal Plants Of The SW

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http://medplant.nmsu.edu/galium.htm

GALIUM APARINE

 

By: Claudia Galván, Veronica Gutierrez, Michelle Toman

 

Taxonomy:

 

Botanical: Galium Aparine1

 

Family: Rubiceae1

 

Common: Cleavers, Goose grass, Bedstraw, Catch weed, etc.

 

Description:

 

Galium aparine is an annual plant with a delicate quadrangular,

prickly stem. Growing from 2 to 6 feet long, the plant often lines

streams and lake shores. The leaves are 1 or 2 inches in length, and

about 1 inch in width. Galium aparine has whorls of leaves in

combinations of sixes, sevens, or

 

eights. The flowers are white, small,

 

abundant and scattered. The fruit is large and bristly, with hooked

prickles.

 

Geographic Location:

 

Galium aparine is native to North America, Europe, and Northern Asia.

Growing best in moist areas(this includes, streams, lakes, garden beds,

cultivated areas, and waste areas.)

 

Propagation:

 

Galium Aparine's common name catchweed gives away the method of

propagation the plant chooses. Containing numerous small prickly

spines, the plant attaches itself to just about anything around itself

i.e. other plants, animals and humans.8

 

Toxicity:

 

Although used for several skin diseases in excess, the chemicals

in this plant can cause severe skin irritation only worsening the

existing problem. 5 Symptoms of overuse result in extreme irritation,

discolored skin especially a bright red hue, and swollen of puffy areas

of skin.

 

 

 

 

 

Medicinal Uses: Although a noxious weed Galium aparine has vast and

unique array of medicinal uses.

 

Applications5

 

Diuretic, Lymphatic alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Tonic, Astringent,

Anti-neoplastic, Aperient, Swollen lymph glands (lymphadenitis),

Tonsillitis and adenoid trouble, Dry skin conditions (eg psoriasis),

Cystitis and other urinary conditions where there is pain, Ulcers,

Tumours, Skin eruptions, Toxic conditions, Tissue edema,

Kidney/bladder/gravel stones /calculi

 

Dosage

 

All dosages are based on one source of information and we recommend

that you seek medical expertise before taking

 

MEDIUM dose herb5

Dried Herb: 2 – 4 gm tds

Fluid Extract: 1:1 25% 2 – 4 ml tds

Tincture: 1:5 25% 4 – 10 ml tds

 

Non-Medicinal:

 

The bean shaped seeds of this plant are commonly used as substitute

for coffee.5 The Galium aparine, a cousin of the Arabian coffee tree,

has a similar beans but they lack the caffeine therefore making a

healthier and said tastier substitute to its relative.5

 

Bibliography:

 

1.Brown, O. Dr. Phelps (1992) The Complete Herbalist, Natures Remedies

Sun Publishing Co. pg 69

 

2.Burrill, Larry/ Cudney, David/ Dewey, Steven/ Lee, Richard/ Nelson,

Burrell/ Parker, Robert/ Whitson, Tom Weeds of the West pg

538-9

 

3.Duke, A. James/Foster Steven (1990) Eastern/ Central Medicinal Plants

Houghton Mifflin Co. pg 36

 

4.Moore, Michael(1979) Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West Museum of

NM Press.

 

5.Australian Naturopathic Network <http:///>

www.ann.com.au/herbs/Monographs/galium.htm

 

6.Liber Herbarum II <http://www.liberherbarum.com/>

www.liberherbarum.com

 

7.Hooked on Cleavers <http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/>

www.microscopy-uk.org.uk

 

8.Department of Agriculture <http:///> www.agric.wa.gov.au

 

9. Missouri University <http://www.missouriplants.com/>

www.missouriplants.com