Cleavers – Health Information Library (2024)

FAQs

Who should not take cleavers? ›

When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if clivers is safe or what the side effects might be. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if clivers is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Cleavers is one of numerous plants considered in ancient times to act as a diuretic. It was therefore used to relieve edema and to promote urine formation during bladder infections. It has also been used by people with lymph swellings, jaundice, and wounds.

Into the heart of cleavers

Energetically, cleavers are cooling and demulcent. They improve the movement and flow in the lymphatic system, reducing stagnation in the tissues.

Liver Health

Various studies have confirmed the hepatoprotective effect of Cleavers. It not only protects the liver from damage, it helps it to heal with its cleansing properties. Cleavers also stimulates bile production and prevents bile ducts from becoming clogged.

Historical Use

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Cleavers is used to cool the body, gently detoxify, soothe inflammation – both on the skin and within the body – and to soften kidney and bladder stones. It is even used to combat anxiety and moodiness.

Within only 72 hours after use, cleavers extract exerts toxicity against breast cancer cell lines while remaining safe to normal, healthy breast tissue. You can pair cleavers with another lymphatic tonic, calendula, for that purpose.

As a food supplement, take 15 – 30 drops, 2-3 times daily in a little fruit juice or water. Do not exceed stated dose unless recommended by your healthcare practitioner. Shake before use.

Because exposing cleavers to the heat of boiling may harm the beneficial activity of the plant (Cech, 2000), it's best to use cleavers as either a cold infusion, a fresh pressed juice (also called a succus), or as an infused oil for topical use.

It removes waste products – the lymphatic system carries destroyed bacteria and other waste products back into the bloodstream. The liver and kidneys remove these from the blood. The body then gets rid of this waste when you pass urine (pee) or stools (poo).

Using herbs is a popular way to naturally purify your lymphatic system. Calendula, echinacea, and dandelion are just a few of the many herbs that promote lymphatic drainage, reduce any swelling and pain, and boost your immune system.

Are dried cleavers as good as fresh? ›

From a medicinal perspective, it's best to use cleavers fresh, as heating the plant may reduce some of its benefits. Very rich in vitamin C, often used as a Spring tonic. Diuretic properties, long used as a slimming aid. Fresh or dried, cleavers have anticoagulant properties therefore can help lower blood pressure.

In gardens, cleavers is often more of a nuisance than a troublesome weed, with its sticky stems and seeds getting stuck to gardening gloves and clothing. However, as each plant can produce hundreds of seeds, and these are easily spread, cleavers can move into garden beds and may smother plants if allowed to establish.

For some people, contact with Galium aparine can cause skin irritation. Although the plant's hairs are small, they can scratch more sensitive parts of the skin. Numerous such scratches can resemble a rash.