Cleavers, the Sticking Herb that Release

GALIUM APARINE, BETTER KNOWN AS CLEAVERS

Also known as Goose Grass, Catchweed, and Sweet Woodruff, Jack-in-the-hedge in Wexford and Pinweed in New Zeeland.

This wonderful herb made herself quite comfortable in my garden. At first, a single being made her presence known, then, before long, I noticed that this magical being has found spots everywhere and is currently in almost a third of my potted plants.

When I realized the gift bestowed upon me, I wanted to harvest straight away. Yet in the beginning, there were so few, I could take only two or three stems to harvest at a time. Before long, I had a fair amount and although they were not planted by me for their medicinal use, they have rewarded me generously for cutting them back. Cleavers is an annual that reproduces by self-seeding. Lucky me! The flowers are so tiny I would not even be able to spot a seed never mind harvest to grow!

Catchweed, as the name suggests, they catch you quite quickly. I would presume that if you found them on your walk in the park or fields, they might catch on your clothes. Ironically, their medicinal property is not about holding on, rather about letting go. Traditionally known as a herb to cleanse the lymphatic system.

Interestingly, in ancient times Cleavers were used as a means to curdle milk and make cheese.

THE MAIN POINTS 

• Cleavers have the ability to remove excess fluids from the body, in cases like edema, also known as water retention.
• They are useful for the treatment of swollen glands, ulcers, lumps, tumors, eczema, psoriasis, boils, and abscesses.
• Cleavers in healing balms can treat skin irritations and has a soothing effect while healing wounds.
• Cleavers could also be used as a remedy to treat snake bites, spider bites and other venomous creatures.
• Cleavers can be used to treat PMS symptoms.

AS FOOD

Their leaves are quite sticky; I like to add some of them to a fresh salad, along with most of the other wild herbs I cultivate in my garden. I am not quite sure if I would cook with them, mostly because I love to use them when making fresh tinctures; however, I have found a recipe for Cleavers Soup that you could try should you stumble upon an abundance.

Goosegrass (Cleavers) Soup Recipe from Britain

Ingredients

• 3 handfuls goosegrass (cleavers) leaves and young tip, chopped
• 2 handfuls mixed wild greens (eg ground elder, ribwort plantain, dandelion, garlic mustard, comfrey, deadnettle (any of henbit deadnettle, white deadnettle and red deadnettle [or a mix] will work), clover, oxeye daisy greens, chopped
• wild greens for seasoning (eg ground ivy, wild garlic, lady’s smock, pepper dulse, Large Bittercress), chopped
• herbs for seasoning (eg thyme, lovage, marjoram, lemon balm, mint, dill, parsley, chives, yarrow), chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 4 tbsp oil for frying
• 2 tbsp flour
• 4 cups vegetable or chicken stock
• freshly-ground black pepper
• crème fraîche

Method
Wash all the wild greens and herbs then chop coarsely. Heat the oil in a pan, add the onion and garlic and fry for about 4 minutes, or until tender but not colored. Scatter the flour over the top and stir to combine and form a smooth roux. Whisk in the vegetable stock until the soup base is smooth. Add the wild greens and herbs then bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes. Take off the heat and allow to cool slightly before pouring into a blender. Liquidize until smooth then return to the pan. Season with pepper, to taste and allow to heat through. Ladle into warmed soup bowls, garnish with a tablespoon of crème fraîche and serve.

Link: http://southernforager.blogspot.co.za/2015/04/goosegrass-cleavers-soup-recipe-from.html

Always remember when making anything with wildflowers or weeds, they should be free from pesticides!

NATURAL HEALING

I have found that the bond that created with gratitude when harvesting is profound, it opens a doorway to spiritualism that not only heals your body and mind but also feeds your soul. The more I learn of, from, and about herbs, the more I integrate them into my garden, where possible to grow. I harvest fresh for making tinctures, either from my own garden, the garden of friends or local parks.

I would encourage you to learn how to make your own tinctures as it is incredibly cost effective and a very easy way to start building up your own home apothecary. The benefit of learning how to make your own tinctures will create long-term gain as you add affordable herbal healing for your family and in time this will drastically reduce unnecessary medical expenses.

Cleavers Tincture
Tinctures are created by adding fresh or dried plant matter into alcohol to extract the medicinal properties of the herb and to preserve the medicine for later use. If you prefer not imbibe alcohol, you could also make your tincture with Apple Cider Vinegar.

Alternatively, if you are creative and self-sustaining, you could make your tincture with Kombucha Vinegar. This is of course where I thrive, I love the ability to make my own vinegar and then to reuse that when making medicine. As a side note, tincture made with alcohol will last many years, if preserved properly, whereas a tincture made with vinegar has a much shorter shelf life. Having said that, it is an affordable means to make tinctures and especially cost-effective for those that your family may use often.

The I’naturals shop does not currently have Cleavers Tincture in stock; it is in the process and will be ready in about two weeks’ time.

Personally, I use this tincture when I have water retention, after my very own experience of how painful swollen legs and feet are I am just too grateful to have this natural remedy on hand.

Cleavers has cooling properties that could help bring down fevers. You can apply the tincture topically for eczema, psoriasis, itches, and insect bites. More interestingly for me is that you could use this tincture for the treatment of glandular fever. I am just in awe of the healing this beautiful being provides. I can relate to an event in my life when my princess, was still little and had glandular fever. I thought she was not going to pull through; it was 5 very emotional days for me. Of course, 18 years ago I really knew nothing about herbs, today I am very happy to increase my knowledge as I go along.

VIBRATIONAL REMEDY

Cleavers flower essence allows you to distance yourself from people, places, and events that do not serve you. If you find yourself weighed down by circumstances and environments and you would like to create a barrier to distance yourself from the negative energies in these circumstances. Cleavers flower essence is ideal to help you separate yourself from this environment. This essence allows you to retain your own personal energy.

In life, we often cling to things long after the contract we have with them (people/ places) are fulfilled. When we hold onto them (people/ places), longer than we need to, we carry their energetic presence in our life. Often this becomes destructive rather than beneficial. When life weighs us down, we do not always realize what the reason is for our discomfort or even fully understand the impact of holding on to things that no longer serve us.

This essence works with your higher self and it allows you (affords you the opportunity) to separate yourself as a being from those situations. Let go of expectations, let go of your perceptions of right and wrong, let life take on its own course. Go with the flow.

Resistance is a solid weight holding you down. Sink into your heart space, feel the light energy that you comprise of and allow the vibration of this flower essence to break free and let go.

You are in competition with no one, you do not need to prove yourself to anyone, and you are the only one that matters. You are great and your vastness is untapped.

When you let go, you are able to recognize those things that make you weary. You become a flower that is both gentle and strong at the same time. Like water drops fall from the sky onto the flowers, they simply bounce back and stand tall and beautiful again. Let nothing weight you down, it will serve you well. Let go and allow change to transform you positively.

You can buy yours here –>  cleavers-flower-essence/

FOLKTALE AND MAGIC ALIKE

Cleavers are used in binding spells and for matters of commitment, especially for commitment issues, rocky relationships, and love.

IN CONCLUSION

I am not a qualified herbalist, nor do I claim to be. I am passionate about natural healing and I share what I have learned and how I personally use or apply the herbs in my own life.

• If you like this post, please share it with your friends
• If you would love to learn how to make your own tinctures, you are welcome to send me your details and we can arrange a time for a group class
• If you would like to embrace the healing of letting go, you can buy Cleavers Flower Essence here cleavers-flower-essence/

Information was obtained, in no particular order from the following sites:

• http://southernforager.blogspot.co.za/2015/04/goosegrass-cleavers-soup-recipe-from.html 
• https://mavcure.com/cleavers-galium-aparine/

I have also used the following books:

• Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs