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Cleavers Herb -Benefits, Uses And Side Effects

Scientific name: Galium aparine

Actions: Alterative, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and laxative, antiscorbutic, antitumor, aperient, astringent, blood purifier, diuretic, hepatic (mild), lipotropic, refrigerant, tonic.

Description

Cleavers is an annual plant found in moist or grassy places and along riverbanks and fences in Canada, the eastern half of the U.S., and the Pacific coast. A slender taproot produces the weak, square, procumbent or climbing, prickly stem that grows from 2 to 6 feet long. The rough, oblong-lanceolate to almost linear leaves occur in whorls of 6 or 8 around the stem. The small, white or greenish-white flowers grow in cymes on long, axillary peduncies from May to September. The fruit consists of two joined, bristly, globular, one-seeded carpels.

Uses and benefits of Cleavers

• One of the great lymphatic herbs. Helps move and dissolve lymphatic congestion.
• Use in swollen lymph nodes, abscesses, boils and tumors.
• A great blood cleanser.
• Has diuretic properties and helps dissolve kidney and bladder sediment.
• A strong herb for cleansing the skin.
• Excellent for eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis.
• Helps eliminate upper respiratory congestion (sinus, throat, lungs, etc.).
• Helps clean, tone, and strengthen the body.
• Use for all cancers.
• Use in urinary tract obstructions.
• Has anti-inflammatory properties, and is used for any "itis" (inflammatory) condition.

Are there any side effects or interactions?

Cleavers has no known side effects and is thought to be safe for use by children and pregnant or nursing women.