Cleavers

A common roadside weed with sticky little hooks that cling to clothes — also called goosegrass, sticky willy, or bedstraw. Traditional Western herbalism has used cleavers for centuries as a 'lymphatic' herb, supporting the body's drainage and elimination pathways. Modern clinical evidence is limited; the traditional use is the main story.

• Long traditional Western herbal use to support the lymphatic system and the body's elimination pathways
• Mild diuretic action — supports clearance of fluid
• Traditional use for skin conditions when used as a tea or topical wash
• Traditional use for swollen lymph nodes during minor infections
• Generally very safe — used as a spring tonic across European folk medicine
• Best prepared as a fresh-juice or cold-infusion preparation, which traditional herbalists prefer
• Cleavers is in the same family as coffee — the dried, roasted seeds were used as a coffee substitute historically

Memorial Sloan Kettering About Herbs · EMA Herbal Medicinal Product Monographs · American Botanical Council HerbMedPro · Memorial Sloan Kettering About Herbs · EMA Herbal Medicinal Product Monographs · American Botanical Council HerbMedPro

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