herbs - Cleavers (Galium aparine)

What is it?

Cleavers is native to Europe, Asia and North America. The leaves, stems and flowers are used in herbal medicine.

Action

Cleavers contains many different active constituents including iridoid glycosides, Bioflavanoids, coumarins and tannins. The iridoid glycosides are mildly diuretic and improve movement of fluid through the lymphatic system. 

Uses

• Cleavers is a well-known herbal diuretic used mainly for helping with water retention. It encourages lymphatic drainage and combines well with other herbs such as Buchu, Burdock and Uva ursi to encourage elimination of fluid from the tissues to the kidneys and out of the body.
• Cleavers is a cleansing herb and is often used in detox programs.

Cautions

• Generally, there are no side effects or other contraindications from using Cleavers.



• Cleavers has diuretic properties, so if you are already using diuretic type drugs it is a herb best avoided.



• When this article was written there were no other well-known negative drug interactions with Cleavers.

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