Cleavers ( Petroselinum crispum) is a member of the plant family that has numerous medicinal uses. In addition to psoriasis, eczema, and urinary tract infections, it is frequently used to treat other skin conditions. Cleaver’s is also a diuretic, so it aids in the treatment of cystitis, kidney inflammation, irritable bladder, and the removal of grit, gravel, and calcium deposits from the body. This product is also good for acne, eczema, boils, and other skin conditions because it can cleanse the entire body. Consumption of Cleavers should be limited to a certain level due to its laxative properties and emetic benefits. If the sap contains anthoquinones, it may cause skin irritation. Cleavers Herb Medicinal Benefits Cleavers Cleavers is very effective in lowering blood pressure as its extract help in thinning of the blood. Thinning of the blood lets a greater blood circulation which in turn normalizes the blood pressure. If you are on blood thinning medications, you should not use cleaver as it will further thin up your blood and cause greater health risks.

Cleavers can be used to make a caffeine-free coffee substitute. It’s supposed to taste just like coffee. They’re in the same family, so I guess that makes sense. Slow roast the seeds in your oven or on the stovetop until dark brown. They’re small, so watch that they don’t burn. Then, send them through your coffee grinder and prepare the grounds as you would regular coffee. Once the beeswax has completely melted, add as much of the Cleavers into the oil and melted beeswax as possible. The “Indian Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Biotechnology” published an article about the diagnosis, causes, symptoms and treatments of UTI’s. It recommends Cleavers for acute or chronic cystitis with swollen lymph nodes and uterine inflammation. 2 Cleavers Cold Infusions: Cleavers makes for an incredibly cooling, cleaning and energizing drink. However, its delicate properties are destroyed by hot water so a “cold infusion” is preferred. To make this, place a handful of freshly harvested leaves in a pestle and mortar and bash to release the juices and then add the leaves into a mason jar or large bowl. Add in half a sliced lemon, pour over around a pint of cold water, cover and leave overnight in the fridge. In the morning, strain through a sieve and drink 2-3 cups per day as a lymphatic and immune boosting super tonic. NB: Cleavers does not dry well so we do not recommend drying harvested leaves. Rather, harvest and use it freshly. The species is native to a wide region of Europe, North Africa and Asia from Britain and the Canary Islands to Japan. It is now naturalized throughout most of the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, some oceanic islands and scattered locations in Africa. Whether it is native to North America is a question of some debate, but it is considered to be native there in most literature. [14] It is considered a noxious weed in many places. [15] [16] Effects on the body [ edit ]As an alterative, cleavers supports your body’s natural detoxification pathways. Alterative herbs were once called “blood cleansers,” which simply means they help your body eliminate metabolic waste and other toxins. If you have a juicer, try adding some cleavers to your next blend! Cleavers juice is extremely rich in chlorophyll, similar to wheatgrass juice, but with the perk of being freely available to forage. After that, properly chop the fresh cleavers leaves with the help of a knife and add them into the teapot.

Skin: Cleavers has a natural affinity for the skin and has a long and revered history in the treatment of all forms of skin disease; it is a real tonic herb in this capacity. It can be used both internally as teas and tinctures and topically in the form of compresses, poultices or ointments in the management of sunburn, eczema, psoriasis, acne, boils and general skin inflammation and infections. Indeed, a famous study published in The British Medical Journal 1883 documents an account of a patient with severe non-healing leg ulcers that wouldn’t respond to the conventional medical treatments of the day. With no other options, the doctors tried treating the leg ulcers with Cleavers by making a poultice out of the fresh leaves and applying this to the ulcers three times a day. The outcome of this treatment was that “Cleavers’ effect in this most unhopeful case was decisive and plain to all. Healthy action ensued, and has since steadily continued; and, after a month of treatment, both ulcers have been reduced to considerably less than half their original size.” Edema is caused mostly due to the stimulating effect of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system of your body clears all the waste from your body. As per many expert herbalists, cleaver has an effect on swollen glands and cyst. Therefore, it can work to reduce the swelling in your body. The springtime allure of cleavers has survived since the time of the ancients, when healers praised cleavers for their ability to relieve temporary water retention. Prominent Romans such as physician Galen and philosopher Pliny the Elder celebrated them for their ability to relieve temporary water weight gain, while Greek physician Dioscorides used them to help curdle and filter milk—a tradition that’s apparently still alive and well in Sweden today. Many Native American tribes used them to promote kidney health. For therapeutic reasons, contemporary herbalists use cleavers much the same way. Energetically speaking, folk herbalists also like to use cleavers as a cooling herb to help clear heat and stagnation and to increase flow. Cleavers may cause skin irritation to some individuals, though it’s not very common. Ecological importance of GoosegrassYou can then add some lemon juice or other flavorings, or try it plain. If you make cleavers juice this way, it won’t be as concentrated as using a juicer. Making a tea with the dried leaves is most common. [28] It can be brewed hot or cold. For a cold infusion, steep in water and refrigerate for 24–48 hours. In most cases, it transports lymph, a fluid that contains infection-fighting white blood cells, throughout the body. Cleavers improve the lymphatic system’s ability to eliminate toxins, reduce congestion, and treat swelling. Older plants are a source of silica. Silica is a compound that aids the body in innumerable ways, many of which we may not yet understand. 25) Martin, K. R. “The Chemistry of Silica and Its Potential Health Benefits.” Advances in Pediatrics. Accessed May 14, 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17435951/.

Cleavers enhances the function of the lymphatic system and improves its ability to flush out toxins, decrease congestion and reduce swelling. 1 Wood, Matthew (2008). "Galium aparine. Cleavers. Lady's Bedstraw. Goosegrass.". The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants. North Atlantic Books. p.267. ISBN 9781556436925. When you want to find cleavers, you need to start looking when the weather is damp and cool in the spring. As summer nears, cleavers goes to seed and becomes less beneficial. Rabeler, Richard K. (2007). Gleason's Plants of Michigan. University of Michigan Press. p.299. ISBN 9780472032464.As I already mentioned, cleavers helps your body move lymphatic fluid. But what exactly does that look like? Place the jar in a cabinet or on a countertop away from heat and direct sunlight. Shake the tincture daily, or as often as you think of it. This is called macerating. Goosegrass brewed tea has calming effects on fever. It also has diaphoretic activity, which makes your body sweat heavily, thereby controls your fever’s temperature. How to Make Cleavers Tea? Cold maceration: 25 grams of cleavers crushed leaves can be covered by two cups of water and let sit overnight. In this form, cleavers can be taken orally to reduce fever.