Cleavers

From My Herbcorner

Galium aparine

Klebelabkraut in German

Oh I really hang on you! You will love to play with me because I like to clinch on everything I can.

My Look

I have small square stems and my leaves grow apparently in whorls of 6-8. All is coated in small stiff hairs what makes me clinch on everything. There are a few tiny white flowers with four petals and I like to have this cute tiny fruit balls which look like miniature hedgehogs.

Find me

I grow everywhere where I can climb up on other plants, say on forest margins, under hedges, at riversides and on waste areas or pastures.

Yes, I like it a bit moist.

You can find me from spring to autumn (in warmer areas the whole year round) Flowering time is early summer to mid summer (in some areas longer)

Use me

I am a member of the bedstraw family and will do you good under your linen... especially for Ladies.

My tea is helpful for urinary problems like bladder infection, painful urination.

The juice is helpful for people with tendency to form kidney stones or gravels. In this case you can also use a tincture (1 tbsp 3 times a day or 1 tsp of double tincture)

I like to eliminate toxins from your body which is sure an idea by chronic skin problems such as psoriasis or eczema. I am generally toning the body and alter metabolism toward a healthy balance. Sounds great, doesn't it?

Yes, I also work on swollen lymph glands drunken as tea or infusion and since I am generally detoxifying I have the power to prevent cancer.

If you make a tincture or herb vinegar be sure to use me very fresh! I am so delicate that I dry quickly.

Cultivate me

Mm, say you collect this tiny hedgehog fruits of mine and sow it at the edge of your garden, maybe you are lucky and will see me. I love weedy gardens thats for sure ;-)