Galium aparine (Cleavers, Bed Straw)

Family: Rubiaceae

Habitat/Botanical Description: Commonly cultivated, native to Americas and Europe in moist, shady areas of forests. It is an annual plant with a weak stem that climbs and clings due to the hooked trichomes on the leaves and stem. The stem is hairy at the joints and grows up to 24 inches. The leaves are lanceolate, tapered at the base with rough margins arranged in whorls of 6 – 8 leaves. The flowers are white, in loose cymes at leaf axils. The calyx is 5 lobed, with a 4 lobed tubelike corolla. The fruit is olive green to purple and covered with bristle. It attaches easily to plants and animals that pass by.

Part Used: Aerial

Active Constituents:

Coumarins, enzymes, glycosides (rubichloric acid, asperuloside), galiosin (a red substance of undetermined action), tannins, volatile oil

Medicinal Actions:

Anti-lithic, astringent, diuretic, lymphagogue, vulnerary

Medicinal Use:

1. Galium is a lymphagogue with a diffuse general action. It seems to have a tropism for the pelvis, but it is not as strong an affinity as the other lymphagogues exhibit. It increases lymphatic drainage and stimulates lymphatic flow, reducing stagnation in tissues. It seems to have a tonifying action on the lymph system. The enzymes are preserved best in the succus or glycerite forms of extraction.

2. It also exhibits a demulcent effect on the urinary tract and works well to reduce pain and inflammation in conditions of cystitis, urethritis, prostatitis, and pyelonephritis. It also exhibits an anti-lithic action, reducing the size of urinary stones like its cousin, Rubia tinctoria, though it is not as strong an anti-lithic. It also has a diuretic action with the anti-inflammatory effect so may be added to diuretic formulas to enhance action and reduce pain.

3. Galium is a depurative, working well with alteratives to promote detoxification. It is useful to treat inflammatory conditions of dry skin such as eczema or psoriasis.

4. It is a mild diaphoretic and is often included in treatment of upper respiratory inflammation such as cold and flu, especially when accompanied by pharyngitis. Galium Popsicles are often used for this purpose for treatment of children.

5. It is also used to reduce the inflammation and edema surrounding joints that occurs with rheumatoid arthritis and gout.

Contraindications: None

Toxicity: None

Drug Interactions: None

Pharmacy:

Fresh is best, but dried may be used in infusion, just need higher dose.

Infusion: 2-tsp/cup water, TID to 6 X day

Fresh juice (preserve with 50% glycerin): 5 – 15 ml TID

Tincture (1:5): 5 – 15 ml TID

Fluid Extract (1:1): 2 – 4 ml TID

Specific Tincture (1:3, 25% ETOH): 5 – 7 ml TID

Fresh pulp as poultice