Herb of the Week: Cleavers

Cleavers (Galium aparine) is pretty well known in herbalism circles. The first time I touched the leaves of the cleaver plant, it reminded me of a kitten's tongue, softly raspy. But, this little "sticky" plant does more than just stick to your clothes when you brush against it. It's also known as "sticky willy" (not going to ask why for this one) and "goosegrass" (because young geese love to eat this plant). You may hear some herbalists call this plant "cleansing sisters" because of how it attaches to clothing which is thought to symbolize its power to attach to and remove impurities from the body. Another nickname for this plant is "bedstraw" (because they were used as stuffing for mattresses in Europe).

It has been used traditionally to help the lymphatic system in doing its job of removing toxins from our bodies, so it's a well-known detox herb. Which means it also works as a diuretic to remove excess "water", or water retention, from your body which, in turn, helps our urinary system stay healthier. It's an anti-inflammatory and it has compounds (iridoid glycosides, flavonoids, and polyphenols/tannins) that help improve our white blood cell activity (specifically, lymphocytes) so it supports a healthier immune system.

Externally, using this herb in salves, balms, oils, or just smashing up some leaves to make a pulp, you can apply it to help ease and treat inflamed, dry, or "weeping" skin conditions such as acne, boils, and psoriasis. Taken internally can also help with these skin ailments. Some people do get a mild case of contact dermatitis from the fresh leaves (because of the tiny velcro-like "hooks") so be wary about handling this plant without gloves.

In some folkloric traditions, this plant has been connected to the belief that when it sticks to your clothing, that it is energetically removing your worries and troubles then sending them back into the earth. Seems legit, right? More witchcraft oriented, it is useful in rituals or spells that remove ties/binds/connections. It's also a great ally for cleansing one's energy. Use it in binding spells, renewal/fresh beginnings spells, protection spells, and love attraction spells. This herbal ally is associated with the moon and with the element of water.