Cleavers - Gallium aparine

Cleavers, Gallium aparine, is a common herbaceous plant that grows worldwide. It thrives on the edges of gardens and pathways with moist soil and part sun. I harvest most of mine from the edges and pathways of a large organic garden.

Cleavers got its name from its tendency to stick to hair and clothing. It is also called sticky willy, and catchweed, and bedstraw. There are tiny, hooked hairs on the stems and leaves, much like hook and loop tape. It is edible when cooked. In traditional medicine it has been used as a poultice, and as a tea. 

Studies have shown that Gallium aparine has good antioxidant potential. It shows antimicrobial activity against microorganisms and especially high antifungal activity. It exhibits significant anticancer effects against lung cancer. 1

This study details the antifungal activities of cleavers against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and C. albicans, which are highly sensitive, and B. subtilis which is moderately sensitive.2

Here is an important quote from another study: “All ethanolic extracts from G. aparine herb significantly stimulated the transformational activity of immunocompetent blood cells, with 96% ethanolic extract being most active. The percentage of lymphocytes proliferating in RLBT under the influence of 96% ethanolic extract increased by 4.34–5.32 times compared with the spontaneous transformation. The results justify the traditional use of extracts from G. aparine as immunomodulatory agents. 3

Tincture Dosing is 3-5 ml 3 times a day. 1 ml is about 25 drops. Start slowly as allergies and intolerances are always possible.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose or treat any illness.

1 Korkmaz, Nuh, Alpaslan Dayangaç, and Mustafa Sevindik. “ANTIOXIDANT, ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIPROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITIES OF GALIUM APARINE”. Journal of Faculty of Pharmacy of Ankara University 45, no. 3 (September 2021): 554-64. https://doi.org/10.33483/jfpau.977776
2 THE PHARMA INNOVATION - JOURNAL Vol. 3 No. 1. 2014,  www.thepharmajournal.com  Page | 7   Phytochemical research of Galium aparine L. Lipophilic complex and study of its antibacterial activity Olga V. Goryacha1 , Tetyana V. Ilyina1 , Alla M. Kovalyova1 , Nataliya V. Kashpur2 1. The National University of Pharmacy, Kharkov, Ukraine 2. I.I. Mechnikov Institute of Microbiology and Immunology of Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Kharkov, Ukraine.
3 Ilina, Tetiana, Natalia Kashpur, Sebastian Granica, Agnieszka Bazylko, Igor Shinkovenko, Alla Kovalyova, Olga Goryacha, and Oleh Koshovyi. 2019. "Phytochemical Profiles and In Vitro Immunomodulatory Activity of Ethanolic Extracts from Galium aparine L." Plants 8, no. 12: 541. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8120541