Herb of the Week: Cleavers (Galium aparine)

Herb of the Week: Cleavers (Galium aparine)

Cleavers is one of those wild herbs that seems to find you when it’s time to cleanse, clear, and renew. Its sticky little leaves cling to clothing and skin, just as it helps the body “unclog” and release what’s no longer needed. Known as a lymphatic tonic and gentle diuretic, cleavers supports detoxification and skin health — the perfect springtime ally.

Botanical Snapshot

  • Latin Name: Galium aparine

  • Family: Rubiaceae

  • Common Names: Cleavers, Goosegrass, Stickyweed, Catchweed Bedstraw

  • Parts Used: Aerial parts (fresh is best)

Energetics & Herbal Actions

Cleavers is cooling, moistening, and gently drying over time. It moves fluids through the lymphatic and urinary systems while soothing irritation.

Herbal Actions

  • Lymphatic tonic

  • Diuretic

  • Alterative (blood cleanser)

  • Anti-inflammatory

  • Vulnerary (heals tissue)

Therapeutic Uses

Lymphatic & Detox Support
Cleavers helps clear stagnation in the lymph system — making it useful for swollen glands, puffy tissues, or after illness. It’s often used in spring tonics or to support gentle cleansing.

Skin Health
By supporting detoxification through the lymph and kidneys, cleavers can help with acne, eczema, and other skin eruptions that result from internal buildup.

Urinary Tract Support
Its diuretic and soothing qualities make cleavers helpful for urinary irritation, mild infections, and water retention.

Digestive & Immune Support
Cleavers can help stimulate sluggish digestion and gently support the body’s natural detox pathways.

Contraindications & Safety

  • Generally considered safe when used fresh or as tea/tincture.

  • Avoid excessive use of dried herb, which can become overly harsh.

  • May increase urination... use caution with prescription diuretics.

  • No known major drug interactions.

Folklore & History

  • Cleavers has long been used in spring cleansing rituals across Europe, often juiced fresh or added to soups.

  • Folk healers saw its clinging nature as symbolic of its ability to “cling” to toxins and carry them away.

  • In Celtic tradition, cleavers was thought to aid in spiritual purification and renewal.

  • Its genus name Galium comes from the Greek “gala,” meaning milk, as the plant was once used to curdle milk in cheesemaking.

Practical Ways to Work with Cleavers

  • Fresh Juice: Blend fresh cleavers with water, strain, and sip for a potent spring tonic.

  • Tea: Infuse fresh or gently dried cleavers for lymphatic and kidney support.

  • Tincture: Take a few drops daily during cleansing seasons.

  • Topical Wash: Use the tea externally on irritated or inflamed skin.

✨ My favorite way: juicing fresh cleavers in the spring — it tastes like liquid green life, awakening the body from winter’s stillness.

Closing Reflection

Cleavers reminds us that healing can be gentle. Its subtle touch moves what’s stagnant, clears away the old, and makes space for renewal — in the body and the spirit. Working with cleavers is a lesson in release and flow.

References & Further Reading

  • Chevallier, A. (2016). Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. DK Publishing.

  • Wood, M. (2008). The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to Old World Plants. North Atlantic Books.

  • Mills, S., & Bone, K. (2013). Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy (2nd ed.). Churchill Livingstone.

  • Plants of the World Online (Kew). Galium aparine (Cleavers). — Link

Back to blog