Notes on Cleavers
by ANA
I’ve spoken about CLEAVERS before, but it’s been awhile and she popped up in my garden on her own, which told me it’s time for a refresher
Cleavers is a climbing weed with whole leaves and leggy stalks that are covered with hooked bristles that enable her to attach to object and passes-by, allowing ease of spread and seed dispersal.
She’s commonly found in fields across Europe and North America.
Cleavers is in the coffee family, and the mature seeds were roasted and used as a coffee substitute in rural Sweden.
The young green tops were juiced and used as a cleansing spring tonic, providing fresh nutrients and chlorophyll after a long winter.
The leaves can be used topically by making skin washes and poultices to support chapped and compromised skin, as well as healing wounds, sunburns and treating eczema, psoriasis and abscesses.
Cleavers is another herb I use in my Breast Friend Salve-
Her main job is to balance the lymphatic system. This includes reducing inflammation of lymph glands and cysts in breasts. She provides relief from congestion in the lymphatic - of which is concentrated in breasts- and reduces swelling by clearing excess waste from the body.
She has the potential to alleviate soreness in breasts as well.
The lymph-cleansing action of cleavers, in turn, enhances the function of the immune system.
As a tea, beverage or tincture she helps with insomnia, soothes the nervous system, eases pms symptoms and helps alleviate headaches, among her many other benefits
If you find cleavers in your yard, put a handful in a blender, add water and blend. Let it sit for a half hour, then strain and drink! Refrigerate the leftovers for up to a wee