Cleavers
Cleavers
Galium aparine
A common hedgerow plant named for its clinging stems and leaves. It has a long history of traditional use for supporting lymphatic function, skin health and normal kidney function.
What is cleavers?
Cleavers (Galium aparine) is a sprawling climbing plant found across Europe, North America and Asia. It commonly grows through hedgerows and waste ground.
Its stems and leaves are covered with tiny hooked hairs. These allow the plant to cling to clothing, fur and neighbouring plants, giving rise to names such as “stickyweed”.
Cleavers has a long history of use in European herbal medicine. The fresh aerial parts are traditionally harvested in spring before flowering.
They have traditionally been used to prepare juices and infusions. These preparations are valued for their gentle cleansing properties and traditional use for lymphatic and urinary health.
Lymphatic support
Cleavers is traditionally regarded as one of the foremost lymphatic herbs in Western herbal medicine. Its traditional use centres on supporting healthy lymphatic flow and drainage.
Your lymphatic system is a network of vessels and nodes that runs throughout your body. It helps drain excess fluid, transport immune cells and remove cellular waste products.
Cleavers is traditionally used to support the movement of lymph through this network. This has made it a popular ingredient in herbal formulas focused on natural drainage and elimination.
Cleavers is particularly associated with these traditional uses during seasonal transitions. However, modern clinical research into its effects on lymphatic function remains limited.
Skin clarity and kidney support
Cleavers has a long traditional association with clear, healthy looking skin. Herbalists have linked this reputation to its lymphatic and mild diuretic properties.
Its traditional use centres on supporting the body’s natural drainage and elimination processes. This has led to its longstanding use in herbal formulas focused on skin health.
Cleavers is also traditionally used as a gentle kidney and urinary tract tonic. It may support healthy urine flow and normal urinary function.
However, modern evidence for cleavers’ effects on skin, kidney and urinary health remains limited. Its use in these areas is based mainly on traditional herbal practice.
Using cleavers
Cleavers is traditionally prepared as fresh pressed juice from the spring harvested plant. Fresh or dried cleavers can also be used to make tinctures.
Dried cleavers tea remains a popular and convenient option. Capsule supplements are also available if you prefer a more consistent amount.
Cleavers is generally considered a gentle herb suitable for seasonal use. It is often combined with traditional herbs such as nettle, dandelion and burdock root.
If you have a health condition or take medicines, speak to a qualified health professional before using cleavers regularly.
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