Cleavers- Spring Clean Your System With This Purifying Herb
- victoria ward
- Mar 18
- 3 min read
Cleavers (Galium aparine) is perfect for this time of year as we approach the Spring Equinox and may be thinking about a detoxification programme to boost our health, clear any winter congestion and prime ourselves for warmer days.
The springy, vibrant fresh leaves of Cleavers can be found all over and are an easy plant to forage, there is not much else to confuse this distinctive little character with, just make sure you are picking from an unpolluted, clean souce.
Cleavers are also known as 'sticky willy' as they are very clingy indeed and will attach themselves to any available surface as they scramble through other vegetation on their journey to succeed.
Their appearence is thought to resemble lymphatic tissue according to the 'Law Of Similars' and this gives us a strong indication and guide to their actions.
Cleavers are a traditional spring tonic and their are many ways in which you can make use of this safe and abundant plant. They are powerful cleansers with amazing regenerative powers that will relieve congestion in the body through the following actions-
Lymphatic
Diuretic
Depurative
Anti-inflammatory
Alterative
Antioxidant
Hepatic
Demulcent
Astringent
Immunomodulating
Relaxant
Vulnerary
Cleavers Recipes
Fresh Cleavers can be juiced and used alone or mixed into a smoothie with other ingredients. They can be added into Pesto alongside Nettle, Wild Garlic and Three-cornered Leek. The taste of Cleaver is pleasant, mild and slightly pea-like, it is best to consume the youngest, freshest shoots as they become more bitter and fibrous as they age. They are best slightly cooked and work well with eggs and fish.
Steep Cleavers in vinegar, I have combined Cleavers, Nettle leaves and Violet Flowers to make a Spring Tonic Vinegar which can be taken as a supplement as you would Apple Cider vinegar or use as part of a salad dressing. Alternatively add honey to create a Spring Detoxymel. Adding a dash of Vodka can help draw out the active constituents and help preserve, see Nettle post for Spring Detoxymel recipe.
Cleavers Spring Tonic Infusion
This is a simple and delightful way to gain the benefits of fresh Cleavers. Simply cold infiuse a handful of Cleavers in spring water and drink throughout your detox. Add sliced lemon or cucumber if you wish.
Myddfai Tonic
This is similar to above but is a 13th Century recipe from the Physicians of Myddfai who were a well renowned Welsh herbalists from Carmarthenshire. This is an example of a very early'detox'.
Take four handfuls of cleavers (around 100g) and chop finely.Place in a large glass jug and fill with 2 litres of cold spring water.
Allow to infuse overnight (six hours minimum), then strain and drink. No other drinks (apart from water) are allowed.
Strain the liquid into a clean jug or saucepan. Using your hand, squeeze out any excess liquid from the cleavers and discard the plant material.
Add 1 teaspoon of sea salt (only for the first week).
[Optional] Add 2 sliced lemons.
Refridgerate and drink a minimum of 1 litre a day.
The liquid will only stay fresh for about three days, so you will need to keep making it.
Pesto
Cleavers can be used in Pesto too, combine with Nettle, Three-cornered Leek and Wild Garlic for a tasty and super-healthy spring food.
Cleavers Poultice
Simply mash up fresh Cleavers and apply directly to wounds, swollen glands or inflamed skin to use its wound-healing and cooling properties. You could secure in place with bandage or cling film.
Cleavers Compress
If you want the benefits of Cleavers for the skin but not the whole plant plastered over you then make an infusion and soak cloth in it to apply as a compress, it is pleasantly cooling to the skin.
Deodorising
Cleavers is considered to have natural deodorising qualities when applied to the skin and you can also add an infusion to your bath water for a detoxifying bath.
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