Welcome
Everyone to my first blog!
I think this time of year is the very best
time-don't you think?
The anticipation of Spring, the first green shoots
and for Herbalists, the first opportunity to harvest some medicinal plants. I
have just seen the first shoots of Galium aperine (goosegrass, cleavers, sticky
willy, caci mwnci-it has many names) coming up through the hedgerows.
You know the one-grows in hedgerows, grabs your
leg, dog covered in burrs.
Why not take the opportunity to give yourself a
spring detox, boosting your immune and lymphatic system by juicing it. It
tastes like grass-not bad at all and much cheaper than a juice bar!!!
This common weed is a member
of the Rubiaceae, the Bedstraw or coffee family. It
includes coffee (Caffea arabica) and Partridge berry (Mitchella repens).
When harvesting, you use the aerial parts (those
parts growing above ground, up to and including flowering). Once the burrs have
formed it is a little too old to harvest.
As well as juicing, you can make a tea or prepare a
tincture.
Cleavers is part of a group of herbs that
herbalists call depuratives or alteratives. Another term is "blood
cleanser". These terms are traditional and we honestly don't know a lot
about how this particular group of plants work. As with many herbs of this
group we draw on extensive traditional knowledge for its uses. Many act on the
liver and gall bladder, bowel and lymphatic system (all important toxin
removing systems).
Traditionally, using herbs and readily available
spring greens helps to clear out accumulated winter toxins and can make the
body feel more vital and energetic. They are also a very rich sources of
vitamins and minerals, especially if juiced fresh.
Herbalists see many conditions, such as arthritis,
PMT, skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis, immune and
catarrhal problems, fatigue and some serious health conditions as
being partly due to toxic tissue states.
Many of the first herbs to appear in at this time
are traditional Spring cleansers: Nettle (the young tops), Burdock, Dandelion.
Herbalists often use Cleavers in conjunction with
other herbs for particular health problems. Cleavers is indicated when there
are swollen glands, tonsillitis and problem skin conditions.
So why not try juicing some cleavers this Spring?
