Parts Used – Aerial parts.
Uses
A valuable diuretic, cleavers is often taken for skin diseases such as seborrhea, eczema, and psoriasis; for swollen lymph glands and as a general detoxifying agent in serious illnesses such as cancer. The plant is commonly prepared in the form of an infusion, but for conditions such as cancer, it is best taken as a juice, which is strongly diuretic. The juice and the infusion are also taken for kidney stones and other urinary problems.
The plant has tiny white flowers, but more familiar are the small round fruits which bristle with stiff hair. Using the plant as a vegetable has a slimming effect on the body. Cleavers seed is one of the best coffee substitutes, it merely needs to be dried and lightly roasted and has much the same flavor as coffee. Cleavers has a long history of use as an alternative medicine and is still used widely by modern herbalists. Cleavers are an excellent remedy for many diseases of the urinary system. An infusion of this herb, used as a lotion, makes a first-rate tonic for the scalp and the skin. It clears dandruff, cures, leprosy and skin cancer.
