Medicinal Herbs and ADHD

LATEST PODCAST EPISODE — LISTEN NOW

Scientific name: Galium aparine

Common name: Cleavers

Constituents:

  • Polyphenolic acids (caffeic, gallic, chlorogenic, cinnamic, p-coumaric, salicylic & citric)
  • Iridoid glycosides (asperuloside)
  • Tannins (gallotannic acid)
  • Coumarins
  • Flavonoids (Quercetin & luteolin)
  • Volatile oils (palmitic acid, hexadecanoic)
  • Vitamin C, B5 & B6
  • Anthraquinones
  • Alkaloids

Medicinal actions:

  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Alterative
  • Astringent
  • Diuretic
  • Lymphatic tonic
  • Vulnerary

Traditional Use:

  • Traditionally used in folk medicine for anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and cardioprotective effects.
  • A classic alterative used internally or topically for inflammatory skin disorders, minor injuries and conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, and is a soothing and relaxing diuretic & demulcent to the urinary tract, giving it indication in cystitis, urethritis, prostatitis, pyelonephritis, and edema of kidney origin.
  • Specifically used to increase lymphatic drainage & breaks up lymphatic congestion (enlarged lymph nodes) especially in the pelvis and urinary tract, and is considered a lymphatic tonic thought to clear away damp-heat, eliminate stasis and detoxify the body. Can be used in cases of lymph swellings, fever turbid urine, hematuria, traumatic injury, acute appendicitis, otitis media, etc.
  • In Traditional Chinese medicine is prescribed for treatment of cancer to suppress tumor cells and in leukemia.

Evidence Based Use:

  • No clinical trials in humans have been conducted.
  • Demonstrate anti-proliferative effects on leukemia cells, breast cancer, laryngeal carcinoma and head and neck cancer cell lines in vitro.
  • Aqueous extracts demonstrated good antioxidant activity in oxidative stress in vitro.

Mechanism of Action & Pharmacology:

  • Very little known.
  • Iridoid glycosides including asperuloside are considered mildly laxative & purgative.

Pharmacy:

  • Infusion: 1-2 tsp/cup, steep 10 min, 1-2 cups TID.
  • Tincture: (1:5, 25%), 4-10 ml TID. 200 ml weekly max.
  • Fresh juice: 3-15 ml, TID.
  • Poultice, skin wash as needed.

Safety & Toxicity Concerns:

  • None known.

Interactions:

  • None reported

Scientifically driven. Education focused. Healing Inspired.

Subscribe to Insights

Receive clinically driven nutrition insights you can trust.

Animated Newsletter WM

Join Our Community to Read Further

This is a premium article created for our Healthcare Practitioner readers. Create a free account to continue reading and gain full access.

Dismiss

signup-logo

WholisticMatters offers health care practitioners and nutrition enthusiasts alike the opportunity to create a free profile for access to site features like bookmarking. Enjoying an article you are reading or a video you are watching? Save it to come back to later! Sign up in seconds for continuous access to all that WholisticMatters has to offer.

WholisticMatters also offers health care practitioners who create a free user profile access to exclusive content and tools to utilize in clinical practice. Articles, tools, and downloads created specifically for practitioners to use in their office for better patient education in clinical nutrition and health. Sign up today with your email and credentials so we can confirm you as a health care practitioner, and you are free to peruse the resources unique to you and your colleagues in health.

close
mobile-signup

Create Your Account:

show-pass Please use 8 or more characters with a mix of letters, numbers & symbols
signup-logo
close

Create a free account to use our great bookmarking tool

Once your account is created, you'll be able to save and organize what matters to you!

Already have an Account? Login Here


Click 'Sign Up' above to accept Wholistic Matters's Terms of Service & Privacy Policy.
close

Are you a Healthcare Professional? Sign Up For Free Access!

We'll verify your credentials and get you access to our great interactive tools.

Already have an Account? Login Here


Click 'Sign Up' above to accept Wholistic Matters's Terms of Service & Privacy Policy.