🌿 Meet the Plants: Cleavers

A Gentle Tangle for Lymph and Spring Renewal

I always know spring is truly here when cleavers begins to weave her way across the hedgerows and garden edges, wrapping her fine green threads around anything in her path. Her arrival is subtle at first, slender stems creeping low like a green whisper then suddenly she's everywhere, clinging to pant legs and the fur of my curious animals. I find her most often along the fence lines and under trees, where the soil is cool and damp. Her presence feels like a nudge to get moving, to shake off the winter stagnation, and to clear out what no longer serves.

 A Glimpse into Her History

Cleavers (Galium aparine) has long been known by many names: Goosegrass, Bedstraw, Clivers and Sticky Willy. Its clingy nature inspired old stories about how it latches onto what needs to be pulled away, be it physical or emotional. In Old World traditions, cleavers were gathered in spring and infused in cool water to make a cleansing tonic, thought to purify the blood and invigorate the lymphatic system after a long, sluggish winter.

The plant was also once used to stuff mattresses; hence the name “bedstraw” and its seeds were roasted as a wild coffee substitute. Its sticky personality made it a natural children’s toy too, tossed onto jackets and hair with mischievous delight.

🌿 Herbal & Traditional Uses

• Lymphatic support - helps to move and decongest lymph

• Urinary tonic - gentle diuretic that soothes and supports kidney and bladder function

• Skin clearing - traditionally used for acne, eczema, and other eruptive conditions

• Cooling and moistening energetics - ideal for hot, inflamed states

• Emotional cleansing - associated with releasing old attachments and emotional stagnation

• Common preparations - fresh juice, cold infusion, tincture (fresh plant), poultice, or added to spring vinegars

"She clings, not to burden, but to show us what is ready to be released."

🧴 Why I Work With Her in My Apothecary

Cleavers is one of my personal springtime staples. I gather her fresh, blend her into a vibrant juice, and freeze it into ice cube trays to add to morning smoothies, a cool green tonic to nourish the lymph and skin. While she isn’t in my shop just yet, a fresh tincture is in the works and will be added soon.

Harvesting her feels like gathering a green net of vitality-cool, slightly sticky, filled with life.

⚠️ Myth vs. Truth or Safety Notes

Cleavers is considered very safe and gentle for most people, especially when used fresh. Because it is cooling and moistening, it may not be ideal for those with cold/damp constitutions in excess.
Tincture is best made from the fresh plant as cleavers loses potency when dried.

☀️ Working with the Plant Spirit

Cleavers teaches the art of gentle release. She reminds us that it’s okay to cling, for a time until it’s time to let go. Her presence can be especially helpful during seasonal transitions or times of emotional decluttering.

Simple Practice:
Place a few sprigs of fresh cleavers in a bowl of cool water. Set it somewhere peaceful, like a kitchen counter or windowsill. In the morning, gently splash a little over your neck or chest and take a deep breath. Let it be a moment of reset, a quiet invitation to lighten your load for the day ahead.

Affirmation:
“I release what no longer serves. I flow freely into the season ahead.”

✨ Final Thoughts

Cleavers is the whisper of movement returning to still places. I’m grateful for her every spring-for her medicine, her mischief, and her reminder to untangle gently. Keep an eye on my offerings at Willow Moon, cleavers tincture is coming soon.

 Recipes & Formulas

Fresh Cleavers Juice Cubes

• 2-3 cups fresh cleavers (harvested early in the day)

• ½ cup filtered water
  Blend until smooth. Strain through cheesecloth if desired. Pour into ice cube trays and freeze. Add 1-2 cubes to smoothies or cool herbal drinks for a springtime lymph tonic.

Cleavers Cold Infusion

• Large handful of fresh cleavers

• 1 quart cool water
  Let steep overnight in the refrigerator. Strain in the morning and sip throughout the day for gentle cleansing and hydration.

Spring Skin Tonic Vinegar

• Fresh cleavers, violet leaf, chickweed, and dandelion greens (roughly equal parts)

• Apple cider vinegar
  Fill a jar halfway with the fresh herbs, then cover with vinegar. Let steep for 2-4 weeks, strain, and use as a mineral-rich splash for salads or a skin tonic when diluted with water.

Fresh Plant Tincture

• Fresh cleavers, chopped

• 100 proof alcohol or blend of vodka and water
  Fill a jar with cleavers and just cover with alcohol. Steep 4-6 weeks, shaking daily. Strain and store in a dark bottle. Typical dose: 1-2 mL, 2-3x/day in water (consult your herbalist).

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🌿 Image Use Notice
Many of the images on this blog are my own original photography, taken during my herbal work and seasonal wanderings. Others are drawn from a licensed image library. All photos are shared here for inspiration and education only, please do not copy, download, or reuse any images without written permission. Thank you for honoring the time, energy, and spirit woven into this space.