Who hasn’t brought little beads from the outdoors that stick to their clothes? These are the fruits of the cleavers and other bedstraw species, which are attached by small hooks. However, we are interested in herbs today, not fruits, because the herbs of bedstraw human health. Several species of bedstraw tea, especially cleavers tea, are invaluable for urinary tract diseases, stomach aches, intestinal and heart problems, skin diseases, and many more. You can buy this material in pharmacies and specialized shops or harvest and dry it yourself. Let’s see more about cleavers tea benefits, substances of bedstraw overall, and more below.
What Species of Bedstraws Do We Use for Tea?
Some bedstraw species are used for tea. One is the perennial herb yellow bedstraw (or lady’s bedstraw) (Galium verum). The second one is sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum), commonly used to flavor dishes and make herbal teas. The herb hedge bedstraw (Galium mollugo) is also used in herbal mixtures, but less frequently. Nevertheless, cleavers (Galium aparine) receive the most interest in folklore for teas and even coffee substitutes.
In general, you can easily distinguish the bedstraws of the Rubiaceae family by their narrow, 6–12 whorled leaves. They are best known for their globular-shaped fruits. The fruits attach so tightly to clothing that it is barely possible to detach them.
Bedstraws (Galium) are plants that grow approximately 30–90 cm in height with rising or erect stems (we are talking about the most widespread and popular species, suitable for tea). These plants bloom with small, yellow or white, honey-scented flowers and form a dense, broom-shaped inflorescence.
The flowering season is from June to October. They grow in many places: dry meadows, pastures, hillsides, farmlands, woodlands, hedges, etc.
Uses of Bedstraws
Bedstraws have some possible uses, but perhaps the most common use is spice in dishes and beverages. People use sweet woodruff to flavor desserts, cocktails, smoothies, wine, other sweet drinks, jams, and jellies. Bedstraws contain coloring agents such as anthraquinone.
Folk medicine uses yellow bedstraw and cleavers to prepare medicinal tea from dried flowers or herbs. Also, they use prepared dried powder and a green mass of bedstraws to treat wounds and apply them to the skin.
What Are The Substances and Properties of Bedstraw Tea?
Bedstraws have accumulated rather unusual substances, such as the trioxantraglycoside galiosin and the glycoside asperiloside. The herbs also contain substances typical of many plants, such as essential oils, citric and ascorbic acids, tannins, and minerals. Also, there are the unmentioned antioxidants, polyphenols, and flavonoids. Bedstraws also contain coumarin, which has an ambiguous effect. It can be poisonous in some cases (due to its cytotoxic effect), but small quantities are beneficial in cancer or HIV treatment, as an anticoagulant, antibiotic, and liver-protective agent.
The components listed above give the bedstraws anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial (against viruses, bacteria, and microscopic fungi alike), anti-bleeding, diuretic, antioxidant, tonic, antispasmodic, anti-hypoxic, diaphoretic, and sedative properties. Cleavers have particularly potent anti-cancer properties.
Cleaver Tea Benefits and Advantages of Bedstraws
We listed the many components and properties of the bedstraws. Now you can easily guess the purposes and ailments that cleavers tea or other bedstraw teas may treat. These are:
- Lung and respiratory disorders, such as cold symptoms and bacterial inflammation.
- Stomach problems, pains, and inflammations are no obstacle for Lipik tea.
- Liver and gallbladder problems, such as obstructed bile ducts.
- Urinary tract disorders.
- Heart and circulatory problems. Folk people use cleavers tea to purify the blood, strengthen veins, and treat varicose veins, hepatitis, and jaundice. It is useful for maintaining normal blood circulation.
- Nervous system-related problems. The benefits of cleaver tea are likely to reduce the intensity of disorders and discomforts such as nervousness, migraine, restlessness, agitation, nerve pain (neuralgia), hysteria, and sleep disturbances (insomnia).
- Water retention and laziness. Extracts of cleavers and other bedstraws help to remove excess water through the kidneys or by sweating due to their diuretic properties. It also relieves pressure on the chest.
- Skin problems and hemorrhoids. Teas and decoctions are used for these ailments, as well as fresh leaves, which are applied to wounds, hemorrhoids, oedemas, and varicose veins.
- Cancer treatment. Extracts of bedstraws treat cancers, especially those related to the head and neck. Studies show that it also protects mucosal keratinocytes from DNA damage.
Where and How Do I Get The Raw Material for The Cleavers Tea?
First, find a place where cleavers grow abundantly and are not exposed to heavy traffic or pollution. Cut the raw material after the plant has started to flower, on June-July. Dry the stems by spreading them in thin layers in a well-ventilated, shaded area protected from the sun.
Sweet Woodruff Tea Benefits and Its Universal Recipe
People use the sweet woodruff tea to prevent and treat lung, stomach, liver, gall bladder, and urinary tract diseases. They also use it to treat heart disease, purify blood, strengthen weak veins, and cure other circulatory disorders. People experiencing restlessness, agitation, hysteria, and sleep disorders also consume this tea.
To make herbal tea, take 1-2 teaspoons of the sweet woodruff herb in one cup (200 ml) of boiling water and steep for 5-15 minutes. Afterward, strain the tea and drink it. Add a bit of stevia, lemon juice, or honey to this infusion if necessary.
Sweet Woodruff Drink
In addition to tea, syrups, and other sweet desserts, the sweet woodruff is also suitable for slightly stronger drinks (such as liqueur). It is also straightforward to produce yourself at home.
You need:
- 1 kg powdered sugar
- 2 liters of filtered water
- 3 lemons
- 3 teaspoons of citric acid
- 120 g fresh herbs of sweet woodruff
Wash the herbs and dry them on a towel overnight. Cut the leaves off the stem and set aside. Pour the water, citric acid, and sugar into a saucepan and boil until the sugar dissolves. Pour the dissolved syrup into a large bowl; add the sliced lemons and the lime grass. Stir well and leave for 2 days. Strain, bring back to a boil, and pour into sterilized containers. The quantity indicated should make about 2.5 liters of drink.
Please note that coumarins and presented alcohol are unsafe for health, so this drink should be consumed in limited quantities and in moderation.
Yellow Bedstraw Tea for Many Ailments
You already know that bedstraw tea is an essential medicine for kidney, heart, and stomach ailments and removes accumulated fluids. Here we suggest some recipes for making such healthy teas.
- Kidney disease treatment. Pour 1 glass of hot water over 1 tablespoon of yellow bedstraw herbs into a saucepan and boil the mixture for 10-15 minutes. After half an hour, strain the tea. Three times a day 30 minutes before meals drink one-third of a glass of this prepared tea
- Stomach aches and diarrhea. Pour 1 tablespoon of yellow bedstraw over half a liter of hot water and boil. Leave to soak for 4 hours, then strain and drink half a glass 3-4 times a day before meals.
- Reduce leg swelling. Pour a glass of hot water over a tablespoon of yellow bedstraw herb, cover, and leave to soak for 3 hours. Then strain the tea and drink 1/3 glass 2-3 times daily before meals.
Cleavers Tea Benefits: Anti-cancer Agent
We should mention more about cleavers tea benefits. Although it has the most annoying sticking fruits and foliage, perhaps it accumulates the most benefits of all bedstraws. Its preparations support the immune system and have diuretic, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory properties. You can use cleavers tea and decoction for skin diseases, psoriasis, and eczema. Meanwhile, this tea is known for its anti-cancer properties because it helps to produce more lymphocytes and prevents the proliferation of pre-cancerous cells.
Cleavers tea is often made with fresh herb, and requires 1-2 teaspoons per cup. Pour a glass of hot water over this amount and leave to steep for 10 minutes. Drain the herbs and drink the tea.
You can also make a spring tonic smoothie or a fruit cocktail with cleavers. Add 2 glasses of water to a blender, a glass of cleavers herb, half a cup each of chopped fresh pineapple, mango, and frozen banana, and a pinch of chia seeds to decorate the smoothie.
Side Effects of Cleavers Tea and Other Bedstraw Tea
For many people, sweet woodruff tea is considered harmless and almost food. However, we cannot guarantee the same for other bedstraw teas. However, excessive amounts of bedstraw tea or preparations can lead to some health consequences, and incautious use of certain medications can cause quite dangerous health effects.
Bedstraws tea is not suitable:
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women due to insufficient evidence and the presence of coumarin.
- For people with blood clotting problems. Blood preparations slow the formation of clots, increasing the chance of bleeding. Bedstraw preparations should be avoided for 2 weeks before surgery, as they increase the chances of ‘unplanned’ bleeding during and after surgery.
- Patients taking blood-thinning drugs, as can be a significantly dangerous situation due to the likelihood of bleeding. These include medicines such as aspirin, heparin, warfarin, and others.
- Occurring symptoms of poisoning, such as headaches, nausea, and vomiting, when tea or other preparations are overdosed.
To date, a dose of 2-4 g of the herb, taken in 60-120 ml of water and consumed three times a day, is relatively safe.
Sources:
- https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-67/sweet-woodruff
- https://www.rxlist.com/supplements/sweet_woodruff.htm
- https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-145/ladys-bedstraw
- https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/lipikas
- https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/2017/05/sweet-woodruff-cordial
- https://www.verywellhealth.com/cleavers-health-benefits-5084341
- https://www.myhealthyhomemadelife.com/5-ways-use-cleavers-as-a-spring-tonic-spring-foraging
- Laima Noreikaitė, Receptai iš amžių glūdumos. Augalų galia, Leidykla: „Algravė“, Vilnius.
Research:
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.2478/s11535-010-0022-4
- https://www.spandidos-publications.com/or/32/3/1296
- https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/jfpanu/issue/65218/977776
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nagalakshmi-Ramamoorthy/publication/369486624
Associative photos from © Canva.
