[Herbalist] Re: goose grass / cleavers

[Carol / Isrith]

Goosegrass has several uses today, as it did in period.
It can be used: ~
internally as a "spring tonic" to purify the blood,
was once used as a scald and burn remedy,
for skin aliments such as blisters, sores, etc.
was being used in the early 20th century to combat cancer from both within and without the body,
I seem to remember it's also good for the lymphatic system.

Pliny says says it's good for losing weight (cooked in a kind of stew/broth with mutton),
Gerard says it's good for snake bites, spider bites, etc.
Culpeper says it's good for earache.

Look for it in texts under some of its other common names:
Cleavers, Clivers, Barweed, Robin-run-in-the-grass, Goosebill, Catchweed, Grip Grass.
Heyryt, Cosgres, Clive and Tonguebleed.
Ancient Greeks called it "Philanthropon" (anglicized form of this is Loveman).
It's said a red dye can be obtained from the roots (I've yet to try it).

It's related to Lady's Bedstraw, Madder, and Sweet Woodruff.

I use it as an important ingredient in my unguents.

~ Isrith.



rachel-wellman at another.com wrote:

> --
> Greetings,
> Does anyone know of any medical use of goose grass, which is also calles cleavers? was it used in medieval europe? Has anyone tried it?