Cleavers is an annual plant. The plant is divided by nodes and internodes. It has a grooved, crooked, thin stem that stretches 60-150cm in length. The plant is covered with hairs. The leaves are placed on the nodes of the stems, 6 pieces per bunch. Flowers white or slightly greenish.

The fruit is dry, almost spherical. Its surface is covered with hook-like hairs. It blooms from June to October.

Commonly found on roadsides, undergrowth, bushes, riverbanks, sown as a weed. The plant is common all over the world.

The name of the plant is related to its peculiarity of grasping everything that is near it. In the spring, after the starchy food of the winter, it is valuable to drink Cleavers tops tea (fresh plant). It helps to cleanse the body. In ancient times, Cleavers seeds were dried and roasted and used as a substitute for coffee.

The extracts of the above-ground part of the plant are used to rinse the hair to strengthen the hair roots and avoid dandruff.

For medicinal purposes, the above-ground part of the plant is collected, which is collected during the flowering period. Dry on sieves, in a well-ventilated and shady place. The drug is stored for up to one year.

Saponins, iridoids, anthraquinones, vitamin K, vitamin C and dyes have been found in the roots of Cleavers . Flavonoids, iridoids and vitamins were found in the surface part.

Medicinal significance

In official medicine, decoctions of the root and surface part of Cleavers are used as a diuretic, hypotensive, and anti-bleeding agent. The plant has certain antibacterial, antifungal, antitumor properties.

Cleavers is used both orally and externally in case of various skin rashes, furuncles, and malignant tumors. The plant is also used to treat scrofula, as well as inflammation and edema of the urinary bladder, as a diuretic. Cleavers is also used to stop bleeding and as an antipyretic.

In folk medicine, a decoction of the roots of Cleavers is used in case of kidney stones. Decoctions, infusions and fresh juice are used as a diuretic in case of ascites, as a pain-relieving, anti-tumor, temperature-reducing agent, as well as in liver diseases.

Cleavers is most often used for the following diseases: neuroblastoma, menstrual cycle disorders, epilepsy, kidney cancer, angina, liver cancer, pneumonia, stomach cancer, rheumatism, jaundice, acute respiratory diseases, ulcers, tuberculosis, weakened immunity, depression, migraine.

In the north, Cleavers is used as a decoction, as an anti-fever, choleretic, diuretic, blood-purifying, bleeding-stopping and pain-relieving agent. Edema, scurvy, epilepsy, gonorrhea and obesity are treated with fresh juice. It's good until the wounds heal. The powder, juice and decoction will be useful in scarlet fever, intestinal colic, cancer of the mammary glands, rheumatism and kidney diseases.

Not recommended for use

The plant has strong astringent properties. It is associated with a high tannin content. Therefore, this plant is used for two weeks, two rests. The juice of the plant has strong diuretic properties, so people with diabetes should be very careful.

Cleavers is a weakly poisonous plant, so you have to be careful with its use, it should not be used by pregnant women, nursing mothers and small children.