National Herb Week: Cleavers – a Weed with Benefits
by Christy Caplan
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May 6, 2016 
In celebration of National Herb Week I’ve decided to talk about a very popular herb in our household. What I love about Cleavers is they grow as wild weeds throughout the neighborhood and I catch Walter chewing on it while we’re out for walks.
I lived with a dog, Sandola, and she was the first dog I’ve lived with that naturally ate Cleavers on walks. I was curious so I brought the herb to our Holistic Vet that provide the dogs with their herbs and tinctures to find out more – about this sticky, weed. I also knew that Cleavers found its way into many of the tinctures Becky made for Bruiser, our dog with Irritable Bowel Disease and we had briefly discussed the benefits but I needed a refresher. And it prefers moist climates which is why we see it a lot here in the Pacific Northwest. They’re part of the Galium genus.
What are the benefits of this weed?
- According to the book, Herbs for Pets, written by Gregory Tilford and by go to resource outside of our holistic vet: the primary medicinal activities include helps with blood cleansing, diuretic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, heals wounds
- Strongest affinities: Lymph system, urinary tract and skin
- Preparation: Juice, tincture, or tea of the fresh plant
- Cleavers is used in any condition that is characterized by general or localized swelling. It is also thought to increase lymphatic flow throughout the body tissues.
- It’s a safe herb with no contraindications.
Do you use any herbs with your dogs? Do you dogs ever munch on herbs that grow near where you walk?
Resources:
National weed week? I had no idea!
Fun right! I’m trying to soak in all this herb knowledge from our vet!
Mr. N does not believe in eating vegetables. He includes herbs in that category.
Love that N does NOT prefer veggies – let’s sneak in some herbs!
great to know! we have a fussy tummy here…
So does Bruisy and our vet adds Cleavers into this tincture so perhaps worth checking out!
Interesting! I think I’ve seen that growing in my parent’s yard but I never knew what it was before. My dogs don’t eat herbs growing outside but one of them is obsessed with eating grass.
One of my dogs also eats grass ALL the time.
I’d never heard of Cleavers before, but I definitely recognize them. Thank you for sharing their benefits with us.
Thanks! It looks like one of the herbs that has quite a few benefits!
I’ve never heard of this week, I wonder if it goes by a different name in Australia?
*weed* not week!
You know, that’s so interesting as it may only grow in the US!
Interesting and am going to read more, I disguise veggies by putting them in the blender and mixing with the food and broth 🙂
I also personally do NOT love veggies so the dogs eat better than me, clearly
I think that I’ve seen this growing wild too. Very interesting. ☺
Thanks! I’m learning all sorts of things from our vet when she prepares her tinctures for our guys.
Look at that, didn’t know about this one!
There are so many! That herb book is overwhelming…
What a great holiday! Weed Week! I didn’t even know this existed!
Love all these cool herbs and weeds!
How interesting! I have never heard of Cleavers before, but you have me curious! My dogs do love to munch on grass and even veggies in the garden so…
I bet there are so many things our dogs know about these herbs that we’re just learning!
That is so fascinating! I always love learning more about holistic approaches for our dogs!
Same! There is so much behind all these herbs and their benefits!
How interesting! Who knew weeds had a benefit! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! I’ll post about another later this month!
Great post! A little green goes a long way 🙂
Agreed! Weeds – can be beneficial!
I think there’s a saying that goes “One man’s weed is another man’s wildflower” or something like that. I’ve never heard of Cleavers but it looks really familiar. We have two new herbal vets in town and I’m working on getting Piper some herbal treatments for her allergies so I will definitely be asking about Cleavers.
Oh – let me know how it goes! Our vet makes up an anxiety tincture for Sherm and then one for Bruisy who has IBD and they WORK.
I never realized a weed could be beneficial for dogs.
Cats too for sure!!
Interesting and good to know!
Thanks!
Weed week!!? I had no idea!
I’ll write about more herbs in the coming weeks!
Huh! How about that! I love herbs and will definitely see if there’s a chance it will survive here in Ontario.
Cool, I think it’s cool and moist so perhaps Ontario is perfect for Cleavers!
I have seen these before, but never knew the name. I’m pretty sure my dogs have nibbled on them. Now that I know about them, I’ll let my dogs enjoy them!
They certainly should! It can only help!
I had never heard of Cleavers. Sounds great. I’ll keep an eye out – I get swelling so I wonder if works on humans too LOL. Kilo does not tend to eat plants on our walks.
I bet we benefit as well – funny that I’m learning about pet herbs but not human herbs — I need to look into this…
Interesting, I haven’t heard of Cleavers but I’m always looking for new herbs to grow in my garden. Have you tried it yourself? What does it taste like?
Cleavers will grow quickly – it’s literally a weed up here in Oregon. I have not tried it myself but our vet said I could make tea anytime!
Great info! I had never heard of Cleavers before. Pinning this post!
Thank you!
I never heard of this herb before. I would love to do a small indoor garden of sorts with herbs.
I love the idea of the indoor garden so much — you’ve inspired a post!
That is a really cool discovery! Nature holds so many great healers. It is great that Clevers grow so easily. I like herbs to be as fresh as they can be, but I have a brown thumb!
That’s awesome and I also have a brown thumb – I’ll post more later this month!
I’ve never heard of Cleavers! If #Finndawg can’t get to the pet grass, he helps himself to our strawberry leaves… I must check they are OK for him. Will also see if Cleavers occur in Australia… I suspect our climate is too dry.
Oh that’s so interesting — I bet he likes those Strawberry leaves! Yes, definitely check and I also wonder if Cleavers are native to the Us!
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