Botanical: Galium aparine
Family: Rubiaceae (madder)
Other common names: Grip Grass, Lady's Bedstraw, Sticky Willy, Cleavers, Catch Weed, Bedstraw

Goose Grass is considered one of the best cleansing tonics known that helps to rid the body of toxins and purify the blood, the lymphatic system and kidneys.  The herb has been used to alleviate inflammatory urinary diseases, relieve swollen and enlarged lymph glands, expel stones and gravel, and generally help cleanse the system when the body is failing to rid itself of pollutants.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

History:
Goose Grass is one of several species of evergreen shrubs and trees that are native to Eurasia and the Americas, with wide distribution worldwide.  It is a weak-stemmed, sprawling annual that bears whorls of prickly, lance-shaped leaves on a square stem and small white flowers, which produce tiny, bristled fruits that often catch or cleave to passing animals, hence, earning the plant one of its other names, Cleavers, and also another common name, Catch Weed.  It is an ornamental plant that thrives in moist, well-drained, neutral-to-alkaline soil in shade and forms a dense, prickly mat over nearby plants, sometimes growing to a height of five feet.  Goose Grass's botanical name, Galium, is derived from the Greek word, gala, which means "milk" and is supposed to relate to the fact that the plant has the ability to curdle milk, which was beneficial in the making of cheese.  The plants are cut when flowering, and the whole plant with seeds are used in herbal medicine.  It is a relative of coffee, and when lightly roasted, may be used as a caffeine-free coffee substitute, and it may also be brewed into a refreshing tea with strong purifying tonic properties.  Aside from Goose Grass's medicinal uses as a cleanser for the lymph glands, kidneys and blood, the cooked shoots and young plants are considered a nourishing vegetable dish; in fact, in China, it is even considered a weight-reducing vegetable.  When used commercially for non-medical purposes, a red dye can be extracted from the root and, perhaps, a more valuable application for Goose Grass is its longtime use in cheese making, particularly in Cheshire, England, where some of the finest cheeses are made.  Some of the constituents in Goose Grass include a high quantity of vitamin C (in citric acid), asperuloside (which produces coumarin and gives the plant its sweet smell of new mown hay as the foliage dries), tannins and glycosides.

Beneficial Uses:
Goose Grass acts as a purifying tonic that cleanses and rids the body of toxins in several ways.  It is said to act extensively on the lymphatic system and be effective in removing and draining poisons and trapped bacteria from the lymph glands and help relieve glandular fever, swollen or enlarged lymph glands (lymphadenitis), adenoids and tonsillitis.

Further supporting its role in purifying the system, Goose Grass acts as a diuretic, and as such, the herb promotes an increased urine flow and helps to rid the kidneys and bladder of gravel and stones, helps clear the urinary tract of various infections, (such as cystitis), alleviates prostate disorders and treats other acute and inflammatory urinary diseases.

Goose Grass is considered a diaphoretic that stimulates perspiration and sweating, which not only cools the body and lower fevers, but also helps to expel toxic wastes through the skin.  All the above combined actions also work to purify the blood and are said to be effective when the body is failing to rid itself of pollutants.  These qualities may be responsible for the herb's use to clear skin conditions when it is used internally, and when it is used topically, it is said to benefit eczema, psoriasis, ulcers, minor injuries and other skin inflammations.

The coumarin content in Goose Grass is considered to have blood-thinning properties, which may have a beneficial effect in reducing blood pressure and platelet aggregation (blood clotting).  This quality might be very beneficial in the prevention of arteriosclerosis, strokes and heart attacks.

Goose Grass's high vitamin C content was once used to treat scurvy and is still thought to be helpful in cases where there is a vitamin C deficiency.

Goose Grass has an historic application for treating cysts, tumors and benign breast lumps, perhaps because of its ability to drain the lymphatic system and detoxify tissue.

Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) capsules, one (1) to two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Contraindications:
Currently, there are no known warnings or contraindications with the use of Goose Grass.

Capsule Size:
We use only 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" capsules for all of our encapsulated products. (click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 600 mgs of powdered herb material.

• Goose Grass (sold as Cleavers) - Botanical Powder -- Approximately 600 mgs each