Clivers, Goosegrass, Yellow Bedstraw, Maid's Hair, Cheese Rennet, Hedge Bedstraw and lady's Bedstraw.

There are several species:

Galium aparine, commonly known as Clivers or Goosegrass, grows in meadows, fields and hedges and reaches a height of 60 - 160 cm. Its leaves are placed in whorls and the flowers are greenish white. The stem is covered with little hooked bristles by which it fastens itself to nearby plants.

Galium verum, the True Bedstraw called also Yellow Bedstraw, Maid's Hair, Cheese Rennet, grows in some parts in higher altitudes and in other parts on dry banks, chiefly near the sea. It has small bright yellow flowers on upright stems and grows to a height of 60 cm. This plant exudes a strong honey-like odour and is best gathered in July.

Galium mollugo, Hedge Bedstraw, has dainty yellow white flowers with a faint honey-like odour. It is found on banks and near paths and is mostly prostrate at the time of flowering.

I want to emphasize again that fresh herbs have a greater medicinal value. Even in winter the fresh shoots of Galium mollugo are found under the dry grass in snow free places.

All three species have similar medicinal qualities and are used the same way.

Bedstraw tea rids the liver, kidney, pancreas and spleen of toxic wastes. When suffering from a disorder of the lymphatic system, one should drink this tea daily. It is also beneficial for anaemia, dropsy and stitch in the side. Used externally this tea is of benefit in many skin disorders, wounds, boils and blackheads. It makes an excellent wash for the face as it tightens the skin. The freshly pressed juice of Bedstraw, brushed on the affected parts of the skin and left to dry, is very beneficial.

In popular medicine Bedstraw is recommended for epilepsy, hysteria, St. Vitus dance, nervous complains, surpressed urine, gravel and stones. For goitre, gargling with this tea throughout the day is effective. A woman told me shad had not only lost the goitre, but her thyroid gland is now also working normally.

Noted botanist, Richard Willfort, in his book "Health through Medicinal Herbs" points out that rinsing with and drinking Bedstraw tea is an excellent remedy for cancer of the tongue, just as the freshly pressed juice mixed with butter is a remedy for cancerous growth and cancer-like skin disorders.

By treating cancer-like growths healing is possible. In recent times there has been an increase in malignant skin disorders that show as dark, sharply outlined rough marks. Presumably it is a question of infection. In this case treatment with fresh juice of Bedstraw and Calendula ointment is successful. Without doubt, a blood cleansing tea of Calendula, Stinging Nettle and Yarrow should be used with it.