Many weeds are medicinal to humans and... to landscapes. Weeds remediate toxic soil, break up compacted earth, create habitat for insects and animals and make the environment suitable for more sensitive plants. While the invasiveness of some of these plant species is often focused on, we are acutally the reason they’ve shown up. Weeds present us a mirror: they show us our imbalance- both in our bodies and in the environments we create.

Cleavers, Galium aparine: AKA Bedstraw

Cleavers restores the landscape by having the incredible power to pull heavy metal from soil and been used specifically to draw out cadmium from contaminated farm land. Wowza.

For the humans, Cleavers make a bomb lymphatic tonic. Interesting resonance between what Cleavers does for the soil and our bodies, no?

Moderate use of tonic herbs are usually nutrient dense, and pretty dang safe and good for a lot of different folks. Cleavers help clear out winter stagnation. Got that dry, inflamed, built up/backed up kinda feel? Think: post two-week long cold. Cleavers soothe, cool and clear.

You can juice the herb and add a shot glass full to your morning smoothie. Or make a springtime tonic cordial for the upcoming summertime Bloody Marys.

You'll need: