Cleavers
Also known as: Galium aparine, Galium spurium, goosegrass, sticky willy, catchweed bedstraw, cleaverwort
Effective Dosage
No established dose
What the Science Says
Cleavers (Galium aparine) is a climbing plant long used in traditional herbal medicine, often marketed for lymphatic support, urinary health, and detoxification. Despite appearing in over 200 registered supplement products, none of the available indexed research papers study its effects in humans. The only relevant scientific literature covers its biology as a weed and its response to herbicides — not its effects as a supplement.
What It Doesn't Do
No clinical evidence it supports lymphatic drainage. No proof it detoxifies the body. No evidence it helps with urinary tract issues or overactive bladder in humans. The 'traditional use' label is not the same as proven effectiveness. Marketing claims about immune support or skin health have zero clinical backing from available research.
Evidence-Based Benefits
Cleavers has been traditionally used for its potential diuretic and detoxifying properties. However, the evidence supporting these claims is primarily based on preliminary studies and observational data, with no large-scale clinical trials to confirm efficacy.
Weak EvidenceEffective at: No established dose
Source: auto-research
Absorption & Bioavailability
Unknown — no human pharmacokinetic or absorption studies found in the provided research data.
Red Flags to Watch For
- Zero clinical trials exist in the indexed literature — any health claims are unsupported by human evidence
- Over 212 supplement products contain this ingredient despite no clinical proof of efficacy or established safe dosing
- Research papers retrieved for this ingredient are entirely unrelated to human health effects of Cleavers as a supplement
- No safety data, drug interaction studies, or toxicology data available from the provided research
- Traditional use claims are not a substitute for clinical evidence — do not use in place of proven treatments
Research Sources
- PubMed
- NIH DSLD
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen. Last updated: 2026-04-06