Galium aparine for Pisces

Cleavers/Sticky Willy

Galium aparine 

Main use: Lymphatic/Diuretic

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As we near this incredibly releasing full moon in Virgo in Pisces season, I thought I would save the astrological herb of the month to share with you now in this time period.

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Cleavers is a herb that I have worked with regularly over the past couple years--partially because it grows EVERYWHERE all over the island and especially all over my old property we were renting there. It begins to send shoots around late February/ early March on Vancouver Island and the west coast making it a great ally for Pisces season in general. You may know this herb as the weed that sticks to you! It can also get quite scratchy later in the season as the stems become much fibrous then.

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The best time to harvest Cleavers is in it's early growth season (aka NOW). Most of the medicinal qualities are best when fresh and best consumed by juicing it. Hence why it goes great with Pisces cleanse season--it has a very grassy/earthy taste to it, and goes well with juiced with fresh nettle which pops up on Vancouver Island around this time as well (sometimes.. depending on if there has been a mild winter). It has been suggested by my teachers to, instead of drying it, to freeze it if you are wanting to store it (as again it's lymphatic action is much better fresh and loses it's moistening qualities once dried). It loves growing in dense coniferous forests and loves growing around Douglas fir trees.

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Medicinally, this is my FAVOURITE lymphatic herb. It's not a strong one by any means, but it's great for someone who is sensitive (emotionally and physically) that can't handle intense cleanses on the system. It's like a gentle tickle to the lymphatic system and helps drain out stored and excess fluid within the body through it's diuretic action. Because it's great at doing this, it can also assist in draining things like cysts in the body. Not only will it drain excess fluids, it also brings fluids into the body of someone who has trouble holding water in their system as it's an incredibly moistening and water filled herb. You can sense this by eating it fresh, it excretes an earthy flavoured juice when chewing. If you have ever tried drying this herb, you would have realized how it takes awhile to actually dry because it holds so much water. So in a way.. it almost has a water balancing action on the body.. it understands if you have too much or too little water and corrects it. It's also a very cooling plant.. which can aid those who are prone to "heat" conditions--such as irritated inflammation, congested liver, or gastric ulcers. It's energetics are moistening and cooling to the body.

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In history, this plant was known to be a great choice for those who hold on too much water weight. It was a common herb used for overweight individuals. Nicolas Culpepper stated that it will "keep those lean and lank that are apt to grow fat".

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The doctrine of signatures of this plant are very easy to spot to the keen eye! When the leaves are young, they almost have a lopsided look to them.. they look like chubby little lobes. This reminds me of what severe water retention can look like sometimes on a body.. where one area of the body bulges due to that water retention. The stickiness of the plants relates to our "attachments". Thus, this plant has been used for the personality that is prone to being a "clingy" individual--having trouble to separate themselves from those they attach themselves to. It's as if this plant "washes away" their attachment--cleansing them of their neediness and allowing them to "let go" through the release of urine (it's diuretic properties".

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This is why I feel this plant is GREAT for a Pisces individual. Pisces rules the lymphatic system in medical astrology and can be prone to pathologies like edema and water retention. Pisces is also the last sign of the zodiac and it's a water sign. Pisces has gone through learning how to be comfortable with their own emotions, how to share it with their close relationships, and now they are learning the capacity to feel everybodys' emotions--filling themselves up with so much emotions--and learning the need to let go of what is not theirs to carry. In ancient medical systems, emotions are related to the element of water. In astrology, it's also known that Pisces are the most prone sign to getting in cycles of toxic relationships since they are such a giving and self sacrificing sign. They can feel "karmically bound" to certain relationships and have trouble letting them go. Working with a plant like cleavers can help release these karmic connections, bringing the emotions attached to these people along with it.

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As we encroach on this upcoming full moon, this is the plant I encourage anyone to work with that may be struggling to let go of the world we once knew, karmic ties that no longer serve you, and the version of yourself that you no longer relate to. This is the ultimate full moon of "letting go" and of processing your emotions. The ultimate release of your watery emotions in order to emerge stronger into this upcoming masculine led cycle we will be entering.

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If you are lucky to live on the west coast, spend time going on a walk this full moon in the woods looking for cleavers to munch on. Maybe harvest some and blend it up in your morning smoothy or juicing. Some people will even blend it and put them in ice cube trays to add into their water every day. Try to tune into the medicine. Come to it with intention and ask it what you would like it to clear. I recommend if you do harvest this, to blend it and drink it every day for the next couple weeks for it to work some of it's lymphatic and gentle liver cleansing action upon your body. To clear out the emotional and physical stagnation of winter. To rehydrate your system with new/vital water. 

Love Syd

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