Real bedstraw is known by a wide variety of names. Among them are love herb, limb herb, love bedstraw, yellow forest straw and yellow bedstraw. Used to this day, the herb is used in various fields.
Occurrence and cultivation of the true bedstraw.
The flowering period of the plant is between May and September, and it is found mainly in Eurasia. The botanical name of the bedstraw is Galium verum. It comes from the redbud family (Rubiaceae). The plant can grow between 20 and 70 centimeters tall and is herbaceous. In rare cases, the plant reaches a height of one meter. The stems of bedstraw are hairy and have four raised ridges on the upper edge. The leaves of the plant are only about one millimeter wide, but grow up to 25 millimeters long. The flowers of bedstraw are small and have a golden yellow color. They are arranged in panicle-like inflorescences and give off a honey-like fragrance. It is a bee forage plant. The crown has the shape of a wheel, while its end is pointed. The flowering period of the plant is between May and September, and it is found mainly in Eurasia. It is especially common in rough grasslands and pastures, roadsides, scrubby margins and bog meadows. West of the Weser River, the herb is rather rare in the lowlands, being scattered to the east. In the Alps, on the other hand, it is found up to the limits of arable land. It predominantly colonizes calcareous, dry and nutrient-poor loess or clay soils.
Effect and application
Gallium species contain the so-called rennet ferment. This is used to precipitate the milk protein in cheese production. Some cheeses still use the rennet ferment today, while other varieties require other sources of rennet ferment. English Chester cheese, for example, is still made with rennet today. The flower pigments give the cheese its orange-yellow color and are responsible for its distinctive taste. In addition, in Scotland the common rennet is still used today as a coloring agent. The flowers dye yellow, while the roots contain a red dye. The plant is also suitable for coloring and flavoring drinks. Another use of bedstraw is in the cultivation of a wild plant garden. Here it serves as an ornamental plant and can be propagated by root runners. In the past, the fragrant plants were used as mattress hay or in coffins. The fruits can even be roasted and used as a coffee substitute. In the kitchen, bedstraw is used in salads or vegetable pans. The flowers and seeds, but also young shoots are processed. The flowers are also often used to decorate salads. In addition, the herb is used in folk medicine. It contains flavonoids, chlorogenic acids, traces of anthraquinone derivatives and iridoid glycosides. In addition, lactic coagulating proteins and essential oils are also present in the freshly harvested herb. Although the bedstraw is rather unknown as a medicinal plant, it performs well in the field. Especially for the skin and digestion the plant is used. Especially the flowering herb is used, which can be prepared as fresh juice on the one hand and in dried form as tea on the other hand. Both the juice and the tea can be used externally or internally. In addition to the common bedstraw, the burdock bedstraw is also used, whereby the common bedstraw is said to have a higher healing power. Meadow bedstraw, on the other hand, hardly still has a healing effect, but can also be used first in an emergency.
Health significance, treatment and prevention.
The effect of the herb on health is far-reaching. Thus, bedstraw has various positive effects on the human body and mind. As a rule, the fresh plant should be used, as it loses some of its active ingredients in the dried state. In folk medicine, the herb is recommended for nervous disorders, urinary retention, semolina and various stone complaints. It is also said to help against epilepsy and hysteria. Already in ancient Greece and Rome it was used against poisoning caused by snake and spider bites. Hippocrates and Dioscorides already used the herb as a medicinal plant and also in the early modern times, bedstraw was praised as a remedy by the botanist and physician Hieronymus Bock. Gargling with bedstraw tea is also said to be effective against goiter.In addition, its cleansing effect on the kidneys, pancreas, liver and spleen. It is also recommended against side stitches and pallor. The tea is also said to help against wounds, boils, blackheads and skin diseases. Apart from that, in folk medicine it was also used against earache. Processed into ointment, bedstraw can additionally be used against aging skin. Homeopathy uses bedstraw for various areas of the skin and mucous membranes, as well as for the urinary tract. In incense mixtures, it is said to dispel nervousness and fatigue and to have aphrodisiac and antispasmodic effects. Occasionally, bedstraw is also used against poorly healing wounds. As a poultice, it can help close wounds, but can also be used against swelling. Thus, the herb has antispasmodic, expectorant, nerve calming, diuretic and blood purifying properties. Due to its antiviral and antibacterial effects, it is also used for inflammations. Apart from that, it is stone-dissolving and, according to recent research, is also said to be anti-cancer. In the University of Würzburg, the effect of extracts in cancer therapy is being researched. So far, no side effects of the herb are known, which is why it can be used in moderation without hesitation against various ailments. There are no exact dosage instructions. Nevertheless, in case of uncertainty, an alternative practitioner or doctor should be consulted.
