Agropyron repens - Couch Grass

I find that this herb has a bit of a 'forgetful' relationship with me. It's tremendously helpful for the urinary system and for kidney health, but so often when I feel I've tried everything else for a client I think..."oh wait!...I haven't tried couch grass!". It sneaks into my mind and gently reminds me that its there and ready to help. I've used it on clients with a variety of issues, though the most poignant was a client with kidney failure as part of their daily herbal formulation. Along with other herbs, I partnered it with 

nettle seed. I've found these two together to be quite an impressive combination for all things kidney, but specifically in issues with chronic kidney inflammation.

I hope you enjoy this little monograph.

In health and wellness,
​- Petra

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General and Historical Info:

• In Europe its distribution extends from Siberia, southward to Northern Africa.
• Considered a pest/weed by most farmers.
• The spikes resemble wheat or rye when in bloom, reaching heights of 1 to 3 feet.
• Culpeper states “An acre of couch grass is worth 10 acres of carrots”
• This is the grass to which a dog is said to go instinctively when the dog is sick, hence “dog grass”.
• Also found in Northern Asia, Australia, and North and South America
• Its name “couch” is supposed to be derived from the Anglo-saxon civice or qwice (vivacious/full of life), on account for its tenacity for life.

• The name “agropyron” is from the Greek “agros” field, and “puros” wheat.
• Couch grass was classified as Triticum by the older botanists, and appears under this name in older/historic herbal literature.

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Common Names:
Couch Grass, Quack Grass, Cooch Grass, Twitch, Dog Grass, Quick Grass, Durfa Grass, Scotch Quelch, Triticum, Quecke (German), Chiendent (French), Grama (Spanish), Caprinella (Italian).

Family: Graminaceae
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Parts Used: Rhizome (Dried), seeds

• Only the long, slender, jointed, creeping rhizome, devoid of rootlets is collected.
• Store in an airtight container because it readily absorbs moisture.
• Should be unearthed in spring or early autumn. Wash it carefully and dry in sun or shade

​Actions:
Anti-bacterial, Anti-microbial, Diuretic, Demulcent, Tonic Diuretic, Aperient,              Catarrhal (General), Anti-Inflammatory, Laxative, Urinary Antiseptic, Nutritive    Emollient, Anti-Cholesterol, Remedy for dryness and atrophy, Antibiotic, Uricosuric  

Chemical Constituents:

• Polysaccharides
  • Triticin
• Mucilage
• Saponins
• Soluble silicic acid
• Potassium
• Inositol
• Mannitol
• Glycoside
• Vitamin C
• Carotene
• Inulin
• Flavonoids

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What are its Uses?

Head, Ears, Eyes, Nose, and Throat:

• Restore poor eye sight (Folk Medicine, as a tea)
• For individuals always blowing the nose
• Chronic catarrh
• Sore throat and tonsillitis when combined with Sage and Pennyroyal
• Laryngitis
• Bronchitis

Integumentary System (Skin):

• Chronic skin disorders
• Eczema, chronic wet or dry
• Ulcers, cuts, and wounds

Nervous System:

• Strengthening to the nervous system

 
Respiratory System:

• Tubercular lungs (Folk Medicine, as a tea)
• Bronchitis

 
Digestive System:

• Jaundice (Folk Medicine, as a tea)
• Stomach stimulant
• General liver health
• Vomiting
• Worms in children, kills and expels (combined with wormwood)
• Topically for peptic ulcers (hot/moist pack of heated seeds)

 
Excretory System:

• Relieves constipation (Aperient)

Urinary/Renal System:

• Urinary infections
• Cystitis
• Urethritis
• Its demulcent properties soothe irritation and inflammation
• Kidney stones – supposedly  possesses remarkable stone-dissolving properties
• Kidney gravel
• “Lessening the frequency and pain in cases of excessive irritation of the bladder from any cause” – Dr. Thompsom
• Incipient nephritis
• Uncontrollable urination (Folk Medicine, as a tea)
• General kidney and bladder health
• Uric acid solvent
• Renal colic
• Catarrhal diseases of the bladder
• Irritation of the urinary passages
• Remedy for heat and irritation of the kidneys and bladder from ancient times down to the present
• Strengthening to urinary sphincters
• By increasing water passing through the renal tract it decreases heat and irritation
• Dilates the renal capillaries, thus allowing more water through and decongesting the kidneys
• Renal sedative
• Does not cause the kidneys to work harder (filter more blood), but opens up the tubules
• Soothes the injured membrane of the urinary tract
• Pain and straining of urination
• Passage of scanty, bloody urine
• Lack of free secretion from the kidneys
• Incontinence, dribbling
• Kidney disease with drain on the nervous system and enfeeblement
• Albuminuria, glomerulonephritis; frequent and scanty urination, burning and scaling in the urinary tract, heavy dull aching pains in the regions of the kidneys
• Nephritis

Endocrine System (Hormones):

• Stimulates the metabolism and harmonizes its process.

 
Cardiovascular System:

• Chest Pain (Folk Medicine, as a tea)
• Formerly the decoction of couch-grass roots was a popular drink taken to purify the blood in spring.

 
Circulatory System:

• Blood purifier
• Reduction of cholesterol
• Ability to assist in controlling high blood sugar

Immune/Lymphatic System:

• Fever (Folk Medicine, as a tea)
• Fevers when the urine is dark and scanty and there is thirst
• General spleen health
• Chronic, swollen lymph

 
Reproductive System:

• Used primarily in the treatment of prostate diseases
• Benign tumors of the prostate gland
• Prostitis/Inflammation of the prostate
• Syphilis (Folk Medicine, as a tea)
• Female corrective agent (Folk Medicine, as a tea)

Musculoskeletal System:

• Couchgrass has been used with other herbs in the treatment of rheumatism (Folk Medicine, as a tea) 
• Arthritis
• Gout
• Lumbago (Pain in the muscles and joints of the lower back, Folk Medicine, as a tea)
• “It will relieve the constant ache in the back, which is due to precipitation of the crystalline secreted products within the tubules of the kidneys by furnishing abundant water for their solution. It flushes the kidneys, as it were, when renal sand has accumulated within the pelvis. Under these circumstances it is one of our most useful remedies” - Ellingwood

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Herbal Pharmacy

The below information is meant as educational and informative only, do not self dose, please see an appropriate practitioner to discuss current issues and any medications you may be taking.

Combinations:

• For cystitis, urethritis, and prostatitis it may be used with Buchu, Bearberry, or Yarrow
• For prostate problems it can be combined with Hydrangea
• For chronic gonorrhea it can be combined with Motherwort, Sandalwood, and Buchu
• For non-operative enlarged prostate it can be combined with Fringe Tree and Saw Palmetto
• For rheumatism complicated with prostatic involvement it can be combined with Motherword, Scurvy grass (Caclearia officinalis) and Black Cohosh.
• For Kidney and Bladder can be combined with Buchu, Wild Carrot, Bearsfoot,  and Alfalfa

Misc:

• Oral administration of couch grass infusion demonstrated the following results in a calcium oxalate urolithiasis model: a decrease in citraturia when combined with a high carbohydrate diet and an increase in calciuria and decrease in magnesiuria when combined with a standard diet – Grases F et al: J Ethnoparmacol 45(3):211-214, 1995

 

• In Germany, the Commission E supports using couch grass with copious fluid intake to treat inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract and for preventing kidney gravel – Blumenthal M et al, editors: The complete German Commission E monographs: therapeutic guide to herbal medicines, Austin, 1998, American Botanical Council.

Max Doses:
Max Daily Dose: 3 to 6ml of 1:1 LE (1:1 @ 25%)
Max Weekly Dose:  1:1 @ 25% 20 to 40ml

Application:
Infusion

• 1oz of couch grass to 1 pint of boiling water, steep 20 min. and given in wine glassful doses every 2 hr.
  

Decoction:

• 1 teaspoon of the crushed herb to 1 cup boiling water, bid to tid.
• Put 2 teaspoons of the cut rhizome in a cup of water, bring to a boil and let simmer for 10 mintes. Drink tid.
• 1oz of the herb in 1 point boiling water, until reduced to ¾ pint. 10 to 20 drops in eater 2 or more times a day.
• 2 to 3 teaspoons to each cup water, gently summer 5 minutes drink d. to bid.
• 2 to 4oz in a quart of water and reducing down to a pint by boiling.
• 2 to 3 tsp per cup, simmer 5 min, drink 1 to 2 cups tid.
• 2 tsp per cup, simmer 10 min, drink 1 cup tid.

Tincture:

• 3 to 6ml tid
• 1:5 @ 40% 5 to 15ml (1 to 3 teaspoons)
• 1:5 @ 40% 2 to 4ml tid
• 1:5 @ 25% 5 to 10ml tid
• Tincture of couch grass alone, 10 to 20 drops in water two or more times a day

Liquid/Fluid Extract:

• 1:1 @ 25% 4 to 8ml
• 1:1 @ 25% 2 to 6ml d.
• Of the liquid extract ½ to 2 teaspoons in water.

Powder:

• 1 teaspoon to a glass of tepid water, stirred, and drunk always before meals.
• 250mg in capsules; 3 capsules tid.

Dried Rhizome:

• 4 to 8g tid   

Further Commentary

• Specifically, one of the most important symptoms for the prescribing of couch grass is a burning sensation and constant desire to urinate.
• In pharmacy, used as a tablet binder.
• On sandy seashores, the grass is often very abundant and assists in binding the sand and preventing the dunes from shifting.
• Though commonly regarded in this country as a troublesome weed, its roots are, however, considered on the Continent to be wholesome food for cattle and horses.
• The roots have a sweet taste, somewhat resembling licorice.
• Dried and ground into a meal, bread has been made with them in times of scarcity.
• The juice of the roots drank freely is recommended by Boerhaave in obstruction of the viscera, particularly in cases of schirrhous liver and jaundice, and it is noteworthy that cattle having schirrhous livers in winter soon get cured when turned out to grass in spring.
• Couch grass is official in the Indian and Colonial Addendum of the British Pharmacopeia for use in the Australasian, Eastern, and North American Colonies, where it is much employed.  

Safety Concerns

• History of food usage, generally regarded as safe.
• No adverse effects expected (within recommended dosage).
• Ok in pregnancy/lactation (however, some articles state, best to avoid due to lack of data)
• Not to be used in cases of edema from heart failure or kidney insufficiency probably due to inadequate excretion of salt from its diuretic effect (Speculative).
• (Theoretical, not seen clinically) Hypokalemia may occur if combined with K+ depleting diuretics. No drug interactions have been reported.

The above information is copyright to Petra Sovcov - Clinical Herbal Therapist - 2019
Reproduction or distribution of any of the above information in full or part is prohibited without written consent from the author.

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References:

• Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions by Francis Brinker ND – Eclectic Medical Publications 2001-  pg 77
• The Natural Guide to Medicinal Herbs and Plants by Frantisek Stary – Aventium Publishers 1991 Czech Republic – Page 38
• The New Holistic Herbal by David Hoffman – Element Publishing Melbourne, Australia 1990 - Page 193
• Indian Herbalogy of North America by Alma R. Hutchens – Shambala Boston and London 1991 – Page 97
• Bartram’s Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Thomas Bartram – Constable and Robinson Ltd. 1998 – Page 131
• A Modern Herbal by Mrs M. Grieve – Dover Publications NY NY 1971 – Page 370 to 371
• The Earthwise Herbal A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants by Mathew Wood  – North Atlantic Books Berkeley, California 2008 – Page 60-63
• Medicinal Herbs Quick Reference Guide – By Julieta Criollo DNM, CHT – Self Published Revision 3 2013 – page 123
• A Clinical Guide to Blending Liquid Herbs – By Kerry Bone – Chuchill Livingstone Press 2000 – Page 162