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
​
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

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

​

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   

This week marks my first week teaching at the Institute of Holistic Nutrition in Vancouver. To say I'm excited is an understatement. I was very surprised to receive the invite, and then over the moon with joy when I was told they were interested in having me teach Nutrition and the Environment. In essence, the class focuses on the non-sustainability of our current food system, the massive pollution factors that are involved, and the impacts it has on the environment and human beings. Tonight will be my first session, we will be focusing on the beef industry and agricultural pollution as a whole.

When I started doing the research for tonight's lesson, I got the sense of going down the rabbit hole. I was Alice and the deeper I went, the creepier things got. If I were to take only one thing out of the hours of research, it would be that pollution from livestock and grain feed agriculture are mated, and that this broken process exists because either the consumer is not aware of it, it is hidden, or not enough individuals care about the issues that arise from it.  I felt so passionate about the info that I found, I though to make a printable available to students and the public which reflects the over-inflated consumption of meat products and its consequences.

Of course, I am in no way seeking to start a battle with the beef industry, but I will say that there must be a better way of doing things...and I think that starts with you and me, and putting our money where our beliefs are. After-all, the organic movement didn't start until consumers wanted organics available. Maybe we can now start demanding the humane housing and slaughtering of animals, a reduction in animal protein consumption, and the elimination of harmful herbicides, pesticides, growth hormones, and antibiotics in our foods.

I'll leave it to you to decide. 

I hope you enjoy the print-out

Family:  Rosaceae
​
Common Names: Lady’s Mantle, Lion’s Foot, Bear’s Foot, Nine Hooks, Leontopodium, Stellaria

Parts Used: Aerial parts (Dried; harvested May-Aug). Leaves, flowering shoots. Also, roots (topical use).

Actions:
Tonic, Astringent (especially the uterus), Anti-inflammatory, Anti-pyretic, Alterative, Anti-hemorrhagic, Hemostatic, Bitter, Digestive Tonic, Menstrual Regulator, Emmenagogue, Diuretic, Vulnerary, Phyto-estrogenic (meaning plant based estrogen - this statement is inconclusive), Progesteronic ( meaning contains or helps the body to balance progesterone levels - this statement is inconclusive), Sedative, Angioprotective (protective of the heart or cardiovascular system), Drying and Binding (wound herb).

Chemical Constituents:
Tannins:

• Consisting mainly of ellagitannins, including agrimoniin and laevigatiin               

Phytosterols                     
Salicylic acid (traces)                      
Flavonoids:

• Glycosides of quercetin and kaempferol

​Head, Ears, Eyes, Nose, and Throat:

• As a mouth rinse after teeth extractions (gentle rinse, do not swish after tooth extractions).
• Mouth sores (rinse)
• Mouth ulcers (rinse)
• Laryngitis (gargle)
• Conjunctivitis (eye wash) – with caution and as a cooled infusion
• Headache from congested blood which becomes worse before periods
  ​

​Integumentary System (Skin):

• Bleeding or weeping eczema (topical)
• Sores (topical)
• Wounds (topical)
• Cuts (topical)
• Passive bleeding (topical – root or leaf)
• Bruises (topical)
• Pruritis (severe itching of the skin - topical)

 
Mental Health:

• For sound and untroubled sleep – traditional European remedy
• Nervousness
• Agitation
• Insomnia
• Mood swings
  
  

Nervous System:

• For convulsions in children.

 
Digestive System:

• For acute diarrhea (including infants).
• Loss of appetite
• Peptic Ulcers
• Gastric/Duodenal Ulcers
• Gastroenteritis
• Dysentery
• Internal bleedings
• Colitis with bleeding
• Vomiting
• General inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract
• Hemorrhoids/prolapsed anus/anal fissures (enema – with caution and with combination of other herbs)
• Nausea
• Indigestion
  
  

Urinary/Renal System:

• General inflammation of the urinary tract

 
Cardiovascular System:

• Strengthening of the heart muscle (inconclusive)
  
  

Reproductive System:

• Hormonal balancer
• Irregular menses (stimulates proper timing and flow)
• Metrorrhagia (abnormal bleeding from the uterus)
• Menorrhagia (periods with abnormally heavy or prolonged bleeding)
• Dysmenorrhea (painful periods)
• Menstrual Cramps – helps reduce pains associated with menstrual periods and ameliorates excessive bleeding.
• Fibroids (abnormal growths that develop in or on a woman’s uterus)
• Endometriosis (a painful disorder in which tissues that normally line the uterus grows outside the uterus)
• Menopause (helps to ease associated symptoms)
• Leucorrhea (douche)
• Vaginal discharge (douche)
• Candida/Yeast(topical wash or douche)
• Inflammations (topical wash or douche)
• Vulva/external vaginal itchiness (cream)
• Increased Fertility (Traditional middle eastern)
• Breast firming (Culpepper and Swiss traditional herbal)
• Uterine astringent – possibly helpful in prolapsed uterus
• Toning the pelvic floor
• Vaginitis
  ​

Musculoskeletal System:

• Rheumatism

​
​Specific Diseases/States/Infections/Viruses/Bacteria:

• Alchemilla has long been used to drive water from tissues that are damp and weak. It is said to strengthen fibers and bring them back together into a more healthy and toned state.
• In its traditional use of pulling tissues together, it has been used in repairing torn eardrums, hernia, muscles, and so forth.

​Safety Concerns and Contraindications:
Not to be used in pregnancy, has been used to aid labor.

• No adverse effects expected
• No drug interactions reported

​

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:

• With Trillium for menorrhagia.
• With Vitex for menstrual disorders.

​
​Applications:
Infusion:

• 1 to 2 tsp per cup; infuse 15 min - tid

Dried Herb:

• 2 to 4 g. tid           

Tincture:

• 1:1 @ 25% 2 to 4ml tid
• 1:5 (dried) @ 25% 5ml tid
• 1:2 (fresh) @ 40% 5ml tid
• 1:5 @ 25% 2 to 4ml tid

Poultice/Ointment:

• 15ml tincture (1:1 or 1:2 with alcohol reduction), 20ml rosewater, 50g base cream or ointment – for vaginal itchiness.

Powder:

• Powdered Root: 2 to 4 g.

Mouthwash/Gargle:

• Use as a strong infusion (tea) and rinse/gargle as needed.

Douche:

• 2oz to 2-pint hot water; infuse 30 minutes and allow to cool. Strain and use as directed by an appropriate practitioner.
• Use strong infusion, strained of herb, three times daily or as needed.

Vaginal Suppositories:

• 20gtt tincture (1:1 or 1:2 - with alcohol reduction) to 20g cocoa butter molded into suppositories. Ea. Suppository is generally 5g – enough for roughly 4 suppositories.

Skin Wash:

• Strong infusion (tea), 8 teaspoons to 1 cup boiling water, infuse 15 min and let cool.

​Misc:

• The infusion is best for GIT issues, and tincture for menstrual issues.

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.