Galium.

The herb Galium aparine, Linné, and other species of Galium (Nat. Ord. Rubiaceae). Common in moist grounds in Europe and the United States.
Common Names: Cleavers, Goose-Grass, Catch-Weed, Bedstraw.

Principal Constituents.—Rubichloric, gallitannic, and citric acids.
Preparations.—1. Infusum Galii, Infusion of Galium (1 ounce to Water, 16 fluidounces). Dose, 1 to 4 fluidounces.
2. Specific Medicine Galium. Dose, 5 to 60 drops.

Specific Indications.—Dysuria and painful urination in febrile and inflammatory states; renal and cystic irritation with burning; "nodular growths or deposits in skin or mucous membranes" (Scudder).

Action and Therapy.—Galium is a useful refrigerant diuretic in fevers and inflammations, and to relieve dysuria with pain and scalding or burning in the urethra or neck of the bladder. It may be used as a sedative diuretic in scarlet fever. It is undoubtedly alterative and may be exhibited in scrofulous disorders, but has been unwisely claimed as a remedy for carcinomatous growths.

Galium tinctoria is aromatic and has been recommended in the spasmodic cough of asthma and chronic bronchitis. The best use for these drugs is as diuretics.


The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 1922, was written by Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D.