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Cleavers or Bedstraw
Galium aparine L.
by Susan Baxter
As a member of Madder family, it is also related to coffee - cleaver seeds, lightly roasted, make a caffeine free coffee substitute.
Tea of the whole plant combats kidney stones and bladder problems. It contains Vitamin C as well. The tea also can be used as a skin wash to fade freckles, treat sunburn, and psoriasis, acne, and cooling for fevered patients.
The roots dried and powdered can be sprinkled on cuts to stop bleeding and speed healing.
Young leaf shoots can be cooked for a nourishing vegetable. It was used as a cure for scurvy. Somewhat diuretic. Stimulates lymphatic system to purify blood. Maybe help lower blood pressure.
Also the roots make a red dye - mordanted with alum for cotton or silk or with tin or chrome for wool. Consult a dye book more closely for exact instructions under madder heading.
Common plant, crawls along ground, little hooks make it cleave to you. Grows in shady places. Has little white flowers.
Sources:
Herbs for the Seventies - Gary Null
Rodele's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs
Master Book of Herbalism
New Age Herbalist