History Of The Bedstraw Plant

Other Common Names: Baqlat Al Laban, Caille Lait, Cheese Rennet, Cheese Renning, Cleavers, Gaillet Jaune, Galio, Khitharah, Lady's Bedstraw, Maid's Hair, Our Lady's Bedstraw, Petty Mugget, Yellow Bedstraw, Yellow Spring Bedstraw, Yogurtotu, Galium verum

Range: Britain; Europe; France; Iraq; Spain; Turkey; USA

Habitat: Waste ground, roadsides etc, mainly near the sea, on all but the most acid soils.

The common English name of this plant, 'Our Lady's Bedstraw,' is derived from its use in former days, even by ladies of rank, for stuffing beds.

The plant has the property of curdling milk, hence another of its popular names 'Cheese Rennet.' It was called 'Cheese Renning' in the sixteenth century, and Gerard says (quoting from Matthiolus, a famous commentator of Dioscorides), 'the people of Thuscane do use it to turne their milks and the cheese, which they make of sheepes and goates milke, might be the sweeter and more pleasant to taste. The people in Cheshire do use it in their rennet, esteeming greatly of that cheese above others made without it.' The rich color of this cheese was probably originally derived from this plant, though it is now obtained from annatto.

The name of this genus, Galium, from the Greek word gala, milk, is supposed to have been given from this property of the plants which is shared more or less by most of the group

Lady's bedstraw has a long history of use as a herbal medicine, though it is little used in modern medicine. Its main application is as a diuretic and as a treatment for skin complaints.

The leaves, stems and flowering shoots are antispasmodic, astringent, diuretic, foot care, lithontripic and vulnerary. The plant is used as a remedy in gravel, stone or urinary disorders and is believed to be a remedy for epilepsy. A powder made from the fresh plant is used to soothe reddened skin and reduce inflammation whilst the plant is also used as a poultice on cuts, skin infections, slow-healing wounds etc. The plant is harvested as it comes into flower and is dried for later use.

A number of species in this genus contain asperuloside, a substance that produces coumarin and gives the scent of new-mown hay as the plant dries.

Asperuloside can be converted into prostaglandins (hormone-like compounds that stimulate the uterus and affect blood vessels), making the genus of great interest to the pharmaceutical industry.

- Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

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