Couch Grass 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Couch Grass 100 g ($14.99), 50 g ($9.99), 25 g ($6.99)

Couch grass is an invasive weed found in the Americas, northern Asia, Australia, and Europe. It is similar to, and sometimes misidentified as, Johnson grass. A vigorous perennial growing to a height of three feet ter), couch grass has long, creeping rhizomes, slender leaves, and erect flower spikes bearing green flowers in two rows. The rhizome and the seeds are used in herbal medicine.

Benefits:
Couch grass is a rich source of healing mucilages that soothe and relieve inflamed sore throat. It has been used to treat difficult urination and kidney stones since the time of the Roman Empire.

Diabetes  In an experiment in healthy and diabetic rats, T. repens demonstrated a hypoglycemic effect independent of an effect on insulin. Eddouks 2005 In another animal study, an aqueous rhizome extract of T. repens decreased plasma triglycerides and cholesterol levels in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. A decrease in body weight after 2 weeks was also reported. Maghrani 2004

Bladder  Couch Grass is powerfully diuretic and has a soothing, anti-inflammatory healing effect on the lining of the bladder. It is rich in mucilage, volatile oils and polysaccharides which are considered the active ingredients of this herb. The sugar compounds which are released on contact with water in the body soothe the mucosa throughout the body – especially in the urinary tract.

One of these compounds is triticin, a polysaccharide related to inulin which makes up around 8 percent of the herb. It is this compound that makes it a good remedy for mild cystitis. When certain sugar compounds are released into the urinary tract, the bacteria that cause cystitis are attracted to these compounds, causing them to release their hold in the urethra. As long as lots of water is drunk alongside the herb, this can help to flush the disease-causing bacteria out of the urinary tract. As a diuretic, Couch Grass assists the kidneys in clearing out waste, salt and excess water by increasing urine production. This also inhibits microbial growth in the urinary system.

Urinary tract infection  Extracts of E. repens demonstrated moderate to limited antioxidant activity in a laboratory study evaluating medicinal herbs traditionally used to treat urinary tract infection symptoms. Wojcikowski 2007 Antiadhesive activity was demonstrated against uropathogenic (pathogens, particularly bacteria like certain strains of E. coli, that cause infections within the urinary tract), E. coli in another study. Rafsanjany 2013 A further in vitro study found A. repens extracts demonstrated no activity against uropathogenic E. coli organisms; however, antiadhesive activity against bacterial attachment to bladder cells was reported.Beydokthi 2017

Couch Grass Rhizome Herba Organica has gained recognition for its potential in promoting urinary tract health. When incorporated into one’s wellness routine, it may assist in maintaining the well-being of the urinary system.

Kidney problems. Couch grass is useful for inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract and for prevention of kidney stones.

Urolithiasis  In one study reporting on the effects of couch grass on calcium oxalate urolithiasis risk in rats, antilithiasic (medicine that prevents the formation of, or relieves the symptoms of kidney stones) effects were dependent on diet. Grases 1995 An older study reported a diuretic effect in rats. Khan 2010  A small open-label trial investigated the effect of A. repens in urolithiasis treatment. A potassium citrate and couch grass combination was more effective in reducing the number and size of urinary stones than potassium citrate alone. Brardi 2012

Respiratory  Couch Grass is an expectorant herb that helps to alleviate irritating coughs, bronchitis and laryngitis. Its soothing effect on the mucosa in the chest make it effective in clearing catarrhal congestion. It can also be used as a gargle to provide relief from sore throats, laryngitis and tonsillitis. The rich silica content has a healing effect on the lungs, making this herb useful after chest infections.

Digestion  When animals seek out grasses to ease digestive problems, their top choice is always Couch Grass. The rich mucilage content of the rhizome provides digestive benefits to humans too. Most mucilage is not broken down by the human digestive system, it absorbs toxins from the bowel and gives bulk to stools, which in turn can lower bowel transit time.

Mucilage also protects against ingested toxins and bacteria, helps to regulate intestinal flora, relaxes and soothes via the endodermal lining of the gut and protects against gastric acidity. This herb is also known for its soothing effects on the digestive system. Couch Grass has been historically utilized to potentially alleviate discomfort and support digestive health. By gently soothing the digestive tract, it may contribute to an overall sense of well-being.

Liver  Couch Grass rhizome contains inositol – a compound that prevents the accumulation of fat and cholesterol in the liver. Studies have found that inositol can help to prevent fatty liver disease, especially if used in conjunction with choline.

Detoxification: Couch Grass is often associated with detoxifying properties that may assist the body in eliminating waste and promoting a cleaner, healthier internal system.

Skin: The rich composition of beneficial compounds found in Couch Grass suggests its potential to contribute to vibrant skin. Topical applications of this herb may be considered to nourish and rejuvenate the skin, with the aim of promoting a youthful appearance.

Wound healing  Dried A. repens has been evaluated as a hydrogel for use in wound dressings. Pielesz 2012

Recommended Use
Couch grass is used as a tea or used to irrigate the kidneys. When used as an irrigant, it is important to consume copious amounts of water. No irrigations should be done in those with edema due to heart or kidney failure. The bulk herb is available from online retailers and in herb shops. Herb gardeners attempting to grow couch grass should exercise caution, since it easily becomes an uncontrollable weed.

Botanical Name: Agropyron repens
English: Dog Grass
Also, known As: Agropyron, Quackgrass, Quack Grass, Quick Grass Triticum, Twitch, Twitchgrass, Quecke, Chiendent, Grama, Caprinella, Cutch, Durfa Grass, stargrass, Triticum, Twitch-grass, Witch Grass, Agropyron, Couch-Grass, Cutch, Dog-grass, Durfa Grass, Witch Grass, Bermudagrass, Ban Gen Cao, Pa Gen Cao, Pu Di Cao, Chien-dent. Pied-de-poule, Bai Mu Da, dog grass
Origin: Hungary
Part used: Rhizome

General Information:
Couch grass is a tough perennial grass with creeping underground shoots that pop up m lawns, beds, and borders. Because of creeping rhizomes which enable it to grow rapidly across grassland. It has flat, hairy leaves with upright flower spikes. The stems grow to 50-125 cm tall, the leaves are linear, 10-35 cm long and 1-5 mm broad at the base of the plant, with leaves higher on the stems 2-10 mm broad. The flower spike is 5-25 cm long, with spikelets around 2 cm long, 7 mm broad and 3 mm thick with three to eight florets. The glumes are 7-10 mm long, usually without an awn or with only a short one.

The rhizomes are usually yellowish-white, sharp-pointed, somewhat fleshy and up to 3 m long. The auricles clasp the stem, which helps to immediately distinguish it from most other grass weeds. Couch grass or twitch grass is an old enemy for many gardeners. The leaf blades are soft and relatively flat, slightly soft-hairy, dull and mostly dark green, sometimes Glaucous, 6-30 cm long and 3-15 mm wide. Couch grass has been used in herbal medicine since classical Greek times. The common name of dog grass comes from the fact that sick dogs will dig up the root and eat it.

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.