Couch Grass

Couch Grass (Agropyron repens) is an invasive, annoying and very vigorous little weed, capable of immediately taking over neglected lawns, gardens and fields. Its powerful, deep penetrating roots are almost impossible to destroy so the plant keeps popping out from the ground and getting the farmers in trouble.

It’s very easy to think that Couch Grass is just a pest that needs to be destroyed but this way of judging it can be a terrible mistake. This annoying herb, like any other annoying herbs that we stumble upon, has something valuable to offer. Couch Grass possesses great nutritional value for the livestock. It was also safely consumed by humans as a precious source of A and B vitamins, carbohydrates, mucilage and other important elements, during periods of famine.

The true medicinal value of the Couch Grass resides in its rhizomes. The rhizomes are the yellow, sweet tasting part of the roots. This part of the plant can be dug out in autumn or early spring, put to dry and then used as remedy.

The dried rhizomes can be made into a cold macerate, an infusion, a decoction, a tincture or a medicinal wine. The Couch Grass tea is very useful in treating kidney infections, it can dissolve kidney stones and help the body get rid of a great amount of toxins because of its diuretic properties. The Couch Grass extract is rich in potassium which is good for the heart and it can lower blood pressure by stimulating the excretion of excessive amounts of fluids. By helping the body with the detoxification process, Couch Grass can be of help in severe liver problems like cirrhosis.

Couch Grass also contains a good amount of iron and it is very useful in treating some types of anemia. The iron contained in this herb it’s easily absorbed in the stomach and small intestine and ready to be used by the body.

Couch Grass is very appreciated by the herbalists but the modern medicine is just discovering its great properties!