Couch Grass

Generic name: Elymus Repens (L.) P. Beauv.
Brand names: Couch Grass, Dog Grass, Quack Grass, Triticum, Twitch Grass

Usage of Couch Grass

Anti-inflammatory activity

In vitro data

Rhizomes of A. repens demonstrated in vitro inhibitory activity against markers of inflammation in a screening study of 71 Austrian traditional herbal drugs.Vogl 2013

Diabetes

Animal data

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

Urinary tract infection

Animal and in vitro data

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 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

Urolithiasis

Animal data

In one study reporting on the effects of couch grass on calcium oxalate urolithiasis risk in rats, antilithiasic effects were dependent on diet.Grases 1995 An older study reported a diuretic effect in rats.Khan 2010

Clinical data

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

Wound healing

In vitro data

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

Couch Grass side effects

There are no known adverse effects associated with the use of couch grass. As a member of the grass family, the potential for allergy exists.

Before taking Couch Grass

Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.

How to use Couch Grass

Clinical studies are lacking to provide a basis for couch grass dosage recommendations. Traditional doses of the rhizome were 6 to 10 g daily for suspected urinary tract infections.Blumenthal 2000, Duke 2002, EMA 2011

Warnings

No data regarding toxicology are available.

What other drugs will affect Couch Grass

None well documented. Interference with laboratory tests is theoretically possible because couch grass leaf lectin exhibits specificity for N-acetylgalactosamine and preferentially agglutinates blood group A erythrocytes.Khan 2010

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