What in the world is Couch Grass, and why is it an ingredient in your Multi-Vitamin formula AsUage®?
October 2, 2017

Couch grass is used to treat a wide range of ailments, such as bladder infections, gout, kidney disorders, and skin conditions. It has anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties. The grass contains many vitamins and minerals, too, including vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, iron, and magnesium. Various extracts have also been used as a dietary component for diabetic patients.

How to Use
The rhizome of couch grass is rich in mucilage and makes a healthy type of tea. Couch grass tea is ideal for anyone suffering from a cold or the flu as its demulcent properties soothe the irritation and swelling of a sore throat. It can also help break down phlegm and clear congestion. This is all based on its anti-inflammatory properties. To make couch grass tea, the dried rhizome of the plant is boiled to create a decoction. You can add a little honey to sweeten if that is to your taste.

Couch grass is also sold in extract or in capsule forms. We at Nature's Aide stumbled upon this ingredient on a trip through the U.S. near Savannah GA. As we did more research, we were determined to include it as an ingredient in AsUage AsUage, our multi-vitamin and multi-herbal formula.

Side Effects
While there are no known side effects linked to couch grass, it may cause blood sugar levels to drop in some people and lower potassium levels. The limited amount of toxicological data requires cautious use during pregnancy.

How it works
The chemistry and benefits of couch grass come from triticin (3% to 8%), a polysaccharide related to inulin. Upon water reacting to breakdown couch grass, the following elements are also released: fructose; mucilage (10%); saponins; sugar alcohols (mannitol, inositol, 2% to 3%); essential oil with polyacetylenes or carvone (0.01% to 0.05%); small amounts of vanilloside (vanillin monoglucoside), vanillin, and phenolcarboxylic acids; silicic acid; and silicates. There's more in there of course, but this is a good start to upstanding its make-up.

In folk medicine, couch grass has been used as a diuretic in cases of as cough medicine to alleviate bronchial irritation. The history of its use come from eastern Europe and currently is typically imported from Romania, Hungary, the Yugoslavian region, and Albania.

The Plant
"couch grass" is the common name for Elymus Repens and can thrive in extreme weather conditions such as frost or drought. The plant grows a vigorous underground rhizome system, which sprouts roots and shoots and helps the grass to spread.

Above ground, couch grass looks like any other grass, giving no clue as to its aggressive subterranean nature. It stands tall, with stems that grow between 30 and 120 cm long and leaves that are flat with a slightly soft hair. The leaves can also be long, measuring from 6 to 30 cm. Despised by gardeners as a weed that easily grows out of control, it is much loved to herbalist and cultivated for medicinal purposes.

If you care to learn more about this ingredient please email us at info@naturesaide.com with the subject line: Couch Grass. We look forward to hearing from you.
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