Poaceae
Couch Grass
Elymus repens
✓ Generally Safe
Safe in Pregnancy
Native to: Europe, Asia (naturalized globally)
Also known as: Common Couch, Quackgrass, Twitch Grass, Dog Grass, Witch Grass
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA
Parts Used
Root
Therapeutic Uses
Urinary tract infections, cystitis, urethritis, kidney stones (prevention, flush), benign prostatic hyperplasia (urinary flow), general urinary tract inflammation. Soothing and effective urinary herb.
Herbal Actions
Diuretic, urinary demulcent, anti-inflammatory, antifungal (agropyrene), mild antimicrobial
Active Constituents
Polysaccharides (triticin), volatile oil (agropyrene), mucilage, mannitol, saponins, flavonoids, silica
Preparation Methods
☕ Herbal Tea🏺 Tincture🍵 Decoction
Traditional Preparation Notes
| Herbal Tea | 2 tsp dried root per 250ml, cold infusion 8 hours or simmer 15 min, 3x daily with high water intake |
| Tincture | 4–6 ml (1:5, 25% ethanol), 3x daily |
| Notes | Must drink high volumes of fluid with this herb (2L+/day). Cold infusion preserves mucilage content. Excellent combined with goldenrod and buchu for comprehensive UTI support. |
Safety Information
Safety Rating
✓ Generally Safe
Pregnancy
Safe in Pregnancy
Drug Interactions
None known
Contraindications: Avoid in severe kidney disease (diuretic). Otherwise very few contraindications. No significant drug interactions.
Side Effects: Mild diuretic effect. GI discomfort at high doses. Generally very well tolerated.