Couch grass
Elymus repens
Other names: twitch, quitch, dog grass, Agropyron repens, Elytrigia repens, Agropyri repentis rhizoma
Edible plantPhoto credit: Rasbak / Wikimedia Commons
Safety information
Safety information
Toxicity: None known at traditional doses; low-toxicity drug. No reports of serious adverse effects.
Contraindications: Conditions where reduced fluid intake is required (e.g. severe cardiac or renal disease with oedema). Not recommended in children/adolescents under 18. Pregnancy/lactation: not recommended (insufficient safety data).
Interactions: None well documented. Theoretical additive effect with diuretics; adequate fluid intake required during irrigation therapy.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding: not recommended in pregnancy/lactation (insufficient safety data)
Evidence level
Documented in systematic traditional medicine literature.
Preparations
infusion · rhizome
Part used: rhizome
Traditional use: urinary-tract irrigation, minor urinary complaints
Proposed mechanism: mucilage and polysaccharide triticin soothe urinary mucosa
Associated conditions
Edibility
Edible parts: rhizome historically used as a famine/coffee-substitute food and forage; not a culinary staple
Toxic lookalike warning
no notable toxic lookalike for the rhizome, but grass rhizomes are easily confused - positive ID required before any food use
Nutritional notes
rhizome contains triticin (a fructan/inulin-type carbohydrate), mucilage, and small amounts of minerals/silica
Healing traditions
Sources (2)
- EMA - Agropyri repentis rhizoma (EMA/HMPC)
- Metabolic Profile of Agropyron repens rhizome herbal tea (PMC, 2022)