Latin Name: Filipendula ulmaria
Family: Rosaceae
Part used: leaf, flower, aerial parts.
Energetics: Astringent, cooling, slightly sweet.
Iris: All types.
Interactions: Please check with your Healthcare Provider.
Safe alongside Herb
Warfarin
Unsure alongside Herb
Cefuroxime
Avoid alongside Herb
Ibuprofen
CONTRA-INDICATIONS
- Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to Salicylic acid.
- Pregnancy in high doses, low dose ok.
- Constipation (theoretical) due to tannin content.
ACTIONS
- Antacid
- Anti-rheumatic
- Stomachic
- Astringent
- Antiseptic diuretic
- Diaphoretic
- Hepatic
- Anti-ulcer
- Anti-coagulant
- Anti-inflammatory
- Mild urinary analgesic
- Anti-lithic
- Utero-tonic
- Immune modulator
- Anti-bacterial (E.coli, H.pylori, Strep, Staph, Shigella)
- Anti-fungal (Candida)
- Prostatic tonic
- Anti-neoplastic.
Main Constituents
- Flavonoids
- Oil
- Phenolic glycosides
- Salicylic acid
- Volatile oils
- Tannin up to 15%
- Mucilage
- Vitamin C
- Iron
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Silica
Main Uses
Digestive System: Effective symptomatic relief of indigestion, Upper gastrointestinal conditions associated with flatulence and hyperacidity, Gastric ulcer, Gastric reflux, Diarrhoea, griping & colic in children, Regurgitation, Halitosis, Dyspepsia
Skin: Cellulitis
Musculo-Skeletal System: Rheumatism, Arthritis
Endocrine: Oedema, Menorrhagia
Reproductive System: Prostate enlargement
Urinary System: Cystitis, Urinary stones
Infections:
Bacteria: Bacillus subtilis, E. coli, Helicobacter pylori, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella flaxneri, Staphylococcus aureus / epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes.
Fungi: Candida
More About Meadowsweet
A cold infusion of the fresh or dried Leaf and flowers is a nice way to extract the water soluble constituents. Externally this can help with wounds and skin irritation.
The herb is rich in salicylic acid- providing pain relief and anti-inflammatory activity against headaches, muscular pain, colds and flu. Taken very hot, the tea will help to sweat out fevers, chills and colds.
The alkaline environment of the intestine allows the transformation of salicylic acid into its sodium salt - sodium salicylate. Meadowsweet is also a valuable astringent; being particularly useful for infant diarrhoea.
The flowers are more active than the leaves in rheumatic conditions and they help relieve pain and swelling in arthritis and gout. Meadowsweet is rich in minerals to speed up the healing in connective tissue injuries.
The root is a stronger astringent than the leaf.
It combines well with marshmallow for heartburn and acidity and Barberry for intestinal conditions, such as IBS, cramping, flatulence and bloating.
Meadowsweet has been used for a variety of purposes beyond medicine. It was often used to flavour mead and beer, and the dried flowers were used to make potpourri. The plant was also used to deter moths and other insects from clothing.
In Celtic folklore, Meadowsweet was considered a sacred herb that symbolised love, peace, and happiness. It was often used in wedding ceremonies and was believed to bring good fortune.
Recipes:
Meadowsweet Sorbet
Ingredients:
- 4 handfuls of meadowsweet flowers
- Approx. 225g of brown caster sugar
- 3 juiced lemons
- 1 thinly grated lemon zest
- Approx. 600ml of water
Instructions:
- In a saucepan, place the sugar and stir while it comes to a boil, let it boil rapidly for 1o minutes until it becomes a light syrup.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat.
- Now add the lemon juice and the thinly grated lemon zest. Stir.
- Next, add the meadowsweet flowers. Stir. Allow for them to infuse the syrup until the syrup has become cool/cold.
- Strain the syrup through a muslin and freeze in a plastic container overnight.
- In the morning, take out the frozen meadowsweet syrup and blend with a hand blender until smooth. Then put it back in the freezer for an additional 24 hours.
- Then take it out of the freezer and blend, then freeze for a following 48 hours.
- Your sorbet is now ready to be enjoyed.
References
Anti-inflammatory
In vitro and in vivo assessment of meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) as anti-inflammatory agent.
The observed results of in vitro and, for the first time, in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of meadowsweet extracts, provide support of the traditional use of this plant in the treatment of different inflammatory conditions.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27721054/
Mitochondrial energy production, posthypoxic encephalopathy,
Effect of meadowsweet (Filipendula vulgaris) extract on bioenergetics of the brain during experimental posthypoxic encephalopathy.
Filipendula extract more effectively than valerian extract improved kinetic characteristics of respiratory activity of mitochondria, increased substrate oxidation-phosphorylation coupling, and inhibited LPO.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22448356/
Hepatoprotective, antioxidant, hepatitis
Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of meadowsweet extract during experimental toxic hepatitis.
The extract of meadowsweet aerial parts exhibits hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity during experimental toxic CCl(4) hepatitis. This extract improved liver function. Meadowsweet extract in 70% ethanol (100 mg/kg) was most potent and exhibited low toxicity. By several parameters the effectiveness of this extract surpassed that of Carsil.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17369943/
Hemostatic, anticoagulant, fibronolytic
[A comparative study of the action on the hemostatic system of extracts from the flowers and seeds of the meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim.)]
Flowers and seeds of Filipendula ulmaria show a high level of anticoagulant activity. Their anticoagulant and fibrinolytic effects were demonstrated after per os administration of the extracts. The seed extracts exert equally high anticoagulating effects when administered in vivo and in vitro.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8358277/
Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory
Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective activity of Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim. and Filipendula vulgaris Moench.
Current study supports documented traditional use of investigated herbs and indicates that flavonoid and tannin components are partially responsible for the demonstrated pharmacological activities.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874117332749