(Filipendula Ulmaria)
Filipendula Ulmaria (Meadowsweet) Materia Medica
Cool, Dry
Taste: Sweet
Family: Rosaceae
Medicinal Parts: Aerial
Actions on Body: Digestive, Vulnerary, Anti-Inflammatory
Natural Gravitation Towards: Digestive system
Notable Components (Constituents): Salicylates (methyl salicylate, salicylic acid, salicin and salicylaldehyde), Tannins (hydrolysable polyphenols), Volatile Oils (salicylaldehyde, phenylethyl alcohol)
Fun Facts
Meadowsweet flourishes in particularly damp locations, favoring the banks of streams and rivers as well as ditches
A small perennial, grassy plant commonly referred to as a shrub that is 1-4 feet tall with green and cylindrical stems
Early blooming stage was observed to have 1.2–2 times greater quantity of volatile oils in comparison with the late blooming stage. Salicylaldehyde and methyl salicylate were the main salicylates in both blooming stages
Meadowsweet is the original botanical source of aspirin, and contains salicylates. These salicylates do not transform into salicylic acid until they reach the liver, however. This prevents stomach pain and damage from the presence of salicylic acid in the stomach, which is a common result of taking aspirin (CommonWealth Holistic Herbalism)
Meadowsweet is helpful for digestive upset and damage caused by taking NSAID medications (CommonWealth Holistic Herbalism)
Precautions
Avoid this herb if you have known allergies or hypersensitivity to salicylates
Avoid this herb if you have known allergies or hypersensitivity to meadowsweet (or other members of the Rosaceae family).
Personal Experience with Meadowsweet
For one whole month I drank anywhere from 2-4 cups of meadowsweet a day. Overall, I felt less achy in my arms and knees while doing at least 7 hours of physical exercise a week. There was a suspected yeast infection growing around my mouth showing up as a dark brown itchy, dry patch. I put meadowsweet infused oil on one area, licorice root infused oil on another area, and calendula infused oil on another area. Of the three, meadowsweet was the least effective, followed by calendula. Licorice root showed some improvement on the applied area. Ultimately, I went with a pharmaceutical to help bring the infection down.
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