Introduction of Meadowsweet:meadow-wort or bridewort.
✵The article gives records of the herb Meadowsweet, its English name, Latin name, common names, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Filipendula ulmaria L.Maxim., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Meadowsweet, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Meadowsweet(meadow-wort).
English Name: Meadowsweet.
Latin Name: Filipendula ulmaria L.Maxim.,formerly referred to as Spiraea ulmaria L.
Common Names: Bridewort, queen-of-the meadow, spirea, dolloff, meadsweet, meadow queen, meadow-wort, lady of the meadow, spireaea ulmaria.
Property and flavor: The leaves smell very different from the flowers, having a pleasant, almond-like fragrance.
Brief introduction: Meadowsweet is a tall, sweat-smelling herb that bears large drooping clusters of creamy white blossoms. Both these flowering tops and the plant's leaves, but not its fruits, are used medicinally. Meadowsweet can be found in meadows, along stream banks, and in other damp environments in Europe and North America. It is also commonly grown in the garden.
Botanical source: Common herbal classics defined the herb Meadowsweet as the leaves of the species (1).Filipendula ulmaria L.Maxim. It is a plant species of the Filipendula Mill genus, the Rosaceae family (rose family). The leaves are used medicinally. This commonly used species is introduced:
(1).Filipendula ulmaria L.Maxim.
Botanical description: Filipendula ulmaria is a perennial herb, it grows up to 50~120 cm tall. The stem is upright, simple or branched above, ligneous (woody) below, angular, has silk, smooth and glabrous, or occasionally tomentose. The leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, with 2-5 leaflets and glabrous petioles; The apical leaflet is 3-5-lobed, the lobes are lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, the tip is tapered, the margin is doubly serrated, or the lobes are inconspicuous, the upper part is glabrous, the lower part is covered with white fluff, and sometimes a few basal leaf villi fall off nearly glabrous; Lateral leaflets are slightly smaller or equal in length than apical leaflets, oblong-ovate or elliptic-lanceolate, the apex is gradually pointed, the base is rounded, the margin is doubly serrate or inconspicuous lobes; Stipules are green, semicordate or oval-shaped, with sharp teeth on the edge.
Terminal panicles, and pedicels are sparsely pubescent; Flowers are 5 mm in diameter; Sepals are ovate, the apex is tapered or obtuse, outside is densely pubescent; Petals are white, obovate. The fruit is bent like a spiral on the receptacle, almost sessile. The flowering period is from June to September.
Ecological environment: Filipendula ulmaria grows in shades of valleys, swamps, forest margins, and waterside, in the area at altitudes of 1,200~2,400 meters above sea level. The plant widely grows in the Arctic and cold temperate regions of Europe and Asia, south to Asia minor and Central Asia.
Characters of herbs: Meadowsweet flower is the dried flower of Filipendula ulmaria, as well as its preparations. Meadowsweet herb is the dried above-ground parts of Filipendula ulmaria, harvested during the flowering season, as well as its preparations. The plant is combed off during the flowering season and air-dried in a dark place.
Pharmacological actions: ①.painkilling or anti-inflammatory; ②.diuretic actions; ③.a source of tannins; ④.kill certain bacteria; ⑤.prevent stomach ulcers; ⑥.inhibits blood clotting; ⑦.inhibit tumors;etc.
Chemists found the herb meadowsweet contains salicin in the middle of the 19th century, it exerts some painkilling or anti-inflammatory actions, but the action is weak so it should not be used to lower a fever. The herb meadowsweet contains salicylate aglycones and it has anti-inflammatory and diuretic actions, its hot infusion may help increase sweating and urine output.
Meadowsweet contains a considerable amount of astringent tannins, which explains its traditional use for digestive disorders such as acid indigestion and diarrhea. The tannins in meadowsweet kill certain bacteria, such as Shigella dysenteriae which is responsible for infectious diarrhea, flower preparations fight bacteria commonly involved in urinary tract infections, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
Meadowsweet help prevents stomach ulcers caused by certain irritants or medical procedures in animal studies.
Meadowsweet flowers and seeds inhibit blood clotting in lab animals, but the herb's consistency in this has not been verified in human trials, so do not rely on meadowsweet to prevent such potentially deadly clots such as blood clots and associated complications, stroke.
Animal studies in rats found meadowsweet can suppress certain kinds of tumors, lab-induced brain and spinal cord tumors, and inhibit cervical and vaginal cancer in mice.
Medicinal efficacy: The herb meadowsweet was used as an air freshener and bridal bouquet in medieval Europe, it was used for arthritis, lowering fever, aiding respiratory ailments, diarrhea in children, blunting menstrual cramp pain, indigestion and heartburn, preventing and helping to heal peptic ulcers, promoting urination as a diuretic. Today it is recommended by herbalists as a diuretic, diaphoretic, or sweat-inducer for feverish chills and colds, for digestive system upset, diarrhea, low-grade fever, pain caused by muscle aches, arthritis and rheumatic complaints, headaches, and toothaches. In Europe, the meadowsweet flower is approved for cough, bronchitis, fever and cold, meadowsweet herb is approved for cough and bronchitis. In folk medicine, meadowsweet is used as a diuretic, for rheumatism of the joints and muscles, gout, bladder and kidney disease, and headaches, meadowsweet herb is used for stomach complaints with hyperacidity, prophylaxis, therapy of stomach ulcers, and diarrhea in children. In homeopathy, meadowsweet is used for rheumatism and inflammation of mucous membranes.
Administration of Meadowsweet (meadow-wort):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Meadowsweet (meadow-wort)
Herbal classic books:
Dosage: An infusion is prepared using 1 to 2 teaspoons of flower and is drunk very hot several times per day. The liquid extract is taken in doses of 2 to 4 ml. Daily dosage is 2.5 to 3.5 grams of meadowsweet flower or 4 to 5 grams of meadowsweet herb. Infusion dosage is 1 cup several times a day, liquid extract daily dose is 1.5 to 6 ml, and tincture daily dose is 2 to 4 ml. To prepare an infusion, pour boiling water over 3 to 6 grams of cut herb, steam for 10 minutes, and then strain. The herb should be protected from light and moisture for storage.
Contraindications, Precautions and Adverse Reactions: The FDA placed meadowsweet on its formerly maintained list of "Herbs of Undefined Safety", the herb meadowsweet should be used in moderation for its high tannin content, avoid the herb if you have had any type of allergic reaction to aspirin or any other salicylate-containing substance. Pregnant women should avoid meadowsweet for evidence linking aspirin use to birth defects and other complications. Do not give meadowsweet to children under sixteen with flu or chicken pox symptoms. Meadowsweet should be used with caution for individuals with asthma, as it stimulates bronchial spasms in some people. Overdosage can lead to queasiness and stomach complaints.
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1.Introduction of Meadowsweet:meadow-wort or bridewort.
✵The article gives records of the herb Meadowsweet, its English name, Latin name, common names, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Filipendula ulmaria L.Maxim., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Meadowsweet, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
English Name: Meadowsweet.
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