Meadowsweet - Filipendula ulmaria

Detailed Description

The natural aspirin—soothing without irritating the stomach.

Botanical Information

Meadowsweet is a perennial herb that can grow up to 200 cm tall. It features a stiff, upright, angular, and hairless stem developing from a woody rhizome. At the top of the stem, it forms a corymb-like inflorescence, unusual among dicots. Its leaves grow alternately along the stalk and are 4–8 cm in length, dark green, pinnate, with the upper side lighter and smooth, while the underside is felted, typically with three to five leaflets. Individual leaflets are ovate, pointed, and serrated. Semi-heart-shaped stipules with serrated edges are found at the leaf bases. The bisexual, bowl-shaped flowers are aromatic, up to 5 mm in diameter, and consist of five sepals and five petals, appearing from May to July. The fruit is a brown, hairless, crescent-shaped achene about 2 mm long, which does not split open at maturity.

Origin and Distribution

Meadowsweet is abundant throughout Europe except for the southernmost regions. Its range extends eastward to Western Siberia, stretching into Asia Minor, the Caucasus, and as far as Mongolia. Meadowsweet has also been introduced and thrives in North America. It naturally occurs in wetlands, moist meadows, fields, woodland edges, and around springs. In the Czech Republic, the plant is found throughout the lowlands to submontane regions.

Usage / Dosage

Meadowsweet has featured prominently in Celtic culture and Welsh mythology, where it is known as Blodeuwedd, created by the magician Gwydion and King Math of Gwynedd. In literature, such as Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The Knight's Tale' from the Canterbury Tales, meadowsweet is described as a key ingredient in a 'rescue' drink central to the story. Another traditional name is Bridewort, referencing its historical use for perfuming rooms during weddings, ceremonies, and religious festivals in Anglo-Saxon countries.

The plant has a pleasant scent and flavor, reminiscent of bitter almonds, which led to its use not only as a medicinal herb but also for aromatizing rooms. Meadowsweet was, and still is, used to flavor certain wines, beers, and vinegars. The flowers can also be used to make jams and marmalades, imparting an almondy note.

Meadowsweet contains relatively high amounts of salicylic acid derivatives, which have been scientifically recognized for more than a century for their analgesic, antipyretic (fever-reducing), and anti-inflammatory effects. The flowers exhibit diuretic properties, and the plant’s compounds can lower fever and ease pain, making meadowsweet useful for cold symptoms.

The plant acts as a mild sedative, promoting sleep and calm. Several herbal monographs recommend meadowsweet—often in combination with other herbs—for relief from stress and mental tension that may present as physical symptoms.

One in vitro study demonstrated notable antioxidant and antibacterial activity of meadowsweet’s phenolic and flavonoid compounds, showing effectiveness against Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and fungi such as P. cyclopium and F. oxysporum. The plant’s substances also exhibit significant antioxidant effects, especially by inhibiting lipid peroxidation.

Of particular note is meadowsweet’s analgesic effect. In one in vivo study, its compounds provided significant reliable pain relief with a safe herbal profile. These findings confirm the traditional use of meadowsweet for pain associated with inflammatory conditions. The main flavonoids, rutoside and spiraeoside—present in large amounts—showed promising cyclooxygenase-inhibiting effects, reducing pro-inflammatory and pyrogenic mediators and cytokines. Another animal study showed aqueous meadowsweet extract could reduce acute inflammation of rats' paws, with results comparable to those of indomethacin, a well-known NSAID.

Animal research administering meadowsweet extract orally demonstrated a stimulatory effect on immune response during inflammation in mice, defined by reduced interleukin-2 synthesis and other pro-inflammatory cytokines in the spleen and tissues, contributing to its anti-inflammatory activity.

Other studies have highlighted the gastroprotective properties of meadowsweet’s constituents, capable of relieving pain, reducing inflammation, and lowering fever while not irritating the stomach lining or disrupting gastrointestinal healing. This offers an important safety advantage over conventional NSAIDs.

Traditional & Folk Medicine

Austrian folk medicine recommends meadowsweet for symptoms of rheumatism, gout, infections, and fevers; Scandinavian medicine pairs it with other herbs to soothe the stomach. Additional uses in folk medicine include colds, bronchitis, stomach aches, peptic ulcers, heartburn, and joint inflammation such as gout and rheumatism. Meadowsweet is also traditionally used for urinary tract inflammation.

In European folk therapy, meadowsweet was commonly used to reduce pain and especially fever. Its compounds also help relieve swelling and joint pain from rheumatic inflammation and arthritis. As an astringent, it’s helpful for diarrhea, and it also offers a hepatoprotective (liver-protecting) benefit.

Precautions

It is recommended to avoid combining meadowsweet with over-the-counter NSAIDs and anti-rheumatics such as ibuprofen or diclofenac.

Active Compounds

Meadowsweet contains a wide range of pharmacologically active compounds, most importantly essential oils (including salicylaldehyde, salicylic acid, and methyl salicylate), glycosides, flavonoids (rutoside, spiraeoside, isoquercitrin), tannins, and other trace compounds (including hexanal, limonene, linalool, menthol, menthone, alpha-terpineol, carvone, piperitone, geraniol, carvacrol, thymol, benzaldehyde, guaiazulene, beta-ionone).

Traditional Dosage

Dried herb is prepared as an herbal tea using 2–6 g daily, divided into 1–3 doses. Use is not recommended in children and adolescents under 18 years. Treatment should begin at the first sign of a typical cold, for no more than 7 days or until symptoms resolve. For mild joint pain relief, the maximum duration for meadowsweet is 4 weeks.

Loose, cut herb can be used at a dosage of 2.5–3.5 g/day of flowers or 4–5 g/day of aerial parts, infused in 250 ml of hot water and steeped for 10 minutes, taken 1–3 times daily.

Powdered herb: 250–500 mg per dose, 1–3 times daily, not exceeding 1500 mg daily. Capsules containing 250–300 mg powdered herb or 169–200 mg dried aqueous extract can be taken 1–6 times daily.

Tincture (1:5 ratio) in adults over 18 is dosed at 2–4 ml (20 drops) per dose, up to 6–12 ml daily.

Infusion tea bags (1.5 g) are taken 2–3 times daily; adults may use up to 4 bags per day, children under 4 years 1 bag, children under 10 years 2 bags maximum, and children under 16 the same as adults.