Page 246 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

Meadowsweet, These chemicals give the plant additional medicinal
properties, including pain relief, fever reduction, and
Filipendula ulmaria use as an anti-inflammatory.

Colds and Flu: The anti-inflammatory, analgesic,
Meadowsweet is a perennial shrub known for its sweet and antipyretic (fever-reducing) actions of meadow-
smell and medicinal uses. It is also known as queen of sweet make it an effective supportive treatment for
the meadow because of its ability to take over a low- colds and the aches and pains of the flu.
lying meadow and as meadwort due to its use in flavor-
ing alcoholic beverages. It is in the Rose Family, and is Use the buds and flowers to treat most symptoms, but
native throughout Europe and Western Asia, and nat- the roots are best for treating respiratory symptoms
uralized in Eastern North America. It likes damp soil. such as coughing, wheezing, and hoarseness.

Indigestion and Peptic Ulcers: Meadowsweet
is a digestive treatment for acid indigestion and for
peptic ulcers. It protects the lining of the stomach, dis-
courages inflammation, and promotes healing when
used properly.
For stomach upsets, indigestion, nausea, and peptic ul-
cers use the ground root. It can be taken in capsules, as
a tea, or as a tincture.

Meadowsweet also has antibacterial properties known
to be active against the bacteria Helicobacter pylori.
Overuse can irritate the stomach lining and allow ul-
ceration to begin, so it must be used wisely.

Photo by Hans Hillewaert, Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Identification: Meadowsweet grows up to 4 feet
(1.2m) in height. The flowers are a creamy pastel yel-
low or white and have an almond-like scent. It blooms
from June to August. Its pinnate leaves are alternate
and have 5 to 7 serrated leaflet blade pairs with a ter-
minal leaflet.

Edible Use: Meadowsweet buds and flowers are
used as a flavoring for stewed fruit, jams, vinegar,
wine, and beer. It has a mild almond flavor. The leaves
can also be used as a stewing herb. The entire plant is Photo by Christian Fischer, Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
often dried for use as a potpourri.
Medicinal Use: The buds and blooms are most of- Joint Pain and Arthritis: Meadowsweet has
ten used medicinally, but the leaves are also valuable been used as a treatment for joint pain for hundreds of
for medicinal use and the fresh root is sometimes years. It gives temporary relief from the swelling and
ground and used. This plant contains chemicals that pain, while also healing the connective joint tissue.
are similar to salicylic acid and are used to create ace- Bacterial Infections, UTIS, Skin Infections:
tylsalicylic acid, a synthetic chemical known as aspirin. Meadowsweet works against E. coli, Staphylococcus
aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Proteus

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