Meadowsweet- Filipendula ulmaria

Properties : Aromatic, Astringent, Diuretic, and sub-tonic.

Culpeper says "The flowers are alexipharmic (antidote) and sudorific (promote sweating) and good in fevers and all malignant distempers. They are astringent, binding and useful in all fluxes"

As Culpeper rightly states, Meadowsweet is a valuable medicine in diarrhoea, imparting to the bowels some degree of nourishment, as well as of astringency.

Meadowsweet also works well as an antacid for heartburn and it's anti-inflammatory effects on the bowel can help with IBS.

Meadowsweet contains Methyl salicylate and when applied with a compress against a wound, ulcer or rheumatic pain, Meadowsweet infusion helps to relieve pain. This natural exfoliator also acts as an anti-inflammatory on skin reducing redness, itchiness and rashes so it can be useful for any kind of rash condition such as eczema and psoriasis.

In a 1997 study examining the immunomodulatory activity of meadowsweet, extracts from the flowers were shown to inhibit T cell proliferation. These specific effects were also observed in parts of the cellular immune system whereby modulatory control was exhibited. All are proven to play a role in the inflammatory process and as the authors suggest may explain the effectiveness of meadowsweet preparations in particular pathologies that are associated with inflammation.

A 2005 study found that extracts from the seeds and flowers of meadowsweet have shown anticoagulant activity in both in vitro and in vivo studies which is believed to be associated with the heparin-like and salicylate compounds.

Antimicrobial properties against five specific strains of bacteria have been shown mostly in extracts form the rhizomes, stems and flowers of the meadowsweet plant (2000).