Meadowsweet

the flowering herb of meadowsweet (Filipendulae ulmariae herba)

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) is a perennial of the rose family with dense white flower heads that smell sweetly of honey, and with leaves resembling those of the elm. It grows in marshy meadows, beside ditches and in riverside groves, where the ground is permanently damp.

The flowers or flowering tips are gathered in June and July, in dry weather; the upper part of the shoot is cut. It is dried quickly in the shade, because the flowers are small and shed easily; dried, they keep their sweet scent.

Meadowsweet contains natural salicylates, and acetylsalicylic acid takes its name from the plant; with an allergy to salicylates, or while taking medicines that thin the blood, consult a pharmacist before using it.

Use and evidence

The EMA recognises traditional use as a support in treating a cold and for relieving mild joint pain. It is not intended for acute inflammation of a joint, which belongs with a doctor, and it does not replace anti-inflammatory medicines. EMA.