Meadowsweet

Meadowsweet. What a lovely name. It conjures up rolling green meadows with the aromatic scent of flowers bobbing their heads in the breeze. But as a herb, what exactly is it and what can it do for you?

What is Meadowsweet?

Meadowsweet does indeed have an aromatic scent, in fact, it’s famous for its strong and pleasant scent while being rich in essential oils.

Meadowsweet grows naturally throughout most of Europe and Western Asia and has been used for thousands of years to add flavour to drinks such as mead and ale. It has also been used as both an insect repellent and disinfectant.

The flower has been used as a symbol of love, peace and happiness, and during the Bronze Age was commonly placed on grave sites.¹

What Are the Health Benefits of Meadowsweet?

Flavonoids, tannins, essential oils and salicylic acid are what give Meadowsweet its medicinal properties. Interestingly, in the 1890s, the pharmaceutical company Bayer synthesised salicin with Meadowsweet to form the drug, Aspirin.²

Today we know many health benefits of Meadowsweet. These are featured below and are not limited to:

Treatment of Digestive Disorders

By soothing and protecting the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract and stomach lining, Meadowsweet is an effective treatment for a number of digestive issues.³ Ulcers, heartburn, hyperacidity, gastritis and diarrhoea, to name a few. In addition, recent studies found that Meadowsweet prevents the development of Helicobacter pylori bacteria. This bacteria is found to damage the gastric system and cause the aforementioned list of disorders in the first place.³

Pain Relief

As researchers discovered, Meadowsweet is rich in salicylic acid that is well known for its ability to relieve mild to moderate pain. Some studies show that this herb may be effective against fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain and chronic back pain.⁴Other studies suggest, that as a herbal remedy, Meadowsweet may be a better choice to treat pain to avoid long-term use of as oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory.⁴
Immune System Booster

Recent studies found Meadowsweet possesses immune-boosting properties. This is due to free radical neutralising compounds, like flavonoids.⁵According to some researchers, these compounds may inhibit T-cell proliferation, contribute to activation of innate immunity and increase the immune response.⁵ Free radicals are the natural by products of chemical processes or metabolic activities in an organism and are responsible for the development of serious and premature ageing.

Anti-Inflammatory

As mentioned previously, the salicylic acid component of Meadowsweet is highly effective in the reduction of inflammation. For this reason, this herbal remedy is used to treat inflammation-associated diseases such as rheumatism and arthritis, gout, inflammatory bowel disease, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriasis.⁶The plant extract shows considerable effectiveness in the alleviation of pain caused by inflammation.⁶ In addition, studies have found that Meadowsweet’s inflammation-modulating properties may even help with cervical dysplasia.⁷

Skin Health

Meadowsweet is an essential compound of many beauty products. In fact, it is highly likely that the creams, lotions, and scrubs you currently use contain this awesome ingredient.⁸As a natural astringent, Meadowsweet enhances skin health through eliminating dirt and excess sebum. It is, once again the natural ingredient of salicylic acid that contributes to the removal of pimple-causing bacteria and makeup residue.⁸Meadowsweet can also be used as a sunscreen as is also effective against excessive UV exposure.⁸

Cold Cure

For centuries Meadowsweet has been used as an effective antidote to colds and associated symptoms. The plant’s significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties help fight various respiratory ailments, including coughs, sore throats, shortness of breath and other common symptoms that colds produce.²The success of this plant in dealing with the common cold is the mucolytic which breaks down and removes mucus.²

Diuretic

Drinking Meadowsweet tea helps the body eliminate sodium and excess water as it reduces the amount of fluid flowing through the blood vessels. This effect results in minimising the pressure on the vessel walls and is effective against kidney problems in which the kidneys can no longer filter potassium.⁹To use the plant as a diuretic, herbalists recommend using the plant in the form of a hot tea or using a powdered herb. Some studies found that Meadowsweet diuretic properties contribute to the management of specific conditions like edema and high blood pressure.¹⁰

Is Meadowsweet Safe?

Meadowsweet is safe but should be avoided for use by:

Children under 16;
Asthmatics; and

as with any herbal remedy, it’s always a good idea to check with your medical practitioner before commencing, to ensure there are no contraindications with any current medication you may be taking.

This article has touched on the many benefits of this delicate white flower as well as the simplicity of its symbol of love and peace – now you can’t get much better than that!

Properties

Anti-Bacterial²
Anti-Inflammatory⁶^,⁷
Antioxidant²
Arthritis⁶
Blood Pressure – Reduction⁵^,¹⁰
Cough²
Demulcent²
Diarrhea³
Digestive Function³
Digestive Restoration³
Diuretic⁹^,¹⁰
Fibromyalgia⁴
Fluid Retention⁵^,⁹^,¹⁰
Gout⁹^,¹⁰
Helicobacter Pilori³
High/Good Levels of Flavonoids⁵
Immune Booster⁵
Kidney Support⁹^,¹⁰
Pain Relief⁴
Respiratory Support²
Skin Issues⁸
Ulcer Support³

References