Meadowsweet
A cooling, anti-inflammatory, and mucosal-soothing herb traditionally used for digestive inflammation, musculoskeletal pain, fever, and urinary irritation. Meadowsweet supports the stomach lining, modulates acidity, tones tissues through gentle astringency, and provides systemic relief for inflammatory conditions affecting joints, muscles, and mucous membranes.
Filipendula comes from filum (“thread”) and pendulus (“hanging”), referring to the small tubers suspended from the plant’s roots in related species. The former genus name Spiraea comes from Greek speiraia (“a coil”), referencing the plant’s spiraled fruits; aspirin derives its name from this genus. “Queen of the meadow” refers to its preference for damp meadows, while names such as meadwort, medwort, and honey-wine herb reflect its historical use in flavoring mead and ale. Bride-wort honors its traditional use in bridal garlands and ceremonial strewing herbs.
Meadowsweet soothes and restores inflamed mucous membranes throughout the digestive tract, making it useful for diarrhea, gastritis, gastric or duodenal ulcers, acid reflux, indigestion, Crohn’s, colitis, and various forms of IBS. Water-based infusions are especially effective for reducing gut inflammation and excess acidity.Its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties extend to the musculoskeletal system, relieving acute or chronic pain in joints, muscles, and connective tissue. It may ease headaches, fibromyalgia, arthritis, rheumatic pain, and low-grade fevers associated with colds, flu, or chronic fatigue patterns.Meadowsweet offers gentle long-term support for conditions involving inflammation or irritation of the kidneys and urinary passages, aiding individuals with cystitis, urethritis, gout, or kidney stones.Topically, fomentations or poultices reduce skin inflammation and support healing of cuts, abrasions, bruises, contusions, sprains, strains, and sore or overworked muscles. An ointment prepared with meadowsweet has shown benefit in cases of cervical dysplasia.
Highly revered by Druids as one of their three most sacred herbs—alongside verbena and water mint—meadowsweet held ceremonial, medicinal, and aromatic importance. The Blackfoot used root tea internally and as an enema, applied it topically, and used decoctions for venereal infections and diarrhea. It has long been employed in mead-brewing traditions and strewn at weddings and festivals for its sweet fragrance.
A rhizomatous, aromatic perennial 60–150(–200) cm tall with erect, grooved, sometimes reddish stems. Leaves are alternate and distinctly odd-pinnate, featuring a large terminal leaflet with smaller lateral leaflets; undersides are densely white-tomentose. Large serrated stipules wrap partly around the stem and remain persistent.Inflorescences form broad, airy corymbose panicles of many small, creamy-white, sweet-scented flowers. Petals are crumpled in bud, with numerous exserted stamens and 5–10 free carpels. Fruits are spiraled, narrow achenes, maturing pale brown. Both foliage and flowers release a wintergreen- or almond-like aroma when crushed.
Avoid in individuals with salicylate sensitivity or aspirin allergy. Use caution with those taking anticoagulants such as warfarin or other blood-thinning agents. Discontinue two weeks before and after surgery. Excessive or prolonged use may aggravate the kidneys.
Fresh leaves and flowers 1:2–1:3 (70–95% ethanol); dried leaves and flowers 1:5 (60% ethanol).
Dose: 30–120 drops up to 4× daily.
Cold or hot infusion.
Dose: 4–8 ounces, 3–4× daily.
Prepared from fresh or dried flowering tops.
Dose: 1–2 teaspoons as needed.
Poultice, fomentation, salve, or wash.
Dose: As needed for inflammation or injury.
Christina Sinadinos, David Hoffman, Bryan Bowen, all relevant CHSHS lectures.