{"id":5887,"date":"2021-12-05T17:17:21","date_gmt":"2021-12-05T17:17:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/?post_type=herb&p=5887"},"modified":"2025-10-27T15:52:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T15:52:17","slug":"meadowsweet","status":"publish","type":"herb","link":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/herb\/meadowsweet\/","title":{"rendered":"Meadowsweet"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":5889,"parent":0,"menu_order":-230,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","beyondwords_generate_audio":"1","beyondwords_project_id":"47224","beyondwords_content_id":"5446dd89-2ed5-49a7-99a5-bc9cb48ddf62","beyondwords_preview_token":"d1178712-545e-49ad-849f-e79e56b1b4fe","beyondwords_player_content":"","beyondwords_player_style":"","beyondwords_language_code":"","beyondwords_language_id":"","beyondwords_title_voice_id":"","beyondwords_body_voice_id":"","beyondwords_summary_voice_id":"","beyondwords_error_message":"","beyondwords_disabled":"","beyondwords_delete_content":"","beyondwords_podcast_id":"","beyondwords_hash":"","publish_post_to_speechkit":"","speechkit_hash":"","speechkit_generate_audio":"","speechkit_project_id":"","speechkit_podcast_id":"","speechkit_error_message":"","speechkit_disabled":"","speechkit_access_key":"","speechkit_error":"","speechkit_info":"","speechkit_response":"","speechkit_retries":"","speechkit_status":"","speechkit_updated_at":"","_speechkit_link":"","_speechkit_text":""},"tags":[101,42,143],"conditions":[685,697],"sustainability":[1576],"sense":[31,786],"western_action":[1000,992,1822,998],"chinese_action":[],"ayurvedic_action":[],"energetics_action":[1499,1382,1488,1494,1492],"region":[1893],"class_list":["post-5887","herb","type-herb","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-arthritis","tag-digestion","tag-urinary","conditions-digestive-system","conditions-urinary-system","sustainability-green-sustainability-status","sense-astringent-taste","sense-cooling","western_action-astringent","western_action-anti-inflammatory","western_action-antiemetic","western_action-antitussive","energetics_action-astringent","energetics_action-cool","energetics_action-moist","energetics_action-sweet","energetics_action-toning","region-western-herbs"],"acf":{"last_reviewed":"20211205","herb_author":2020,"banner_text":"Meadowsweet was the inspiration for aspirin","latin_name":"Filipendula ulmaria<\/em>","pseudonym_name":"","family_name":"Rosaceae","herb_summary":"Meadowsweet is one of the first remedies to consider for stomach problems, especially when accompanied by acid or digestive damage. It is almost specific for acid reflux problems. It is also a popular remedy for arthritic and other inflammatory conditions where its benefits are enhanced by a diuretic effect.","key_benefits":"Acid dyspepsia\r\nAcid reflux (incl. hiatal hernia and GORD)\r\nArthritis\r\nOedema","how_does_it_feel":"When you crush the flowerbuds of meadowsweet between your fingers you get the characteristic wintergreen smell of methyl salicyate. This is also the prominent taste of the whole herb in tea or tincture accompanied by a slightly slimy sweetness and astringency.\r\n\r\nDistilling these traditional organoleptic insights, it is clear this is a remedy with soothing and astringent properties with prominent presence of inflammation-modulating salicylates.","hdif_image_1":5907,"hdif_image_2":5901,"hdif_image_3":5904,"hdif_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/4GQpBF_nSCQ","sense":[31,786],"what_can_i_use_it_for":"\"\"Meadowsweet is most valued for its benefits in the upper digestive tract, notably in reducing the effects of acid dyspepsia and acid reflux.\r\n\r\nContrary to common belief such problems are not caused by excess acid, but by unhealthy access of acid to surfaces where it should not be and\/or by hypersensitivity to acid or bile.\r\n\r\nAs we discuss in our Insight article on antacids<\/a>\u00a0reducing acid levels often reduces symptoms but at the cost of compromising a major defence measure.\r\n\r\nMeadowsweet appears to work as a true healing agent on the lower oesophagus or gullet where it connects to the stomach and is ideal for reflux problems like hiatal hernia and GORD\/GERD.\r\n\r\nIt contributes importantly to the relief of other acid dyspepsia complaints, gastritis and gastric ulcer along with slippery elm powder, licorice,\u00a0aloe vera<\/a>\u00a0and Iceland moss.\r\n\r\nUse meadowsweet also for its diuretic and inflammation-modulating properties in arthritis and more widely in chronic inflammatory diseases. It can be seen as a convenient detox remedy in such cases.\r\n\r\nIt was also widely used for urinary infections and stones.","into_the_heart_of":"This is a perfect example of the way in which plants transcend their prominent constituents. By rights the obvious content of salicylates in meadowsweet should make it a plant to be used with caution for stomach conditions and also as a potential blood-thinning agent.\r\n\r\nIndeed none of these concerns are borne out. It is likely that the very high levels of polyphenols, including tannins bring different benefits, including reducing inflammatory pressures from the gut. A postbiotic effect, in which the microbiome converts meadowsweet constituents into even more useful metabolites, is an intriguing prospect.","tradtional_uses":"Meadowsweet has been used for its astringent property in the treatment of diarrhoea, and it is almost a specific for children\u2019s diarrhoea.It has also been used in the management of arthritis and rheumatism, oedema, cellulitis, kidney disorders, cystitis, urinary stones.","what_practioners_say":"

\"\"<\/strong>Digestion<\/h3>\r\nMeadowsweet is used to treat conditions of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Its tannins appear to provide protection to the oesophageal and gastric mucosa while allowing the salicylates to modulate inflammation without causing the harm associated with aspirin derivatives. It is used principally for reflux other acid-associated problems of the gastroesophageal sphincter (such as hiatal hernia, and GERD\/GORD), and more widely to a range of acid dyspepsia symptoms and gastritis. Its tannin astringency makes it a useful component in reducing diarrhoea that originates as a reflex from the stomach such as in gastro-enteritis and especially children\u2019s diarrhoea.\r\n

Urinary<\/h3>\r\nMeadowsweet is widely regarded as an effective diuretic, as a component of a detox regime especially in the case of arthritic problems (see below), and also to reduce oedematous inflammatory conditions. It was also used in kidney or urinary stones and urinary infections.\r\n

Musculoskeletal<\/h3>\r\nAlthough its aspirin-equivalence is low there is a tradition of incorporating meadowsweet in formulations to help with arthritic disease. This may have more to do with its reputation as a urinary remedy and the old tradition of using remedies (like nettle, cleavers and birch) that were seen to help eliminate acid metabolites from the body.\r\n

Skin<\/h3>\r\nThere is a reputation for the use of meadowsweet as an external application for skin and mucosal lesions \u2013 in a similar way to other salicylate-based treatments with some observations of benefits for acne and cervical dysplasia.","research":"There is very little human research on the effects of meadowsweet. One review of the literature supported its traditional use in inflammatory conditions, including evidence of COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition (6), with others well demonstrating a reduction of other inflammatory markers (7), and with indication that flavonoid and tannin components are partially responsible for the demonstrated pharmacological activities (8).\r\n\r\nLaboratory studies have additionally indicated that the high tannin levels are assocatied with elastase inhibiting activities (9).\u00a0 In vivo<\/em>antimutagenic activity has been identified (10,11), and in vitro<\/em>\u00a0effects have been demonstrated against\u00a0Helicobacter pylori <\/em>(12),\u00a0and\u00a0Staphylococcus aureus <\/em>(13).","did_you_know":"\"\"The brand name aspirin was derived from the former botanical name for meadowsweet,\u00a0Spiraea ulmaria<\/em>. In the late 19th<\/sup> Century the German company Bayer was looking for a medicine that could replicate the traditional benefits in arthritis of willow bark (Salix spp<\/em>.), without the stomach-harming properties of the chemical initially derived from it, salicylic acid.\r\n\r\nWalking by the river one day, one of their scientists reputedly squeezed the flowerbuds of meadowsweet, with a longstanding reputation for healing stomach problems, and noticed the strong aroma of methyl salicylate (familiar from wintergreen oil): it gave him an idea.\r\n\r\nBack in the laboratory Bayer revisited the earlier work by the French scientist Charles Gerhardt who first generated acetylsalicyclic acid in the laboratory, and marketed it as having comparable properties to salicylic acid without as much harm to the stomach wall. They called their new medicine, now the most widely used in the world, after the Latin \u2018a spiraea<\/em>\u2019 (from meadowsweet).","additional_information_right":{"illustration":6025},"additional_information_left":{"botany":"Meadowsweet is a perennial herb up to 120 cm tall, with long petioled leaves up to 65 cm long and composed of 2 to 5 pairs of 8 cm-long ovate leaflets with double-toothed margins and a tomentose underside. The small creamy white flowers are arranged in dense, many flowered, cymose panicles with many protruding stamens.<\/span>\r\n\r\nAlternate botanical names: <\/b>\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • Spiraea ulmaria <\/span><\/i>L<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","common_names":"
      \r\n \t
    • Queen of the meadow<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
    • Meadwort (Engl)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
    • M\u00e4des\u00fcssbl\u00fcten (Ger)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
    • Spierblumen (Ger)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
    • Fleur d'ulmaire (Fr)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
    • Reine des pr\u00e9s (Fr)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
    • Ulmaire (Fr)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
    • Ulmaria (Ital)<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","safety":"Meadowsweet is widely judged to be safe even for long term use. No significant adverse effects are expected, even in the case of theoretical gastric reactions to salicylates (high tannin levels are postulated as one protective mechanism). However caution is advised in cases of salicylate sensitivity and in patients taking warfarin or other anticoagulants. Large doses may also be inappropriate in or may even exacerbate constipation or iron-deficiency anaemia, due to the high tannin levels.<\/span>\r\n\r\nA herbal syrup including salicylate-rich ingredients willow and meadowsweet was withdrawn from the Italian market after being associated with gastrointestinal bleeding in a child (<\/span>14). <\/span>Meadowsweet extracts have not shown genotoxic activity (<\/span>15),<\/span> and have even demonstrated antigenotoxic effects in vivo and in vitro (<\/span>16).<\/span>","interactions":"","contraindications":"","preparation":"","dosage":"Between 2-6g a day in an infusion or tea, with higher doses traditionally used for short term benefits.","constituents":"Phenolic constituents are the most prominent actives in meadowsweet (1,2),\u00a0<\/sup>including the following\r\n
        \r\n \t
      • Ellagitannins (10 to 15%), especially rugosin-D.<\/li>\r\n \t
      • Phenolic (salicylaldehyde) glycosides, including methyl salicylate (spiraein) in the flowers, monotropitin (gaultherin) in the flowers and leaves, and a salicyll alcohol glycoside.<\/li>\r\n \t
      • Flavonoids (up to 3-5%) consisting of spiraeoside, hyperoside and other glycosides of quercetin and kaempferol.<\/li>\r\n \t
      • Essential oil (0.2% from the flowers) notably salicylaldehyde (75%) (3).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nThere is evidence of postbiotic transformation of meadowsweet metabolites by the microbiome. Protective urolithins have been generated from meadowsweet elagitannins in human faecal cultures (4), and in the case of cultures of pig microbiota (which are similar to humans) polyphenol metabolites were detected demonstrating anti-inflammatory and diuretic activity (5).","plant_part_used":""},"habitat":"","sustainability":"","sustainability_content":"","sustainability_alternatives":"","quality_control":"","how_to_grow":"","recipe":"","references":"
          \r\n \t
        1. Bijttebier S, Van der Auwera A, Voorspoels S, et al. (2016) A First Step in the Quest for the Active Constituents in Filipendula ulmaria (Meadowsweet): Comprehensive Phytochemical Identification by Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Quadrupole-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry. <\/span>Planta Med<\/span><\/i>. 82(6): 559-72. doi: 10.1055\/s-0042-101943.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
        2. Katani\u0107 J, Boroja T, Stankovi\u0107 N, et al. (2015) Bioactivity, stability and phenolic characterization of Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim. <\/span>Food Funct<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0 6(4): 1164-75. doi: 10.1039\/c4fo01208a<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
        3. Valle MG, Nano GM, Tira S. (1988) The Essential Oil of Filipendula ulmaria. <\/span>Planta Med<\/span><\/i>. 54(2): 181-2. doi: 10.1055\/s-2006-962390.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
        4. Piwowarski JP, Granica S, Zwierzy\u0144ska M, et al. (2014) Role of human gut microbiota metabolism in the anti-inflammatory effect of traditionally used ellagitannin-rich plant materials. <\/span>J Ethnopharmacol<\/span><\/i>. 155(1): 801-9. doi: 10.1016\/j.jep.2014.06.032.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
        5. Popowski D, Zentek J, Piwowarski JP, Granica S. (2021) Gut Microbiota of Pigs Metabolizes Extracts of Filipendula ulmaria and Orthosiphon aristatus-Herbal Remedies Used in Urinary Tract Disorders. <\/span>Planta Med<\/span><\/i>. doi: 10.1055\/a-1647-2866<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
        6. Katani\u0107 J, Boroja T, Mihailovi\u0107 V et al. (2016) In vitro and in vivo assessment of meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) as anti-inflammatory agent. <\/span>J Ethnopharmacol<\/span><\/i>.193: 627-636. doi: 10.1016\/j.jep.2016.10.015.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
        7. Drummond EM, Harbourne N, Marete E, et al. (2013) Inhibition of proinflammatory biomarkers in THP1 macrophages by polyphenols derived from chamomile, meadowsweet and willow bark. <\/span>Phytother Res<\/span><\/i>. 27(4): 588-94. doi: 10.1002\/ptr.4753.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
        8. Samard\u017ei\u0107 S, Arsenijevi\u0107 J, Bo\u017ei\u0107 D, et al (2018). Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective activity of Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim. and Filipendula vulgaris Moench. <\/span>J Ethnopharmacol<\/span><\/i>. 213: 132-137. doi: 10.1016\/j.jep.2017.11.013.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
        9. Lamaison JL, Carnat A, Petitjean-Freytet C. (1990) Teneur en tanins et activit\u00e9 inhibitrice de l'\u00e9lastase chez les Rosaceae [Tannin content and inhibiting activity of elastase in Rosaceae]. <\/span>Ann Pharm Fr.<\/span><\/i> 48(6): 335-40. French. PMID: 2131766.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
        10. Bespalov VG, Alexandrov VA, Vysochina GI, et al. (2018) Inhibitory Effect of Filipendula ulmaria on Mammary Carcinogenesis Induced by Local Administration of Methylnitrosourea to Target Organ in Rats. <\/span>Anticancer Agents Med Chem<\/span><\/i>. 18(8): 1177-1183. doi: 10.2174\/1871520618666180402125913.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
        11. Bespalov VG, Alexandrov VA, Semenov AL, et al. (2017) The inhibitory effect of meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) on radiation-induced carcinogenesis in rats. <\/span>Int J Radiat Biol<\/span><\/i>. 93(4): 394-401. doi: 10.1080\/09553002.2016.1257834.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
        12. Cwikla C, Schmidt K, Matthias A, Bone KM, et al. (2010) Investigations into the antibacterial activities of phytotherapeutics against Helicobacter pylori and Campylobacter jejuni. <\/span>Phytother Res<\/span><\/i>. 24(5): 649-56. doi: 10.1002\/ptr.2933.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
        13. Rauha JP, Remes S, Heinonen M, et al\u00a0 (2000) Antimicrobial effects of Finnish plant extracts containing flavonoids and other phenolic compounds. <\/span>Int J Food Microbiol<\/span><\/i>. 56(1): 3-12. doi: 10.1016\/s0168-1605(00)00218-x.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
        14. Moro PA, Flacco V, Cassetti F, et al (2011) Hypovolemic shock due to severe gastrointestinal bleeding in a child taking an herbal syrup. <\/span>Ann Ist Super Sanita<\/span><\/i>. 7(3): 278-83. doi: 10.4415\/ANN_11_03_07.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
        15. Pukalskien\u0117 M, Slap\u0161yt\u0117 G, Dedonyt\u0117 V, et al. (2018)\u00a0 Genotoxicity and antioxidant activity of five Agrimonia and Filipendula species plant extracts evaluated by comet and micronucleus assays in human lymphocytes and Ames Salmonella\/microsome test. <\/span>Food Chem Toxicol<\/span><\/i>. 113: 303-313. doi: 10.1016\/j.fct.2017.12.031.<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
        16. Mati\u0107 S, Katani\u0107 J, Stani\u0107 S, et al. (2015) In vitro and in vivo assessment of the genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity of the Filipendula hexapetala and Filipendula ulmaria methanol extracts. J Ethnopharmacol<\/span><\/i>. 174: 287-92. doi: 10.1016\/j.jep.2015.08.025.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","related_condition":[3375,4562],"related_herb":[1871,94],"related_article":[4848,9801],"herb_overview_content_one":"","herb_overview_content_two":"","herb_overview_content_three":"","herb_overview_content_four":"","herb_overview_content_five":"","herb_overview_content_six":"","herb_overview_content_seven":"","herb_overview_content_eight":"","botany":"","botanical_description":"","botanical_image":"","common_names":"Ingwer (Ger), gingembre (Fr), zenzero (Ital), jenjibre (Sp), adrakh, sont (Hindi), vishwabhesaja (Sanskrit), jiang (Chin). ","herbal_preperation_image":"","preparation":"","plant_part_used":"","dosage":"","constituents":"","recipe_image":"","safety_post":"","safety":"","interactions":"","contraindications":"","sustainability_image_one":"","sustainability_image_two":"","faqs":null,"not_suitable_for":[]},"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":["https:\/\/i.herbalreality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/21124511\/IMG_7722-e1638726322122.jpeg",960,550,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i.herbalreality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/21124511\/IMG_7722-e1638726322122-600x550.jpeg",600,550,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i.herbalreality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/21124511\/IMG_7722-e1638726322122-600x344.jpeg",600,344,true],"large":["https:\/\/i.herbalreality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/21124511\/IMG_7722-900x1200.jpeg",580,773,true],"banner_image":["https:\/\/i.herbalreality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/21124511\/IMG_7722-960x800.jpeg",960,800,true],"gform-image-choice-sm":["https:\/\/i.herbalreality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/21124511\/IMG_7722-e1638726322122.jpeg",300,172,false],"gform-image-choice-md":["https:\/\/i.herbalreality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/21124511\/IMG_7722-e1638726322122.jpeg",400,229,false],"gform-image-choice-lg":["https:\/\/i.herbalreality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/21124511\/IMG_7722-e1638726322122.jpeg",600,344,false]},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"","category_list_v2":"","author_info_v2":{"name":"","url":""},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/herb\/5887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/herb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/herb"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/herb\/5887\/revisions"}],"acf:post":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9801"},{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4848"},{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/herb\/94"},{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/herb\/1871"},{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/condition\/4562"},{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/condition\/3375"}],"acf:term":[{"embeddable":true,"taxonomy":"sense","href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sense\/786"},{"embeddable":true,"taxonomy":"sense","href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sense\/31"},{"embeddable":true,"taxonomy":"writer","href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/writer\/2020"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5889"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5887"},{"taxonomy":"conditions","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/conditions?post=5887"},{"taxonomy":"sustainability","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sustainability?post=5887"},{"taxonomy":"sense","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sense?post=5887"},{"taxonomy":"western_action","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/western_action?post=5887"},{"taxonomy":"chinese_action","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chinese_action?post=5887"},{"taxonomy":"ayurvedic_action","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ayurvedic_action?post=5887"},{"taxonomy":"energetics_action","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/energetics_action?post=5887"},{"taxonomy":"region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/region?post=5887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}