Aerial parts, flowers.
The Druids (a priest of an ancient Celtic religion practiced in Britain, Ireland and Gaul until the people of those areas were converted to Christianity) considered meadowsweet to be one of their most blessed aromatic plant. Despite the Druids' opinion regarding the plant, it is still unheard of whether they used the herb as a medicine. Nevertheless, meadowsweet has been an ancient folk medication in most regions of Europe. Referring to meadowsweet, in 1652, naturalist Nicholas Culpepper had written in his much-valued medical text that "it helps in the speedy recovery from cholic (bile acid) disorders and removes the instability and constant change in the stomach'. Several researches on meadowsweet have displayed that the herb is an effective medication for curing acid indigestion. Although the herb's power to diminish acid levels right through the body is yet to be proved, meadowsweet's efficiency in relieving excruciating pains owing to arthritis and rheumatic disorders is in all probability not only owing to its anti-inflammatory functions or properties. Nevertheless, it has been found that diminishing the excessive acidity in the stomach often helps in lessening the acid levels in the entire body. This in turn, helps in alleviating joint problems that are reportedly related to acidity. It may be mentioned here that meadowsweet is also used to treat problems like cystitis (inflammation of the urinary bladder, often caused by infection). It may be underlined here that meadowsweet is a safe medication for diarrhea, even for children. In addition meadowsweet is blended with other herbs to cure irritable bowel syndrome.
Although meadowsweet is indigenous to Europe, it thrives without any effort in moist places. The herb basically prefers damp places like ditches as well as stream and river banks. Normally, the meadowsweet saplings grow on their own from the seeds. However, the herb can also be disseminated through root division. The best time of the year to propagate the herb through root division is autumn or spring. The leaves of the herb and the flower clippings are collected during summer when the flowers are open.
Researches on meadowsweet has shown that the salicylates (salts or esters of salicylic acid) present in the plant are substances similar to aspirin and they help in diminishing irritation and swelling (inflammation) as well as relieving pains. They are especially effective in arthritis problems. However, dissimilar to aspirin that gives rise to gastric ulcers when taken in high doses, a blend of salicylates, tannins (a brownish or yellowish compound found in plants that is used in tanning, dyes and astringents) and other ingredients found in meadowsweet function to safeguard the inside layer of the stomach and intestines. At the same time, the blend provides anti-inflammatory advantages owing to the presence of the salicylates. It may be mentioned here that meadowsweet is an ideal example that shows that it is not possible to appreciate or comprehend herbal medicines just by judging their active ingredients separately.
Meadowsweet may be ingested both as an infusion as well as tincture. When consuming meadowsweet in infusion, you may ingest 200 ml or 8 fluid ounces of it thrice daily to treat digestive problems. However, to treat diarrhea in adults use double-strength (i.e. 400 ml or 16 fluid ounces) infusion three times daily. Two ml or 40 drops of the tincture prepared from meadowsweet may be taken thrice daily to treat arthritis problems.
Researches have established that the salicylic (a white crystalline acid) factor in the herb is basically conscientious for the plants' anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties. Thus, when herbs comprising salicylic are used in treating musculoskeletal problems like arthritis, they are very effectual. Significantly, the same ingredient is again used to treat abnormal acidity like gastric ulcers. It is very effective in the treatment of ingestion disorders like stomach ulcers and irritable bowel symptoms that are generally caused owing to excessive production of acids in the digestive system. Incidentally, salicylic component is not only important in diminishing acidity, but it also functions vigorously in curing the alimentary canal wherever there is inflammation. For years, salicylic component has been used by physicians as a mild medication to cure diarrhea and has been especially praised for its effectiveness in curing diarrhea among children. The later aspect of the ingredient has even been approved by the present day herbal medicine practitioners.
Meadowsweet may be used in various ways to cure various disorders. It may be ingested in the infusion and tincture forms and applied externally as compress. The herb is also useful as eyewash.
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