Meadowsweet

(Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim = Spiraea ulmaria L., Rosaceae)

Also Called: Bridewort.

Description: Perennial plant with stout rhizome.
Leaves irregularly pinnate, the larger leaflets alternating with much smaller ones on the rachis.
Veins of leaflets very prominent, often slightly reddish on upper surface and silvery and hairy on the lower surface.
Stems up to 1 m (aft) high, often with reddish tint.
Flowers small, white, 5 sepals, 5 petals, numerous stamens, arranged in a false umbel (corymb).
Flowering: JuneAugust.

Parts Used: Dried flowers; rarely also the dried rhizome and root.

Habitat and Collection: In swamps, marshes, beside streams. Common throughout Britain and Europe generally. The flowers are collected when fully open, the stalks being removed by hand or by sieving. Drying is in the shade at less than 40 C (104 F).

Constituents and Action: Small amounts of volatile oil and derivatives of salicylic acid (the name 'aspirin', a derivative of salicylic acid, is from the Latin name Spiraea previously used for this plant.)
Flavonoid derivatives.
The root also contains tannin which acts as an astringent.
The flowers are used mainly as a febrifuge, sudorific and mild diuretic.

Usage: Mainly as a tisane (pour 0.5 litre (1 pt) of boiling water on 1 tablespoonful of flowers and allow to stand) for febrile conditions such as influenza, for rheumatism and also for generalised oedema. A decoction of the root is often used for diarrhoea.