Imagine
this: You tell your doctor that your arthritis is flaring up and you need
some relief. So he hands you a bouquet of small, creamy-white flowers. Sound
crazy? Not if those flowers are Meadowsweet, which contain salicin - a
form of salicylic acid, the main ingredient in aspirin. In fact, the salicin in
these little blossoms can relieve more than arthritis. It can banish the flu and
head off pain, too.
"Meadowsweet definitely has an analgesic (pain-relieving) effect, and it lowers body temperature, so it's even good for fever," says William J. Keller, Ph.D., professor and head of the Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics at Northeast Louisiana University School of Pharmacy in Monroe. "Once in the stomach, the salicin in Meadowsweet breaks down to create salicylic acid, and basically that's what happens when you take an aspirin," he explains.
Herbalists also give Meadowsweet high marks as a remedy for heartburn, gastritis, peptic ulcers and urinary tract infections. Though these traditional uses aren't yet scientifically proven, they're under investigation. In recent years, Russian medical researchers have even been studying Meadowsweet's ability to inhibit blood clotting.
Healing with Meadowsweet:
If you'd like to put Meadowsweet's powers to work for you, make a tea by adding 1 to 2 teaspoons of the dried herb to a cup of boiling water and let it steep for 10 minutes. With a tincture, use ½ to 1 teaspoon up to three times daily. This sweet-smelling herb can:
Natural Air Freshener:
There's one traditional use of meadowsweet that requires no scientific to confirm. During the Middle Ages, the plant's almond-scented flowers were often used as air fresheners. Meadowsweet smells as good now as it ever did. If you're lucky enough to have some growing in your area, fill a room with the fresh wildflowers for a smell that's absolutely delightful.
Safety Issues:
The Food and Drug Administration lists meadowsweet as an herb of "undefined safety." European studies suggest the herb may stimulate uterine contractions. In addition, salicin has been associated with an increased risk of birth defects. Children under age 16 suffering from colds, flu, or chicken pox should not take meadowsweet because of aspirin's association with Reye's Syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal condition. Although meadowsweet itself has never been linked to Reye's syndrome, it's main healing ingredient is the same as aspirin's, so the possibility for an increased risk exists.
For otherwise healthy adults who are not pregnant or nursing, do not have ulcers or gastritis and are not taking other medications containing aspirin, meadowsweet is considered safe.
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