Meadowsweet: Benefits, Dosage, Contraindications
Other name(s)
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Scientific name(s)
Spiraea ulmaria; Filipendula ulmaria
Family or group:
Plants
Active ingredients:
Salicin
Indications
Rating methodology
EFSA approval.
Gout ✪✪✪✪✪
Thanks to its diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties, meadowsweet is recommended for the prevention of gout.
Posologie
Oral: aerial parts
250 - 1500 mg
powder, herbal tea/tea/infusion, dry extract
Cold ✪✪✪✪✪
Meadowsweet helps treat cold symptoms: fevers and headaches, thanks to its high salicylic acid content. The EMA and ESCOP recommend it as a traditional herbal medicine for supporting cold treatment.
Posologie
Oral: aerial parts
250 - 1500 mg
7 days
powder, herbal tea/tea/infusion, dry extract
Cellulite ✪✪✪✪✪
Thanks to its remarkable diuretic properties, meadowsweet is an ally in the fight against cellulite; it promotes renal elimination of toxins and excess fluids by facilitating detoxification and drainage of subcutaneous tissues.
Posologie
Oral: aerial parts
250 - 1500 mg
powder, herbal tea/tea/infusion, dry extract
Low Back Pain ✪✪✪✪✪
The EMA recognizes meadowsweet as a traditional herbal medicine for the relief of minor joint pain.
Posologie
Oral: aerial parts
250 - 1500 mg
powder, herbal tea/tea/infusion, dry extract
Joint Pain ✪✪✪✪✪
The EMA states that meadowsweet is a traditional herbal medicine for the relief of minor joint pain, including low back pain.
Posologie
Oral: aerial parts
250 - 1500 mg
4 weeks
powder, herbal tea/tea/infusion, dry extract
Gastric Ulcer ✪✪✪✪✪
Meadowsweet is traditionally used to treat gastrointestinal disorders associated with hyperacidity, such as gastritis, acidic dyspepsia, and gastroduodenal ulceration. It may promote the healing of chronic stomach ulcers caused by ethanol. There are currently no clinical studies confirming antiacid activity.
Posologie
Oral: aerial parts
250 - 1500 mg
powder, herbal tea/tea/infusion, dry extract
Properties
Analgesic
Salicylic aldehyde, a precursor for the production of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), has been isolated in large quantities from the flower buds of meadowsweet.
Usages associés
Anti-inflammatory
Salicins in meadowsweet, transformed into salicylic acid after absorption, reduce the synthesis of prostaglandins and thromboxanes by inactivating cyclooxygenase. Additionally, due to its high tannin content, meadowsweet has a strong in vitro inhibitory activity on elastase. To recall, elastases can play a pathological role in pulmonary emphysema, cystic fibrosis, infection, inflammation, and atherosclerosis.
Usages associés
Platelet Anti-aggregants/Anticoagulant
Meadowsweet flowers contain heparin linked to plant proteins. This complex has significant anticoagulant and fibrinolytic activity.
Antioxidant
Meadowsweet extracts show high antioxidant activities, as demonstrated by the inhibition of the oxidation of methyl linoleate. The antioxidant activity of meadowsweet extracts has also been studied for use as a preservative in margarine.
Antibacterial
Flavonoids and salicylic acid have antibacterial effects, especially against staphylococci and E. coli.
Diuretic
It facilitates renal elimination and accelerates diuresis (urine excretion).
Usages associés
Astringent
Meadowsweet is astringent and leads to a decrease in capillary permeability, local vasoconstriction, and an anti-diarrheal effect.
Immunomodulatory
Extracts from roots, herbs, and flowers have been studied for their effects on the immune system in laboratory experiments (in vitro). These studies have revealed that these extracts can modulate the immune system's function, notably by inhibiting a significant part called the "complement classical pathway." To better understand, the complement system is part of the immune system and plays a crucial role in defending against infections. It is made up of a series of proteins present in the blood, which activate in cascade to help eliminate pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. The classical pathway is one of the ways this system can be activated, generally in response to the recognition of antibodies fixed to the surface of a pathogen. Furthermore, the effect of these extracts on the proliferation of T cells (a type of immune cell) has also been observed.
Gastroprotective
The decoction has been effective in preventing stomach lesions induced by acetylsalicylic acid in rats. It promoted healing of chronic rat stomach ulcers induced by 70% ethanol injection into the lumen or glandular part of the stomach. Note that Meadowsweet contains salicosides, metabolized to saligenin in the intestine, which is, after absorption, transformed into salicylic acid (and not into acetylsalicylic acid, see the article on willow) and does not have the undesirable effects of aspirin a priori.
Usages associés
Safety dosage
Adult from 18 years: 250 mg - 1500 mg
- Crushed plant substance in the form of an herbal tea: single dose of 1.5-6 g in infusion, daily dose: 2-18 g. - Plant substance in powder: single dose of 250-500 mg, daily dose: 250-1500 mg. - Tincture (1:5): single dose of 2-4 ml, daily dose: 6-12 ml.
Interactions
Médicaments
Antibiotics: weak interaction
Certain antibiotics such as tetracycline or penicillin can interact with meadowsweet and increase the risk of bleeding.
Paracetamol: weak interaction
Paracetamol can interact with meadowsweet and increase the risk of bleeding.
Aspirin: weak interaction
Meadowsweet contains salicin, a plant-based salicylate. Theoretically, meadowsweet could have an additive effect with other medications containing salicylate like aspirin. Salicin does not appear to have the antiplatelet effects of aspirin.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories: weak interaction
It is necessary to adjust the dosage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and anticoagulants when combined with meadowsweet.
Precautions
Breastfeeding woman: avoid
Meadowsweet may increase uterine tone and could stimulate uterine activity.
Allergies: avoid
In individuals allergic to salicylate derivatives (aspirin) or those who must avoid aspirin due to other medication or certain medical conditions.
Nephritis: avoid
Possible nephrotoxicity when meadowsweet is combined with paracetamol.
Asthma: avoid
Theoretically, meadowsweet could exacerbate asthma due to its bronchospastic effects. Use cautiously in people with asthma.
Contraindications
Pregnant woman: prohibited
Meadowsweet may increase uterine tone and could stimulate uterine activity.
Child up to 18 years: prohibited
Counterindicated in febrile children, due to the risk of Reye's syndrome associated with salicylates consumption.
