Additional notes (click to expand)

Medicinal

Prescription only medicine: aspirin

Traditional Herbal Medicine Registration (THMR).

Inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and thromboxane production. Contain salicylic acid from which acetyl salicylic acid, Aspirin, was synthesised. Painkiller, anti-inflammatory, inhibits platelet clotting and reduces fevers.
Oakeley, Dr. H.F. (2013). Medicines from RCP plants label list 5-2013.docx.

Other use

Meadowsweet was one of the three herbs held most sacred to the Druids (Vervain and Water-mint being the other two). It was one of the fifty ingredients in a drink called 'Save' in Chaucer's 'Knight's Tale', where it was called Medwort or Meadwort. It was also a popular Elizabethan strewing herb, strewn on the floor in houses and churches both for warmth and to make a pleasant smell.
DeSwiet, Michael. (2012). Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria. link

Geographical distribution

  • Asia-Temperate, Caucasus, Transcaucasus
  • Asia-Temperate, China
  • Asia-Temperate, Mongolia
  • Asia-Temperate, Siberia
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Turkey
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Baltic States
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Belarus
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Ukraine
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Austria
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Belgium
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Germany
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Hungary
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Netherlands
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Poland
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Slovakia
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Switzerland
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Denmark
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Finland
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Great Britain
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Ireland
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Norway
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Sweden
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Albania
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Bulgaria
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Czech Republic
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Greece
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Romania
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Yugoslavia
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, France
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Portugal

Podcast

Filipendula ulmaria ( L. ) Maxim.

Family: ROSACEAE
Genus: Filipendula
Species: ulmaria ( L. ) Maxim.
Common names: Meadowsweet
Distribution summary: Eurasia
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: H4 - Hardy; average winter
Habitat: Wet woodland, wasteland, riverbanks and pond margins
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Europe & Mediterranean (E)
Flowering months: June, July, August
Reason for growing: Medicinal, prescription only medicine


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