Meadowsweet: benefits, dosage, contraindications
Scientific name(s)
Spiraea ulmaria; Filipendula ulmaria
Family or group:
Plants
Active ingredients:
Salicin
Indications
Scoring methodology
EFSA approval.
Gout ✪✪✪✪✪
Because of its diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties, meadowsweet is recommended for the prevention of gout.
Posologie
Oral use: aerial parts
250 - 1500 mg
powder, tisane/tea/infusion, dry extract
Common cold ✪✪✪✪✪
Meadowsweet helps treat the symptoms of the common cold: fevers and headaches, thanks to its high salicylic acid content. The EMA and ESCOP recommend it as a traditional herbal medicinal product for the supportive treatment of the common cold.
Posologie
Oral use: aerial parts
250 - 1500 mg
7 days
powder, tisane/tea/infusion, dry extract
Cellulite ✪✪✪✪✪
Thanks to its remarkable diuretic properties, meadowsweet is an ally in the fight against cellulite; it promotes the renal elimination of toxins and excess fluids by facilitating detoxification and the drainage of subcutaneous tissues.
Posologie
Oral use: aerial parts
250 - 1500 mg
powder, tisane/tea/infusion, dry extract
Lower back pain ✪✪✪✪✪
The EMA recognizes meadowsweet as a traditional herbal medicinal product for the relief of minor joint pain.
Posologie
Oral use: aerial parts
250 - 1500 mg
powder, tisane/tea/infusion, dry extract
Joint pain ✪✪✪✪✪
The EMA indicates that meadowsweet is a traditional herbal medicinal product for the relief of minor joint pain, including lower back pain.
Posologie
Oral use: aerial parts
250 - 1500 mg
4 weeks
powder, tisane/tea/infusion, dry extract
Gastric ulcer ✪✪✪✪✪
Meadowsweet is traditionally used to treat gastrointestinal disorders associated with hyperacidity, such as gastritis, acid dyspepsia and gastroduodenal ulceration. It may promote the healing of chronic stomach ulcers caused by ethanol. There are currently no clinical studies confirming an antacid activity.
Posologie
Oral use: aerial parts
250 - 1500 mg
powder, herbal tea/tea/infusion, dry extract
Properties
Analgesic
Salicylaldehyde, a precursor for the production of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), was isolated in large quantities from the flower buds of meadowsweet.
Usages associés
Anti-inflammatory
The salicins in meadowsweet, converted into salicylic acid after absorption, reduce the synthesis of prostaglandins and thromboxanes by inactivating cyclooxygenase. Furthermore, due to its high tannin content, meadowsweet exhibits strong in vitro inhibitory activity against elastase. For reference, elastases can play a pathological role in pulmonary emphysema, cystic fibrosis, infection, inflammation, and atherosclerosis.
Usages associés
Antiplatelet/Anticoagulant
The flowers of meadowsweet contain heparin bound to plant proteins. This complex has significant anticoagulant and fibrinolytic activity.
Antioxidant
Meadowsweet extracts have high antioxidant activities, as shown by the inhibition of methyl linoleate oxidation. 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, notably against staphylococci and E. coli.
Diuretic
It facilitates renal elimination and accelerates diuresis (urine excretion).
Usages associés
Astringent
Meadowsweet is astringent and causes a decrease in capillary permeability, local vasoconstriction, and an anti-diarrheal action.
Immunomodulatory
Extracts of roots, herbs and flowers have been studied for their effects on the immune system in laboratory (in vitro) experiments. These studies have shown that these extracts can modulate the functioning of the immune system, notably by inhibiting an important part called "the classical complement pathway". To better understand, the complement system is part of the immune system and plays a crucial role in defense against infections. It is composed of a series of proteins present in the blood that activate in a 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 bound 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 was effective in preventing stomach lesions induced by acetylsalicylic acid in rats. It promoted the healing of chronic rat stomach ulcers induced by injection of 70% ethanol into the wall of the lumen or the glandular part of the stomach. Note that meadowsweet contains salicosides, metabolized into saligenin in the intestine, which, after absorption, is transformed into salicylic acid (and not into acetylsalicylic acid, see the article on willow) and does not, in principle, have the adverse effects of aspirin.
Usages associés
Safe dosage
Adults 18 years and older: 250 mg - 1500 mg
- Crushed plant material for use as an herbal infusion: single dose 1.5-6 g in infusion, daily dose: 2-18 g. - Plant material in powder form: single dose 250-500 mg, daily dose: 250-1500 mg. - Tincture (1:5): single dose 2-4 ml, daily dose: 6-12 ml.
Interactions
Médicaments
Antibiotics: low interaction
Some antibiotics, such as tetracycline or penicillin, may interact with meadowsweet and increase the risk of bleeding.
Acetaminophen: low interaction
Acetaminophen may interact with meadowsweet and increase the risk of bleeding.
Aspirin: low interaction
Meadowsweet contains salicin, a plant salicylate. Theoretically, meadowsweet could have an additive effect with other medications that contain salicylates, such as aspirin. Salicin does not appear to have the antiplatelet effects of aspirin.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): low interaction
It is necessary to adjust the dosage of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and anticoagulants when combined with meadowsweet.
Precautions
Breastfeeding women: avoid
Meadowsweet may increase uterine tone and could stimulate uterine activity.
Allergies: avoid
In people allergic to salicylate derivatives (aspirin) or in people who must avoid aspirin because of another medication or certain medical conditions.
Nephritis: avoid
Possible nephrotoxicity when meadowsweet is combined with acetaminophen.
Asthma: avoid
Theoretically, meadowsweet could exacerbate asthma due to bronchospastic effects. Use with caution in people with asthma.
Contraindications
Pregnant women: contraindicated
Meadowsweet may increase uterine tone and could stimulate uterine activity.
Children up to 18 years: contraindicated
contraindicated in febrile children due to the risk of Reye's syndrome associated with salicylate consumption.
