One of the three native herbs said to be most sacred to the druids (the other two being Vervain and Water-Mint), its common name, Meadowsweet is derived from the name of the ancient honeyed wine 'mead' (its lusciously scented blossoms were used to sweeten the mead) and not as you might have thought from the name of its oft grassy habitat. Indeed, in Chaucer it is referred to as 'Medwort' or Meadwort.
Its leaves are also scented, but unusually these have a different smell from the flowers. It is truly an olfactory delight. Traditionally all the aerial parts were used as a strewing herb, the dried plant was scattered on the floors of houses in the summer time to make houses smell sweet and to control insect pests. It was said to have been one of the favourite strewing herbs of Queen Elizabeth I and one that was often used in her private apartments. The Herbalist Gerard praised its fragrance saying that 'the smell thereof, makes the heart merrie and joyful and deligteth the senses'. It is truly fabulously fragrant, if you come across some, take a good lungful of its lovely almondy scent, but careful of the bees which cluster on it!
The first part of its former Latin name (Spirea ulmaria) gives us the root of the name of the now ubiquitous drug Aspirin, as it was Meadowsweet which provided the source of the salicylic products that led to the development of the drug in the 19th Century. Interestingly, there is another plant-name connection to Aspirin, as the Salicylates from which it is synthesised, were named after the willow (Salix) in which they also occur in abundance.
Paradoxically, whilst Aspirin can be irritant to the stomach, meadowsweet is a often used by herbalists to soothe and astringe the stomach lining and so it is useful in gastritis. It can also reduce stomach acid (it is an antacid). The range of chemicals within the whole plant giving it a broader, more gentle and lasting effect than the synthesised drug (This is not to gainsay Apirin - it is still an effective drug, but it works in a different way than the whole plant).
As such meadowswseet is a valuable and widely used remedy for gastric complaints. It also plays its part in the relief of rhuematic and arthritic complaints (it is anti-inflammatory) and mild urinary infections (it is a mild urinary antiseptic), such a cystitis. Most herbalists will have a bottle of tincture in their dispensaries, I often also prescribe the dried herb alongside yarrow, passionflower and chamomile as a part of very pleasant-tasting tea that can help gastric reflux.
Folklore
There is an old Midsummer ritual concerning meadowsweet - Gather it on Midsummer's Eve, if you have been robbed, you should place the meadowsweet on water, if it floats the thief is a woman, if it sinks a man. I am not sure how useful this is as it doesn't really narrow it down much!! Magically speaking, fresh or dried meadowsweet is used in love spells and in love mixtures.
Meadowsweet Beer
David Conway in his book The Magic of Herbs gives a recipe for meadowsweet beer, which sounds lovely, but I cannot speak from experience of making it, so I will pass this on untested and with a degree of curiosity. It probably needs some experience of making beers and wines, but it sounds an interesting way to pass an summer afternoon.
Take equal quantities of meadowsweet, dandelion and agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria), boil together in double the quantity of water to herbs for 20 minutes. Strain off the liquid and add two pounds of sugar to each gallon of liquid with half an ounce of fresh yeast. Add the juice of a lemon, leave to ferment and bottle later.
The usual warnings apply however, as with many herbs, Meadowsweet may not suit everyone and those individuals who are allergic or sensitive to salicylates should avoid it.
This information is meant for educational purposes only and not intended as a guide to self-treatment. You should always seek professional advice. Remember that herbs can interact with other drugs and may be contra-indicated if you have certain medical conditions, are pregnant or lactating. Don't take too much of anything for too long and discontinue immediately if you have any ill effects. Take care when using wild plants or any herbs, that you have the correct species from a reliable source.
Catherine Schofield BSc MNIMH Herbalist Cheshire Herbs and Herbal Medicine
References
Barker, J. (2001) The Medicinal Flora of Britain and Northwestern Europe, Winter Press.
Conway, D. (1973) The Magic of Herbs Jonathan Cape.
Grieve, Mrs M. (1931) A Modern Herbal. Tiger Books (reprint 1998).