What is Meadowsweet – Spireaea Ulmaria?
Other Common Names: Bridewort, Ergecsakali, European Meadowsweet, Queen Of The Meadow, Ulmaria, Filipendula ulmaria, Spireaea ulmaria Range: throughout Europe, North America, and northern Asia. Habitat: Wet ground in swamps, marshes, fens, wet woods and meadows, wet rock ledges and by rivers, but not on acid peats. The name Ulmaria is given in allusion to the resemblance of its leaves to those of the Elm (Ulmus), being much wrinkled on the upper side. Gerard says: ‘It is reported that the floures boiled in wine and drunke do take away the fits of a quartaine ague and make the heart merrie. The distilled water of the floures dropped into the eies taketh away the burning and itching thereof and cleareth the sight.’ Meadowsweet has a very long history of herbal use, it was one of the three most sacred herbs of the Druids. The leaves and flowering stems are alterative, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, aromatic, astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, stomachic and tonic. The plant is harvested in
