Meadowsweet is a plant from the rose family. For centuries, it has been used in traditional medicine to relieve joint pain, heartburn, etc.

It contains many compounds believed to have anti-inflammatory effects in your body, including salicylates and tannins ().

This article provides an overview of the possible benefits of meadowsweet, precautions to take, and how to make meadowsweet tea.

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What is meadowsweet?

Meadowsweet (Ulmar Filipendula), also known as meadowsweet and St. John's wort, is a flowering plant native to Europe and parts of Asia. It is abundant in England and Ireland but is also found in North America ().

It grows in wetlands and marshy areas and on river banks. It features white flowers in clusters that have a pleasant, sweet aroma and are used in medicinal preparations such as teas and extracts.

In traditional medicine, it has been used for stomach ulcers, colds, joint pain, arthritis and gout. It has also been given as a diuretic to increase urine production in people with kidney or bladder infections ().

Additionally, the pollen of the flower was historically used to flavor mead and is still added to some varieties of the drink today ().

Summary

Meadowsweet is an herb with white, fragrant flowers that are used in teas and extracts. Historically, it has been used as a diuretic and to treat inflammatory conditions, including joint pain and gout.

Nutrients and Compounds

Meadowsweet contains plant compounds that may have beneficial effects on your body.

The herb contains two important groups of plant compounds: tannins – in particular, types of ellagitannins called rugosins – and flavonoids, including kaempferol and quercetin (, , ).

These compounds, along with others found in meadowsweet, may act as. Antioxidants fight cell and tissue damage caused by reactive molecules called free radicals that can contribute to disease ().

Additionally, these compounds may have anti-inflammatory effects ().

Meadowsweet also contains small amounts of salicylic acid, the active component in aspirin that reduces pain and inflammation in your body (, ).

Summary

Compounds in meadowsweet that may have beneficial properties include flavonoids, ellagitannins, and salicylic acid. These compounds, among others, may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Possible benefits

Meadowsweet has been used medicinally for centuries, but there is limited scientific evidence to support its purported benefits.

Anti-inflammatory

One of the most studied uses of meadowsweet is its role in reducing inflammation and treating inflammatory conditions.

Test-tube and rodent studies have found that the herb can inhibit certain stages of the inflammatory process, decrease inflammatory blood markers, and reduce increased pain reactions associated with inflammation (, , ).

These properties may explain why it has been used historically as a remedy for conditions such as joint pain.

There is also speculation that the herb may relieve severe joint pain associated with a form of arthritis characterized by a buildup of uric acid in the blood and crystallized uric acid around the joints.

For example, a test-tube study found that compounds in meadowsweet can block xanthine oxidase, an enzyme involved in the production of uric acid ().

However, research has not yet confirmed that the results of test-tube and animal studies apply to humans. The limited research on the use of meadowsweet in humans is far from promising.

In a 4-week study of 20 healthy adults, no significant anti-inflammatory effects were observed in a group receiving a daily drink containing meadowsweet, chamomile, and willow bark extracts per compared to a placebo group ().

More research is needed on the use of this herb to treat inflammation in humans.

Skin inflammation

Some claim that meadowsweet can be used as a topical treatment for skin inflammation, redness, or acne, but no studies support this idea.

The belief that meadowsweet can soothe inflamed skin or acne likely stems from its salicylic acid and tannin content.

Salicylic acid is often used on the skin to promote peeling and exfoliation. This can cause sun damage and brown skin spots called melasma ().

Tannins are thought to have astringent properties, meaning they can help draw oil out of clogged pores and cleanse the skin ().

Additionally, some people believe that meadowsweet's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential in the body translates to the skin.

For these reasons, several skin creams and serums contain meadowsweet – although any claims that the herb improves skin health have only been anecdotal and research in humans is needed.

Other benefits

Meadowsweet has many other supposed benefits, but research is lacking.

Newer and older studies suggest that it has antibacterial properties and can fight certain bacteria, in particular, which are often responsible for cases of food poisoning. But further research in this area is needed (, , ).

Research has also shown that meadowsweet extracts significantly inhibit the development of tumors in rats exposed to carcinogenic agents and processes (, , ).

Further exploration of the herb's possible benefits in humans is needed to better understand its potential uses.

Summary

Test-tube and animal studies suggest that meadowsweet has anti-inflammatory effects, but research has not yet found that these effects translate into improvements in inflammatory conditions such as joint pain or acne. in humans.

Precautions

The lack of research on meadowsweet in humans makes it difficult to analyze the potential harms of its use.

Tea is the most commonly used form of the herb, but tinctures are also available.

Using meadowsweet in moderate amounts that do not exceed doses recommended on product labels is probably safe for healthy adults, but keep in mind that there are no reports scientists on safety or side effects.

It is best to speak to a healthcare professional before trying meadowsweet, especially if you are taking medications or narcotics or have a pre-existing condition.

If you take aspirin, be careful with the herb because it contains salicylic acid, the active component of aspirin. And if you have an allergy to aspirin or, avoid meadowsweet completely ().

Finally, there is not enough research on the safety of meadowsweet in children or people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. So, these groups should avoid it.

Summary

Due to a lack of research, there is currently no standardized dosage of meadowsweet, nor any information on possible side effects. If you're considering trying it, talk to a healthcare professional first.

How to make meadowsweet tea

Meadowsweet is available online and in some health food stores as loose tea or in tea bags.

There is currently no standardized dosage for meadowsweet, but most products recommend mixing 1 to 2 tablespoons (2 to 4 grams) of dried tea with 1 cup (237 ml) of boiling water .

Let the mixture steep for about 15 minutes before straining and drinking.

Summary

You can make meadowsweet tea at home by pouring 1 cup (237 ml) of hot water over 1 to 2 tablespoons (2 to 4 grams) of dried meadowsweet. Leave to infuse, then filter and enjoy.

The bottom line

Meadowsweet is a flowering herb native to Europe that has been used for centuries to treat heartburn, joint pain, colds and inflammation.

Research on the herb is limited, but test-tube and animal studies suggest it has anti-inflammatory effects. However, there are almost no studies on the use of this herb to treat inflammatory conditions like acne and acne in humans.

Meadowsweet is usually consumed in the form of tea. If you want to try it, talk to a healthcare professional first.