MEADOWSWEET: Herb of the Month

Meadowsweet is a beautiful perennial herb that is native to Europe and Asia but has been naturalized in North America. It has a spray of ethereal creamy white flowers with a strong, sweet smell. In Celtic times, the Druids held it sacred. It represented the maiden aspect of the triple goddess- the flowerbride or "blodeuwedd." It was once used to flavor mead, hence one of its common names, "mead wort".
Because it is bountiful in salicylic acid, it is effective for pain relief. In fact, aspirin gets its name from meadowsweet's botanical genus name, spirea. One of the downsides to aspirin use is its negative effects on the stomach. Meadowsweet is actually very soothing to irritation of the mucous membranes of the digestive tract while reducing acidity. Studies have found it to prevent stomach lesions and heal chronic ulcers. Meadowsweet's effects are gentle, yet effective, and can even be used to treat diarrhea in children. Its soothing pain relief works very well in instances of fixed pain, such as with headaches.

If you are prone to heartburn, try this Heartburn Relief tea from nittygrittylife

2 ounces dried meadowsweet

1 ounce dried calendula

1 ounce dried marshmallow root

1/2 ounce dried licorice root

Combine and store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. To prepare the formula, steep 1-2 teaspoons of the mixture in 8-10 ounces of freshly simmered water for 5-7 minutes (tea), or 10-15 minutes (infusion). Strain and serve.

by Kristy Baird