Meadowsweet

Part.s Elder flowers 30 Parts Lime tree flowers 20 Parts Meadowsweet (these 3 drugs are the so-ealled active components )... 

Salicylic aldehyde is an almost colourless oil with a fragrant odour of meadowsweet. Its constitution is as follows —... 

Indians. The active principle, salicin, was isolated in 1829. It is chemically converted to the active principle, salicylic acid, in the intestine and liver. The chemically modified acetylsalicylic acid was first marketed in 1899 as aspirin. Salicin is also found in meadowsweet (Filipenduia ulmaria, then referred to as Spireaea ulmaria), from which the name aspirin derives (acetyl sp/r/c acid). The sodium salt of salicylic acid has the drawback of producing gastrointestinal irritation, but acetylsalicylic acid is well tolerated. 

Herbs that like damp soil will grow well in a naturally boggy area, or you can create one by the edge of a pond. Try meadowsweet Filipendula), water mint, valerian, and hemp agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum). In dry summers you will need to keep the water levels in the pond or bog garden topped off. Note that some of these species can become invasive once they are established in the garden. 

Aspirin Salicylate Analgesic, anti-inflammatory Salix alba (white willow tree) and Filipendula ulmaria (meadowsweet)... 

That s quite a claim for the little pill that was concocted in 1897 by Felix Hoffmann, a chemist working for the Bayer company in Germany. While Hoffmann did synthesize the first commercial sample of acetylsalicylic acid, as aspirin is known generically, he wasn t the first to produce the substance in the laboratory. That honor goes to Karl Friedrich Gerhardt, who, in 1853 at Montpellier University in France, concocted an impure version with an eye towards improving on the effects of salicylic acid, a commonly used painkiller. At the time salicylic acid was extracted from the leaves of the meadowsweet plant and used for the treatment of fevers and pain, particularly of the arthritic variety. But it had to be taken in... 

Benefits Meadowsweet has traditionally been used for its astringent and antacid properties. It has long been held that it soothes and relieves pain, especially in joints and the digestive tract. 

Folklore Along with vervain and watennint, meadowsweet was one of the most important herbs for the Druids. It was also a popular strewing herb in medieval times (Bown, 2003 British Herbal Medicine Association, 1983 Shealy, 1998). 

Meadowsweet is reputed to have stomachic, mild urinary antiseptic, antirheumatic, astringent, and antacid properties. Traditionally, it has been used for atonic dyspepsia with heartburn and hyperacidity, acute catarrhal cystitis, rheumatic muscle and joint pains, diarrhea in children, and specifically for the prophylaxis and treatment of peptic ulcers. 

Habitat Gravel Root is a native of the United States, and must not be confused with the English Queen of the Meadow or Meadowsweet (Spiraea ulmaria). 

Meadowsweet is included in recipes for many herb beers, its pleasantly aromatic, tonic and diuretic qualities making it particularly suitable for this purpose. 

Willow bark. The bark of the white willow tree (Salix alba) has been used as a pain and fever reducer for centuries. The main active ingredient in willow bark is salicin, which the body converts to salicylic acid, a substance that acts like aspirin. In fact, the first stable form of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) was made from a related herb called meadowsweet. Salicylic acid inhibits... 

The behavioural responses of adult female western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, to volatiles from meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), bay laurel and sage (Salvia officinalis) were investigated in laboratory bioassays by Chermenskaya et al. (2001). Volatiles collected by entrainment of a solvent extract of F. ulmaria were more attractive than was the original extract. F. occidentalis also was attracted significantly to volatiles from L. nobilis and S. officinalis. Analysis by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry identified 1,8-cineole (euca-lyptol) as one of the main volatile components of all three plant species. In coupled... 

In 1828 Buchner in Germany managed to obtain some pure white crystals of a compound by repeatedly removing impurities from an extract of willow bark. He called it salicin (Figure 1.2). It had a bitter taste and relieved pain and inflammation. This same compound was extracted from a herb called meadowsweet by other chemists. Analysis of salicin showed it to be the active ingredient of willow bark joined to a sugar, glucose. 

They interact with supplements known to possess antiplatelet activity (gingko, garlic, ginger, bilberry, dong quai, feverfew, ginseng, turmeric, meadowsweet, willow),... 

The hepatotoxicity of paracetamol may be increased when it is concomitantly used with hepatotoxic herbs (echinacea, kava, herbs containing salicylates such as willow and meadowsweet). 

Aspirin, or acetylsalicylic acid, is the most well known member of a group of compounds called salicylates. Although aspirin was first used in medicine for its analgesic (pain-relieving), antipyretic (fever-reducing), and anti-inflammatory properties, today it is commonly used as an antiplatelet agent in the treatment and prevention of heart attacks and strokes. Aspirin is a synthetic compound it does not occur in nature, though some related salicylates are found in willow bark and meadowsweet blossoms. 

The word aspirin is derived from the prefix a- for acetyl + spir from the Latin name spirea for the meadowsweet plant. 

Recall from Chapter 2 that aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is a synthetic carboxylic acid, similar in structure to salicin, a naturally occurring compound isolated from willow bark, and salicylic add, found in meadowsweet. 

Opener Beranger/Photo Researchers, Inc. (inset) David Young-Wolff/PhotoEdit p. 695 Ted Nelson/Dembinsky Photo Associates p. 696 (gingko) Kathy Merrifield/Photo Researchers, Inc. p. 696 (spinach) Ryman Cabannes/ Photocuisine/Corbis p. 696 (meadowsweet) Biopix.dk http //www.biopix.dk p. 706 Photodisc Green/Getty Images p. 710 John A. Rained. 

Meadowsweet Mountain arnica Bladderwrack Lovage Bog myrtle Bearberry Bitter vetch... 

Meadowsweet was used widely as a headache remedy. It is considered that just walking through it clears the head. Analysis of the compounds in the plant shows that it contains flavonoids, salicylates, tannins, volatile oils and other compounds such as coumarin, mucilage and ascorbic acid. It is currently used as a food flavouring, in beverages. It is also reported to be used for dyspepsia, muscular pains and peptic ulcers. 

---