This is Starwest's nitrogen-flushed double wall silverfoil pack.

Used as an infusion, decoction, extract and tincture.

Meadowsweet contains salicylates (salicin, salicylaldehyde, methyl salicylate), which, in the digestive tract, are oxidized into salicylic acid, the basis of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). Meadowsweet's salicylates have a mild anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing effect, making it a safe and gentle cold and flu treatment, suitable for children.

The German Standard License for Meadowsweet tea indicates its use for feverish common colds for which a sweat treatment is desired and also to increase the amount of urine. In France, it is used for fever and influenza.

Meadowsweet has a soothing effect on the lining of the stomach. The British Herbal Compendium indicates its use for atonic and acid dyspepsia, gastritis, peptic ulceration, and rheumatic and arthritic pains. For these purposes it is often combined with Marshmallow and Chamomile.

The 1997 Commission E on Phytotherapy and Herbal Substances of the German Federal Institute for Drugs recommends Meadowsweet as 'supportive therapy for colds.'

'Contraindications: Meadowsweet flowers contain salicylate. They should not be used where a salicylate sensitivity exists.'

'Dosage and Administration: 2.5–3.5 g per day of cut meadowsweet flower or 4–5 g per day of cut meadowsweet herb, and other galenical preparations for infusions; a cup of the infusion drunk as hot as tolerable several times daily. Infusion: Steep 2–3 g in 150 ml boiled water for about 10 minutes. Fluidextract 1:1 (g/ml): 2–3 ml.'

Grieve's classic 'A Modern Herbal': 'Aromatic, astringent, diuretic, and sub-tonic. It is a valuable medicine in diarrhoea, imparting to the bowels some degree of nourishment, as well as of astringency. It is also considered of some service as a corrector of the stomach, and not without some power as an alterative, and is frequently used in affections of the blood. It is a good remedy in strangury, dropsy, etc., and almost a specific in children's diarrhoea.'

'An infusion of 1 oz. of the dried herb to a pint of water is the usual mode of administration, in wineglassful doses. Sweetened with honey, it forms a very pleasant diet-drink, or beverage both for invalids and ordinary use.'

'An infusion of the fresh tops produces perspiration, and a decoction of the root, in white wine, was formerly considered a specific in fevers.'

'Meadowsweet is visited by bees for the pollen.'

'Dosage: Fluid extract, ½ to 1 drachm.'

http://www.nutraceuticalalliance.com/hl18.htm: (cited references on the website)

In 1839, a German chemist found that the small, fragrant flowers contained salicin, an anti-inflammatory compound that was isolated from willow just 11 years earlier. By 1853, the Germans had slightly modified the compound and manufactured acetylsalicylic acid. They took the ‘a’ from the acetyl group they added, and put it together with spirin (from the botanical name of meadowsweet) to create aspirin.

The salicylates are clearly the most important constituents contributing to the pharmacological activity of meadowsweet. These compounds are found in the volatile oil, and include salicylaldehyde, gaultherin, isosalicin, methyl salicylate, salicin, salicylic acid and spirein1-3. Other compounds include flavonoids, tannins and various other phenols3,4.

Interestingly, though salicin is perhaps among the most famous anti-inflammatories in the medical community, there is a paucity of research documenting this effect for meadowsweet. However, pharmacological data are available which report other activities of meadowsweet.

Anti-ulcer: An area of study well-investigated for meadowsweet is its curious ability to prevent ulcers in laboratory animals. This action is perhaps unexpected due to the common knowledge that aspirin actually causes gastric ulcers. The greatest anti-ulcer activity is seen with the flowers, and works to prevent the formation of stomach ulcers, but seems to potentiate the ulcerogenic effects of histamine5. Meadowsweet extract reduced lesions formed due to physical stresses, as well as due to the administration of challenge substances including reserpine and phenylbutazone5. Interestingly, the extract also prevented ulcer formation by administration of acetylsalicylic acid. These researchers also showed that the flower extract was able to significantly promote healing of gastric ulcers caused by ethanol5. Other researchers also found that the aqueous extract of meadowsweet was associated with reduced gastric lesions in laboratory animals6.

Anti-cancer: cancer prevention/treatment with meadowsweet has been demonstrated in mice and humans7. In this study, a topical ointment manufactured from meadowsweet extract was associated with a 39% drop in the frequency of squamous-cell carcinoma of the cervix and vagina in mice challenged with carcinogens. A clinical component of the study conducted in humans showed that, of 48 cases of cervical dysplasia, 32 patients (67%) responded positively to the ointment, of which 25 had 100% regression. On follow-up of those patients with complete regression, 10 still had no recurrence after 12 months.

Anti-coagulant: meadowsweet flowers contain heparin, which is bound to plant protein8,9. This complex makes the extract of the plant a significant anticoagulant, with extract from the seeds and flowers equally effective10. This is important to be aware of if the plant is being fed to a horse that is on any other kind of anticoagulant or coagulant therapy11.

Meadowsweet has been investigated for a number of other potential applications. And although it was shown to have considerable antibacterial activity12, it is not likely to be a particularly useful treatment or preventive for diabetes13.

There have been no reports detailing toxicity of meadowsweet, and safety parameters and dosages are unknown.