Background

• Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) is native to Europe and is found as an introduced plant in the northeastern region of the United States. Meadowsweet has historically been used in traditional medicine to treat symptoms of the common cold, stomach complaints, and inflammatory conditions. Herbalists recommend meadowsweet as one of the best digestive herbs for the treatment of ulcers and heartburn. Further research on the uses of meadowsweet is needed.
• Two prominent constituents of meadowsweet that are theoretically responsible for much of its pharmacological activity are salicylates and a plant heparin. Meadowsweet also contains high concentrations of phenolics, theoretically responsible for some of its antibacterial activity.
• Although meadowsweet shares chemistry, history, and proposed uses with the drug aspirin, its efficacy and place in pharmacotherapy compared to aspirin have not been evaluated in well-designed clinical studies.

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